Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Becky's Exchange by a neck in Desert Vixen

Becky's Exchange rallied to beat Fast Tigress by a neck in the $65,000 Desert Vixen Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Monmouth Park.

It was an impressive effort in the filly's stakes debut. Becky's Exchange ($22.40) improved to 2 for 3 since trainer Ned Allard switched her to the grass.

"The first few times we ran this filly, she didn't run that well," Allard said. "Frank Generazio, the owner, told me, 'Don't give up on this filly until you try her on the turf.' "

Wise advice, as it turned out.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Strike the Tiger strikes again

The globetrotting Strike the Tiger made another successful stop on his world tour in the $50,000 Stakes for 2-year-olds on the turf at Colonial Downs.

The unbeaten colt is 3 for 3 in a career that started at Churchill Downs. The next stop was England for a successful assault on Royal Ascot, capturing the Windsor Castle Stakes at 33-1 for trainer Wesley Ward.

Back in the States, the price was only 6-5 in the Chenery but the result was the same.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Auction Watch 6 for 6 on Philadelphia turf

Auction Watch kept his record intact on the Philadelphia Park turf course, getting up in the final strides to beat El Churruca by a nose in the $75,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap for registered Pennsylvania-breds.

The 2-5 favorite, Auction Watch is now a perfect 6 for 6 on the Philly Park course with the repeat victory in the Alphabet Soup, and it took an all-out effort to keep the streak intact.

El Churruca bounded to the early lead over the course labeled good, with Serene Harbor stalking the pace while Always for Love, the lone mare in the race, ran in third.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Tasty Temptation relaxes and wins

Michael Burns
Tasty Temptation, with Patrick Husbands up and blinkers off, wins the Wonder Where over First Circle on the soft Woodbine turf.

Tasty Temptation ($6.10) managed best under testing conditions Saturday at Woodbine in the $251,600 Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian triple tiara for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

The 1 1/4-mile route was run over soft ground, and Gore Bay set very slow fractions while being pressed by 33-1 shot First Circle. Tasty Temptation raced near the back of the nine-horse field on the backstretch, and she commenced an inside rally at the head of the stretch.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Antrim County's win a Claiming Crown first

Russell Baze scores his second victory of the Claiming Crown card, winning the Glass Slipper on Frisco Fox at Canterbury Park on Saturday. Lloyd Mason, like Baze based in Northern California, trained both of Baze's winners.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Antrim County turned back a sustained stretch bid from Fancy Runner to post a gritty triumph Saturday under Jamie Theriot in the $138,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Canterbury Park.

Always within striking distance, Antrim County took a narrow lead turning for home, then was put to a fierce drive to turn back Fancy Runner by a neck. The winner paid $10.80 as third choice in a field of six after finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.77 over a fast track.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Jessica Is Back keys Wolfson exacta

MIAMI - Jessica Is Back, who lost all chance when put in tight quarters and striking the inside fence entering the far turn of the Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap two weeks earlier, rebounded with an easy 5 1/2-length decision over uncoupled stablemate Miss Singhsix in Saturday's $75,000 Nancy's Glitter Handicap at Calder.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Funny Moon does it the hard way

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Funny Moon wins the Coaching Club American Oaks.

ELMONT, N.Y. - With three furlongs remaining in Saturday's Gradeo1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park, Funny Moon appeared to be heading to the parking lot, while her seven rivals were gearing up for a stretch-long sprint to the finish line.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Duke of Mischief is Haskell bound

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer David Fawkes confirmed Saturday that Duke of Mischief will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

Fawkes had the Haskell and the $500,000 Jim Dandy, run the day before at Saratoga, under consideration for the Duke of Mischief, the Iowa Derby winner.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Churchill Fall meet stakes unchanged from '08

Churchill Downs on Friday released the stakes schedule for the 2009 fall meet with virtually no changes in purse levels or scheduling from last year.

Purses for the 12-race schedule total $1.775 million. All 12 stakes are graded, and only one, the Ack Ack Handicap, was moved, from its customary opening-day slot to Nov. 6, the Friday of the two-day Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

Sat, 07/25/2009 - 00:00

Simard wins 2,000th career race

Jockey Real Simard won his 2,000th race aboard longshot Frieda's Girl in the last race at Northlands Park Friday night. Frieda's Girl paid $25.10.

Simard, 44, started his career in 1986 and has been based in Alberta for most of his career. His first win came aboard Sudden Spurt on September 7, 1986 in a $4,000 claiming race at Northlands Park.