Part of the deal was that Foreign Production won the $60,000 Old Hickory Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, but Foreign Production's sharp score also probably produced a strong favorite for the Dec. 13 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile. We might well take things even one step farther: Since his tough-trip fifth first time out, no horse has gotten near Foreign Production in three races, and the colt looks like a pretty nice 2-year-old.
MIAMI How's Your Halo, who had not won a race since July of 2007, showed a new dimension by running on the lead throughout to register a 3 1/4-length victory over the 6-5 Golden Spikes in Saturday's $55,000 Radar Love Stakes at Calder.
How's Your Halo, owned and trained by Brian Prichard, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.42 over a fast track and paid $14.
The 8-year-old Donald's Pride had been sprinting in his last six starts. But he hasn't forgotten how to go long.
Making his first start going 1 1/8 miles in 12 months, Donald's Pride ($13.80) rallied to post a 1 1/4-length victory over Gold Standard in Saturday night's $51,400 A Huevo Stakes at Charles Town.
Ridden by Larry Reynolds in his first race since coming to Ken Huffman's barn, Donald's Pride covered the nine furlongs on a fast track in 1:53.93. He is now 15 for 35 lifetime at Charles Town and owns a record of 3-4-1 in 8 starts at 1 1/8 miles.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- Johnny Eves, winless since his victory last December in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, broke a seven-race losing streak with a hard-fought victory on Saturday at Hollywood Park in the Grade 3, $108,400 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes for sprinters.
Johnny Eves ($9) prevailed in a race that found the first five finishers separated by 1 1/2 lengths. After looming three paths wide at the quarter pole to challenge the leaders, Johnny Eves won by one length over Northern Soldier, with Noble Court, the 2-1 favorite, closing strongly late for third.
Stolis Winner, the richest 2-year-old Quarter Horse in history, will not run in the Grade 1, $1.1 million Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park on Nov. 29 after X-rays revealed a suspicious spot on his right front ankle, trainer Heath Taylor said on Friday.
The horse has been taken to a clinic for further tests, Taylor said, and is expected to return to action next year at Ruidoso Downs, perhaps in time for the summer's Grade 1 Rainbow Derby.
Beulah Park and River Downs, both at odds with the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association over the division of account-wagering revenue, were awarded the abbreviated slates of 2009 racing dates they requested by the Ohio Racing Commission on Friday.
River Downs, which has not requested Thoroughbred dates for 2009, was granted the 14 Quarter Horse dates it asked for next year.
MIAMI Mambo Meister served notice he could be a force to reckon with in the turf division during the remainder of this season, as well as this coming winter at Gulfstream Park, with an impressive 3 1/2-length victory over a strong field of older optional claiming horses here Friday.
In Saturday's $100,000 Frances Slocum at Hoosier Park, Linda's Lace, under Leandro Goncalves, prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths. Trained by Bob Zahl, Linda's Lace was kept off the pace early by Goncalves before rallying on the final turn and running down pacesetting Heart Tee in the stretch to draw clear late.
The 5-year-old Linda's Lace has now won 6 of 13 at Hoosier, with four seconds and a third. Heart Tee was a half-length in front of favorite Easy Tee in third. Linda's Lace returned $11.00 to win and ran the 1 1/16 mile and a sixteenth in 1.42.20.
Shadowless ($35.60) outran 10-1 shot Rouse the Cat and favored Storm Treasure to land his first stakes Saturday at Woodbine in the $162,350 Kennedy Road.
Shadowless raced in midpack along the inside under Justin Stein, while Rouse the Cat pressed Main Executive through fractions of 22.26 and 44.65 seconds in the six-furlong dash.