INGLEWOOD, Calif. - After divisional standout Stardom Bound was sold Sunday for $5.7 million at the Fasig-Tipton sale in Kentucky and bound for an East Coast campaign, the role of leading 2-year-old filly in California suddenly became vacant.
Trainer Eoin Harty may be in an enviable position with Pamona Ball, especially with the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park on Dec. 13 quickly approaching.
NEW BOSTON, Mich. Pinnacle Race Course ended its inaugural meet Sunday with Valley Loot being named the horse of the meet. Valley Loot is owned by Pinnacle CEO Felicia Campbell, who also owns Wave Pool, the top 3-year-old filly at the meet. Announcer Matt Hook selected the winners.
The 4-year-old Valley Loot, a past Michigan champion, won 3 of 4 starts at the meet, including her division of the Michigan Sire Stakes and the Larkspur and Farer Belle Lee handicaps. She holds the track record for 1 1/16 miles at 1:46.99.
Ducky Drake closed from last to win the $55,000 Lea County Sprint Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over Daddy Warbucks at Zia Park on Sunday.
Ducky Drake ($5.60) covered the six furlongs in 1:10. Mark Villa rode the winner for trainer Bart Hone. Ducky Drake races for Ralph and Todd Aury.
Captain Buddy pulled away to a 6 1/2-length win over Mr. Barracuda in the $50,000 Zydeco Stakes at Delta Downs on Saturday night. Mystery Classic, one of the region's top sprinters, was with the pace to the stretch and finished fifth in what was his first start since February.
Captain Buddy ($5.40) staked the pace early, overtook the leaders and went on to cover five furlongs in 58.71 seconds. Kerwin Clark rode the winner for trainer Victor Arceneaux.
Trainer Jim Ferguson, jockey Mark Anderson, and breeder Bar C Racing Stable combined to win the Janet and Bill Wineberg Stakes for Oregon-breds at Portland Meadows on Sunday.
Catalina Harbor ($7.60), a 2-year-old homebred Harbor the Gold filly, notched her first career victory after three straight seconds, winning the six-furlong, $18,540 Janet Wineberg by 4 3/4 lengths over Snowfire in 1:14.24 while earning $11,330.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - New York shipper Porte Bonheur gunned down favored Miss Macy Sue in the stretch en route to a handy score in Sundays $163,500 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine.
Miss Macy Sue set fractions of 22.99 seconds and 45.82 in the six-furlong dash. Porte Bonheur commenced a rail rally heading into the turn, and she came inside Miss Macy Sue at the eighth pole before drawing clear to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:09.64. Lucas Street rallied wide to edge out Miss Macy Sue by a head for second in the 10-horse field of fillies and mares.
Tres Passes pulled an upset in Saturdays $1,386,500 Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos, easily defeating the highly regarded Foose.
The victory was a milestone for trainer Blane Schvaneveldt, 74, the richest win of his career.
Tres Passes ($46.80) ran 400 yards in 19.30 seconds, a stakes record. Ridden by Eddie Garcia, Tres Passes held the lead throughout despite lugging to the inside through the race. Tres Passes finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Foose, the 1-2 favorite. Jessanotheraffair finished third in the field of nine.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The rich got richer Sunday when Leahs Secret, the leading earner in the field, got a textbook stalking trip under Rene Douglas before driving clear to capture the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Leahs Secret earned $100,366 from a total purse of $170,400, lifting her career bankroll to $775,805. The winner returned $8.60 as second choice after finishing a mile in 1:35.68 over a fast track.
Valid Message delivered as the even-money favorite in the $100,000 El Joven at Retama Park on Saturday night, when he closed from last for a length and a half win in the one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds. Top Cop held second, a length clear of third-place finisher Messy Marvin.
Valid Message ($4) broke on top from post 11, and settled in about five lengths off the leaders. He made a sweeping move on the final turn and into the stretch, and covered the distance on firm turf in 1:36.92. Curt Bourque rode the winner for trainer Ellen Williams.