OCEANPORT, N.J. - The strong finish by Buffalo Man to capture the Grade 3, $150,000 Red Bank Stakes on the turf at Monmouth Park last Saturday convinced trainer Cam Gambolati that the 4-year-old colt can step up to the next level.
Just exactly where that level takes Buffalo Man remains to be resolved.
Buffalo Man, showing a welcome ability to rate and rally for jockey Carlos Marquez Jr., got up by three-quarters of a length over the defending Red Bank champion, Icy Atlantic.
Officials are unsure what to expect when the San Joaquin County Fair meet begins a nine-day run on Wednesday in Stockton, Calif. It's only the second time a fair meet in Northern California has been conducted without the accompanying fair.
Stockton is running almost two months later than it has in recent years, when it opened the fair circuit in mid-June. The San Joaquin County Fair was conducted at that time this summer.
FLORENCE, Ky. - For five of the next seven months, live racing on the Kentucky circuit will be held at Turfway Park. The first month, however, has a considerably different feel than the last four, according to Turfway president Bob Elliston.
As opposed to the winter racing that takes place from late November to early April, "the weather gives us more options in September," said Elliston. "We can hold more outdoor events than we can in the middle of winter."
Pats High Life followed the pace set by his heavily favored stablemate, King Tymatt, and ran past him through the stretch to win the $13,000 Columbus Futurity by 4 1/4 lengths for 2-year-old Nebraska breds.
Trained by David Anderson, Pats High Life ($5.80) covered the six furlongs in 1:16.00.
Pay the Man made the lead a few strides out of the gate, turned back a strong challenge from stablemate Pyrite Gem, then widened through the stretch to post an eight-length length win in the $75,000 Rose De Bartolo Memorial at Thistledown.
Pyrite Gem was a clear second, three lengths ahead of Casey's Jet. Pay the Man got the nine furlongs in 1:51.32 over the fast track and returned $4 as the favorite. She is trained by Miguel Feliciano and was ridden by Adam Ramgeet.
Tribesman ($4.40), in his first start since May 16, blasted to the lead and scored a 4 1/2-length victory in the $76,000 California State Fair Sprint at Cal Expo.
Tribesman's final time of 1:07.61 for six furlongs was .01 of a second off Passing Game's track record set in 1993, when timing was done by fifths of seconds.
Tribesman was ridden by Russell Baze for trainer Roger Hansen. Jack Hes Tops checked when he ran up on heels at the quarter pole but finished strongly to edge Victory Kid by a nose for second.- Chuck Dybdal
Gallant Son outfinished Rooster City to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the $50,000 WTBA Lads stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings at Emerald Downs. Noosa Beach got up for third in a field of eight.
Gallant Son ($7.60), trained by Frank Lucarelli, got the one-mile distance in 1:37.20 under Gallyn Mitchell, who had five wins on the 10-race card.
Suzy Zip ran her turf record to 3 for 3 by rallying on the outside under Francisco Torres to capture the $150,000 Elge Raspberry Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at Louisiana Downs. Vickies in Town finished second, followed by longshot Riina at Louisiana Downs.
As a non-sales graduate in Louisiana, Suzy Zip ($4) was eligible for only the $50,000 base purse of the Raspberry. A daughter of City Zip, she is trained by Sam David Jr. The winning margin was a 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:38.62 for about a mile over firm turf.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It wasn't as easy as many expected it to be, but Curlin made a successful Saratoga debut Saturday, running past a stubborn Past the Point outside the sixteenth pole for a 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes.
Past the Point, who set rapid early fractions, held second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Wanderin Boy. He was followed in the order of finish by A.P. Arrow, Loose Leaf, Divine Park, and Out of Control. Dr. D.F.C. scratched.
