OCEANPORT, N.J. - Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird continued his pattern of Sunday workouts, breezing six furlongs in 1:13.80 at Monmouth Park.
Summer Bird is slated to take on the sensational filly Rachel Alexandra here on Aug. 2 in the $1 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds.
"He was perfect again," said trainer Tim Ice. "Everything is exactly on schedule. He'll have his final breeze next Sunday. Kent Desormeaux will be here for that."
DEL MAR, Calif. - Mad for Plaid, a maiden-claimer trained by Peter Miller, became the first horse euthanized at Del Mar this summer when she broke her left front sesamoids following a workout here on Sunday morning, and a delay in reaching and treating the stricken animal infuriated Joe Harper, the track's president, who said a review would be undertaken.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Not Bourbon, who was slated to make his seasonal debut in Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture here at Woodbine, was announced as a late scratch on Sunday morning.
"He's in great shape," said Roger Attfield, who trains Not Bourbon for owner/breeder Charles Fipke. "I think he's looking for war. He's the kind of horse who runs his heart out, and it looks like a couple of others in there are ready to do the same.
"I don't think I really want a really hard race into him, off a long layoff. I don't think it's the smart thing."
ALTOONA, Iowa - Trainer Steve Asmussen shipped in a colt from his Churchill Downs string and a filly from his Lone Star Park outfit to easily sweep the final two stakes of the Prairie Meadows Thoroughbred meet, the $50,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile and the $50,000 Prairie Gold Lassie. Asmussen's talented duo easily dismissed their opponents in similar fashion in the five-furlong stakes.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Just when lucrative opportunities for 3-year-olds on the main track are drawing to a close in Southern California, Misremembered seems to have figured out racing.
On Saturday at Hollywood Park, Misremembered won his first stakes in the . The Grade 2 Swaps is the final two-turn graded stakes of the year on the main track for 3-year-olds in Southern California. The graded stakes schedule for the rest of the year is dominated by turf races and one-turn events.
Vito Filitto gave jockey Francisco Torres his fourth winner on the card Saturday at Louisiana Downs, when he drove home by 1 1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Minstrel. Chance Meister finished second in the five-furlong turf race for 2-year-olds, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Perfect Lou in third.
Vito Filitto ($6.60) stalked the pace set by Becca's Beau, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.91 seconds. The eventual winner moved to the lead in the stretch and covered the distance in 57.04 seconds.
Littlemiss Allison upset heavily favored Tanika in the $50,000 John Patrick Handicap at Northlands Park for fillies and mares on Saturday.
With Rickey Walcott aboard, Littlemiss Allison stalked the early pace set by Ubettorubet, took over the lead going into the stretch turn, and then drew off to post a convincing 5 1/4-length win over Here Comes Ray. Fox on a Ridge made a late move to finish third. Tanika, who was sent off as the 1-2 favorite, stalked the pace before tiring to finish fourth in the five-horse field.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Seven-furlong races are defining Evita Argentina's career.
In Saturday's at Hollywood Park, Evita Argentina won her third seven-furlong stakes, rallying from last in a field of nine to win by two lengths over Silver Swallow.
The victory led trainer John Sadler to list the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Nov. 6 as a long-term goal.
"I'm hoping she'll be nice and strong for the Breeders' Cup," Sadler said.
King of the Roxy made a successful return to racing following a brief retirement and a 15-month layoff, capturing the 40th running of the $50,000 Don Bernhardt Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Owned by Team Valor International and trained by Todd Pletcher, King of the Roxy pressed the pace from the rail before surging late to edge clear by 1 1/2 lengths under Orlando Mojica. He returned $8 as third choice after finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.24 over a fast track.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - It was not 4-5 pacesetting favorite C. S. Silk, nor was it 2-1 second choice Hot Cha Cha, who caught C. S. Silk at the quarter pole. No, this time it was the plucky Oklahoma-bred Peach Brew, who ran from the back of the pack to win the by a half-length over fellow late-closer Sweet and Flawless.