OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Monday was getaway day for several big outfits on the Belmont Park backstretch, including trainer Barclay Tagg, who shipped all but three of his horses to south Florida for the winter. Among those leaving was Tale of Ekati, who was elevated to first by the Aqueduct stewards after falling a nose short to Harlem Rocker in Saturday's Grade 1 Cigar Mile.
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DRF Past Performances
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Taken by itself, Cocoa Beach's victory in Sunday's Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park was enough to define the career of any 4-year-old filly.
Add two stakes wins in her native Chile in 2007, two stakes wins in Dubai earlier this year, and a victory in the Grade 1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park in late September, and Cocoa Beach qualifies for one of the most unique records in the world.
She can win anywhere.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Einstein, winner of the Clark Handicap last Friday, probably will return to grass for his next start in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 1, said trainer Helen Pitts.
Einstein capped a terrific season in winning the Clark, the annual fall-meet highlight at Churchill Downs. From 8 starts in 2008, the Brazilian-bred Einstein had 4 wins, including three in Grade 1 company, and 3 seconds, bringing his career bankroll to $1,634,020.
"I've never had a horse who loves his job as much as he does," said Pitts.
Russell Road ($2.20) continued to prove he's the best 2-year-old on the grounds at Charles Town when he coasted to his fifth straight victory, scoring by 8 1/2 lengths in the $70,475 West Virginia Futurity.
Unbeaten since trainer James Casey added Lasix for his second career start, Russell Road covered the seven furlongs in 1:26.02 and earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure.
He was ridden, as usual, by Luis Perez for owner Mark Russell.
Carlsbad and Clean Hit, both big maiden winners in their debuts recently at Turf Paradise, are now both stakes winners in their second career starts as each successfully made the big class leap Saturday, with Carlsbad romping in the $54,832 2-year-old filly division of the Arizona Breeders' Futurity and Clean Hit proving an easy winner in the $58,878 2-year-old colt and gelding division.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Milwaukee Appeal parlayed an ideal stalking trip into her first stakes score Sunday at Woodbine in the $151,200 Ontario Lassie, for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies.
Milwaukee Appeal raced in third until the far turn under Na Somsanith, as D'Country set moderate fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route. Milwaukee Appeal hit the front at the quarter pole and then began to draw clear in midstretch en route to a 1 1/4-length tally over heavily favored Retraceable. D'Country finished another head back in third in the eight-horse field.
The 3-year-old filly Sassy Blend picked up her fifth win of the year Saturday at Zia Park, when she led throughout in the $55,000 Distaff. She won by a length over Five Star Daydream and paid $11.
Sassy Blend set fractions of 22.20 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.40 for the half-mile before covering the six furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:09.40. Alfredo Juarez Jr., was aboard the winner for owners Double Eagle Ranch and Jerry Nicodemas. Bennie Woolley Jr. trains Sassy Blend.
Mr Queens Mystery drove to a half-length win over Mighty Corona in the $1,154,802 Texas Classic Futurity for Quarter Horses at Lone Star Park on Saturday night. The race was the richest run this year in Texas.
Mr Queens Mystery ($13) covered the 400 yards for 2-year-olds in 19.61 seconds. Rodrigo Vallejo rode the winner for Azoom LP and trainer Robert Touchet. For the win, Mr Queens Mystery earned $513,888.
The Texas Classic, which is a Grade 1, closed out the Quarter Horse meet at Lone Star.
Willie Martinez enjoyed a successful homecoming at his old stomping grounds when guiding Afleet Angel, the lone supplementary nomination in the field, to a 1 3/4-length upset in the $50,000 Holiday Inaugural as Turfway Park opened its holiday meet Sunday in Florence, Ky.
