Mon, 08/11/2008 - 00:00

Enumerator emerges from pace battle

AUBURN, Wash. - Enumerator ($5) survived a three-horse pace battle through a half-mile in 45.60 seconds, then drew off through the stretch to score a 2 1/4-length victory in Sunday's $50,000 Strong Ruler Stakes for 2-year-olds at Emerald Downs.

Toss'm Again held second by three-quarters of a length over Fast Tacticts, who closed for third in the compact field of five.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 00:00

Win and Reign wins first career race in stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Win and Reign won his maiden with determination Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Vandal Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds.

Win and Reign ($22.20) broke sharply under David Clark and then dueled with another maiden, Silver Rocket, through moderate fractions.

Win and Reign took control at the eighth pole, and held off a wide-closing El Brujo to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:10.88. Silver Rocket held third, Mean Green was fourth, and favored Bucephaus faded in the stretch to trail the five-horse field.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 00:00

Tanika gets it done at 1-9

EDMONTON, Alberta – The margin of victory was just a neck but Stephan Heiler had Tanika well in hand in the closing yards of Sunday’s $50,000 Madamoiselle after repulsing a challenge turning for home from Fox on a Ridge.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 00:00

Azul Leon takes Best Pal on DQ

By JAY PRIVMAN

DEL MAR, Calif. - Azul Leon on Sunday remained undefeated and retained his position as the leading 2-year-old male in California, but in order to keep both, he needed the help of the stewards following a rough stretch run in the Grade 2, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar.

Sun, 08/10/2008 - 00:00

Banrock, Latitude Forty win at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At 0 for 17, Tom Bush entered Sunday's West Point Handicap having the dubious distinction of being the trainer with the most starters at this year's Saratoga meet without a win.

He no longer holds that title.

Banrock continued his ascension up the New York-bred male turf ranks with an impressive-looking two-length victory in the $111,000 West Point, his third win from four starts this year. Classic Pack, who won this race last year, rallied from last to get up for second by a nose over My Man Lars.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Sky Cape upsets La Jolla

DEL MAR, Calif. - It took more than three months, but Sky Cape completed a stakes hat trick with an upset win in Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar.

Sky Cape won the Harry Henson Stakes at Hollywood Park in April and the Alcatraz Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in May.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Race run without wagering at Pinnacle

NEW BOSTON, MICH - The eighth race on Pinnacle Race Course's Saturday card was run as a non-wagering event after thunderstorms moved through the area and the facility lost electrical power. Stormy Fellow splashed home first in the race, which was delayed for nearly a half-hour.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Jonesboro bounces back

Dropped in class following a sixth-place finish behind reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs June 14, Jonesboro returned to winning form in Saturday's $50,000 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park.

Pressing the pace of longshot Longley through fractions of 23.68 and 46.73 seconds in the one-mile Governor's Handicap, Jonesboro took command with six furlongs in 1:10.66 and pulled away in the stretch to score by 3 1/4 lengths under Tracy Hebert. He raced a mile in 1:35.86, paying $6.60 as the second choice in the field of seven.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Maren's Meadow wires Oaks

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Larry Jones will take Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell to Saratoga next weekend for the Grade 1 Alabama.

Jones showcased another of his talented 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Monmouth Park as Maren's Meadow scored a pacesetting upset in the Grade 3, $150,000 Monmouth Oaks.

"Speed is usually a good thing at Monmouth," Jones said moments before the field loaded. "That's why we're here."

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Lethal Heat back for more

DEL MAR, Calif. - The racing saddle used on Lethal Heat in Friday's $108,900 Real Good Deal Stakes will not be in storage for long.

On Saturday morning, trainer Barry Abrams said that Lethal Heat emerged from her victory against males in the seven-furlong Real Good Deal in fine shape and will be pointed for the $350,000 Del Mar Oaks over 1 1/8 miles on turf next Saturday.

"It was like a workout," he said of the Real Good Deal. Well, one that includes a first-place purse of $65,340 and the distinction of beating seven statebred males for her fourth stakes win.