Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Laurel: Headsandtales repeats Find Handicap score

Headsandtales has a different rider and trainer, but he still found his way back to the Laurel Park winner's circle following the Find Handicap for the second time.

Winless in seven starts since upsetting the 2007 Find at 25-1 for jockey Jonathan Joyce and trainer Robin Graham, Headsandtales ($11.80) came from off the pace to repeat in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for Maryland-breds.

A 5-year-old gelding now trained by Dale Capuano, Headsandtales rallied under Erick Rodriguez to defeat 2-1 favorite Baltimore Bob by 1 1/4 lengths.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Woodbine: Shut It Down wins a new way

Shut It Down, an 11-1 outsider, blew by the rest of the field early in the stretch under Tyler Pizarro to win the $126,200 Frost King Stakes going away at Woodbine on Saturday.

Shut It Down bobbled at the break and got away slowly in the seven-furlong race for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds. Normally a front-runner, he trailed the eight-horse on the backstretch, then loomed into contention on turn.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Top two jocks seek deal

MIAMI - Paco Lopez and Manoel Cruz, who have dominated the jockey standings at Calder all year, were conspicuous by their absence when entries were originally drawn for Sunday and Monday programs.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Acoma saves her best for last

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Acoma saved her best race for her season finale.

Making the last start of her 3-year-old season, which has included victories in the Dogwood and Valley View stakes, Acoma swept past the field with a devastating stretch rally to win the Grade 2, $201,950 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Strike a Deal clears personal hurdle

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Strike a Deal wins the Grade 2 Red Smith, ending his streak of near misses in graded races.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Strike a Deal finally closed the deal in a graded stakes race.

A bridesmaid in five graded events, Strike a Deal was second to none Saturday, rolling to a seven-length victory over European-invader Lauro in the Grade 2, $150,000 Red Smith Handicap at soggy Aqueduct.

It was three-quarters of a length back to Banrock in third. Always First, Hard Top, Presious Passion, and Wheels Up at Noon completed the order of finish.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Extra distance should help Tenmor

Tenmor will try to make it three in a row when he takes on five other Indiana-bred 2-year-olds in the $100,000 Indiana Futurity on Sunday at Hoosier Park.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Favorites sweep divisions of Jersey Futurity

Heavy favorites A Dynamite Time ($4.20) and Love That Dance ($2.40) swept the two divisions of the New Jersey Futurity at the Meadowlands.

Both races were worth $60,000 and were contested at six furlongs over a muddy, sealed track.

In the open division, Carlos Marquez Jr. guided A Dynamite Time to a 1 1/4-length victory over Trust Luc.

Sat, 11/08/2008 - 00:00

Churchill cuts purses 10 percent

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Citing soft business levels stemming from a struggling economy and unresolved negotiations with horsemen over distribution of the Churchill Downs simulcast signal to most account wagering outlets, Churchill Downs announced Friday evening a 10 percent cut in overnight purses for its fall meet and two stakes purse reductions.

The affected stakes are the Grade 2 Clark Handicap Nov. 28, and the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap Nov. 27. The Clark Handicap purse will be cut by $100,000 to $400,000, and the Falls City purse by $50,000 to $150,000.

Fri, 11/07/2008 - 00:00

Bettor hits $12K score on ticket error

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Being lucky is a lot better than being good at calling out numbers, as one longtime Churchill Downs fan discovered Thursday.

Charles "C.P." Essex bet $72 into the early pick four at Churchill, employing a $1 part-wheel strategy that intended to use Nos. 1, 3, and 7 in the second leg of the wager.

Fri, 11/07/2008 - 00:00

Cocoa Beach to supplement to Matriarch on turf

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Cocoa Beach, second in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 24, has remained in California and is a likely starter in the $500,000 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park on Nov. 30.

Rick Mettee, assistant trainer to Saeed bin Suroor, said that Cocoa Beach will be supplemented to the Matriarch Stakes later this month. The one-mile race is the final Grade 1 for fillies and mares on grass this year.