Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Woodbine: High Mist stays undefeated

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – High Mist ($3.70) extended her unbeaten record to three races while landing her first stakes win in the $150,000 Fanfreluche, for Ontario-bred for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

High Mist won her first two starts on the lead, but she rated just off a slow pace along the inside in the six-furlong dash. Emma Wilson angled High Mist into the three-path early in the stretch, and she overtook the leaders at the eighth-pole before drawing away to score by 2o1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:09.78.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Finger Lakes: Vintage Tough never threatened

Even-money favorite Vintage Tough looked like a winner every step in the $50,000 Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies, tracking front-running Indian Rush on the backstretch, taking command just before the turn, and galloping off to a 2 1/2-length victory.

Vintage Tough covered the six furlongs in 1:12.55 under meet-leading rider John Davilla Jr. and paid $4.

Indian Rush, ridden by Omar Camejo, held second by a nose over Haley's Lolipop, the 8-5 second choice in the field of eight.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Delaware: Two bet, one shines in Blue Hen

Only five ran in the $75,000 Blue Hen for 2-year-old fillies at Delaware Park, and only two of them took much money - Gnome's Delight, who went off at 2-1, and Bon Jovi Girl, the 1-2 favorite.

In the end, the two had starkly different results. Bon Jovi Girl won easily, by six lengths, hugging the rail all the way around in the 1 1/16-mile race. Gnome's Delight pressed the pacesetting Bolyen, loomed a neck off the lead on the turn, then fizzled out, finishing last.

Bon Jovi Girl, ridden by Jose Caraballo for trainer Tim Ritchey, was timed in 1:46.22.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Wolfson takes three stakes on card

Trainer Marty Wolfson was the star of the undercard on Saturday's Festival of the Sun program at Calder, winning 3 of the 4 stakes, including the $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap with It's a Bird. He also sent out promising 2-year-olds Frolic's Dream and You Luckie Mann to easy and very impressive wins in the $100,000 Cassidy and Birdonthewire stakes.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Newell has lead going into stretch

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Mike Newell has the look of a football linebacker as his broad shoulders busy themselves with the business of a full shed row.

Newell, 50, is leading all Fort Erie trainers in the win column and, with just seven days left in the season, he recognizes the opportunity to lay claim to the 2008 title.

Chasing Newell home are Nick Gonzalez and Lyle Morden, who were both four wins back heading into Sunday's card. Newell has won 31 races and is looking more each day like the one to beat.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Stud Muffin takes Empire Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. - Stud Muffin took charge in the final furlong and held off a rally from That'srightofficer to win the $250,000 Empire Classic, the richest of the seven stakes on New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

The 10-race card reserved for New York-breds was also a showcase for Edgar Prado and Rick Dutrow Jr.

Prado rode four winners, including three stakes. Dutrow trained three stakes winners, including a one-two finish in the Iroquois Handicap.

"Anytime you win three stakes races at Belmont Park is a great day," Dutrow said.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Big Drama sweeps Florida Stallion series

Big Drama left little doubt he is the king of the local 2-year-old division after drawing off to a convincing five-length triumph over Three Part Harmony and 10 other overmatched rivals in Saturday's $400,000 In Reality Stakes. The victory gave Big Drama the distinction of becoming only the sixth horse to sweep all three legs of the open division of the Florida Stallion Stakes, and it was the highlight of Calder's Festival of the Sun card.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Informed Decision executes plan

LEXINGTON, Ky. - John Velazquez took center stage for a second straight sun-splashed Saturday at Keeneland when giving favored Informed Decision a textbook ride in winning the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland.

Informed Decision reeled in front-running Secret Gypsy leaving the eighth pole when powering away to a 4 1/4-length triumph in the seven-furlong Raven Run, returning $4.40 as the solid choice in a field of 13 3-year-old fillies.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Bertsgoldenmissile wins closing-day stakes

BOOSIER CITY, La. - Odds-on favorite Bertsgoldenmissile prompted the early pace under confident handling by Lonnie Meche before drawing clear to win Saturday's $50,000 Gate Dancer Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Leestown Gift finished second in the closing-day feature for 2-year-olds followed by Milwaukee Miracle and Satyrs. Opposition Leader was a late scratch.

Sat, 10/18/2008 - 00:00

Alpha Kitten looking like alpha filly

ARCADIA, Calif. - If the one-start filly Alpha Kitten is as spectacular as she looked in her debut, then why has it taken seven weeks to race again and why is the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies being run next week without her?

"The calendar was against her," trainer John Sadler said, referring to her only start, on Aug. 30, two days before the Del Mar Debutante. Stardom Bound got all the accolades for winning the Debutante, but Alpha Kitten's maiden win was every bit as impressive and makes her the horse to beat in the six-furlong Anoakia Sunday at the Oak Tree meet.