Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Garcia in dispute over Philly mount

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Being leading rider at a race meet is always nice, though nothing comes with it except bragging rights. To Alan Garcia and his agent, however, being leading rider at Saratoga is important enough to give up a mount in a $1 million race, face a possible fine, and lose a potential client.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Stardom Bound needs only better luck

DEL MAR, Calif. - Few maidens have a reputation as solid as Stardom Bound, the 2-year-old filly who starts in Monday's $250,000 Del Mar Debutante.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Jockey dies from spill injuries

Jockey Juan Campos died Saturday in a New Mexico hospital of injuries sustained in a one-horse spill at the Downs at Albuquerque on Aug. 16. He was 39.

Campos sustained head and chest injuries when Kant Talk, his mount in a 2-year-old maiden race for Quarter Horses, stumbled in the stretch and fell on him, said Rick Thedford, who was Campos's valet. The rider had been hospitalized since the spill. Campos, who had long galloped horses, decided to launch a race riding career just this year, said Thedford.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Peppers Pride gets post 2 for record attempt

Peppers Pride will break from post 2 in a field of eight on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs in the $67,500 Lincoln Handicap, a race in which she will attempt to set a North American Thoroughbred record of 17 consecutive wins. The undefeated Peppers Pride shares the modern mark of 16 straight wins with Cigar, Citation, Hallowed Dreams and Mister Frisky.

The Lincoln, a six-furlong race restricted to fillies and mares bred in New Mexico, had to be rescheduled for Sunday after Ruidoso was hit by seven inches of rain on the race's original date of July 27.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Turnaround time for Carroll

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Christmas appears to have come early this year for trainer Josie Carroll.

With Authenicat's win in the Eternal Search on Wednesday night, Carroll had scored with 8 of her last 21 starters at home here at Woodbine.

Carroll also won on the road with Matt's Broken Vow in last Saturday's $300,000 Canadian Derby at North-lands Park. Matt's Broken Vow also took the $100,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs in his first trip west on Aug. 4.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Authenicat grabs easy victory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Authenicat asserted her superiority over her Ontario-sired 3-year-old filly peers here Wednesday evening, cruising to a geared-down 3 1/4-length victory in the $125,000 Eternal Search Stakes.

Regular rider Robert Landry had brought Authenicat from off the pace to score a 5 1/2-length victory in the restricted seven-furlong Passing Mood here July 23, and followed a similar blueprint in the 1 1/16-mile Eternal Search for the same set.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

First win for 41-year-old rider

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Jockey Devon Johnson, at the tender age of 41, rode his first winner in Monday's eighth race at Fort Erie.

Leaving the gate aboard trainer Norm Tomlinson's longshot His Little Dancer, Johnson settled his mount early. His Little Dancer went up between foes on the turn, took command in the stretch, and drew clear, paying $26.80 to win. His Little Dancer triggered a $226 exactor, a $5,924 triactor, and a $7,298 superfecta.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Dancing Allstar not at her best

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Dancing Allstar could be vulnerable when she runs in the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap at Hastings on Saturday. The champion 2-year-old filly in Canada last year, Dancing Allstar comes into the 1o1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies off two straight losses.

Dancing Allstar arrived here last Monday and according to her trainer, Terry Jordan, she doesn't appear to be on top of her game right now.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

Thistledown: Pay the Man heavy choice

Pay the Man will be a prohibitive choice over seven other Ohio-bred filly and mare rivals in the $75,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes at Thistledown.

A 4-year-old daughter of Bernstein, she won this race last year and has won two stakes this year. She prepped for the DeBartolo with two fourth-place finishes in stiff allowance sprints at Presque Isle Downs, which should set her up well for this 1 1/8-mile race. She has won two stakes from four starts at the 1 1/8-mile distance.

Thu, 08/28/2008 - 00:00

All six have shot in stakes

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The $50,000 PNE President’s Speed attracted six older sprinters, and any one of them appears capable of winning the six-furlong feature at Hastings on Saturday. Also on the eight-race card is the $50,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap for 3-year-old fillies.