Mon, 09/01/2008 - 00:00

Emerald Downs: Gallant Son proves best

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.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 00:00

Louisiana Downs: Suzy Zip rushes home

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.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 00:00

Mani Bhavan wins Spinaway to go 3 for 3

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Mani Bhavan had won her first two starts so convincingly that one of the few questions surrounding her was how she would respond when challenged.

Question asked and answered.

Mon, 09/01/2008 - 00:00

Curlin notches Woodward win

Barbara D. Livingston
Curlin, with Robby Albarado up, wins the Woodward by 1 1/4 lengths after getting brushed by horses on both sides of him early.

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.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 00:00

Madeo upsets Gio Ponti in Del Mar Derby

DEL MAR, Calif. - Gio Ponti came west with the fancy reputation, but it was Madeo who got the best trip, and the money, on Sunday in the Grade 2, $350,000 Del Mar Derby.

Madeo ($23.60), given a rail-hugging ride by Mike Smith, saved enough ground on both turns to subsequently outfinish heavily favored Gio Ponti by a half-length, with pacesetter Tangled Tango another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 00:00

Canadian shipper Marlang takes Saranac

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Marlang shipped down from Canada and led the locals on a merry chase around Saratoga’s Mellon Turf Course on Sunday, recording a 1 3/4-length, gate-to-wire score in the Grade 3, $111,100 Saranac Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 00:00

Gallant Son grabs WTBA Lads victory

AUBURN, Wash. - Gallant Son split rivals at the top of the stretch, then outfinished Rooster City to prevail by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s $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.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 00:00

Shining Moment takes meet-closing stakes

Shining Moment controlled the pace throughout under leading rider Colby Hernandez before edging away in the late going to capture Saturday night’s $75,000 Opelousas Stakes at Evangeline Downs. The entry of Humble Storm Kathy and Shutupanddance finished second and third, respectively, followed by Reckon.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for Padua Stables, Shining Moment ($6.20) picked up her second stakes win and third victory overall from five starts. She is a 2-year-old daughter of Yes It’s True, and she covered the six furlongs in 1:12.60 over a fast strip.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 00:00

B R Remark sets track record at Hastings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - B R Remark set a track record of 1:09.44 seconds for six furlongs in his 1 3/4-length win over And All That Jazz over a fast track in the $54,441 PNE Presidents Speed at Hastings on Saturday.

Sun, 08/31/2008 - 00:00

Vacare breaks through in Palomar

DEL MAR, Calif. - Vacare found out that the grass was greener on the other side of the country. She shipped to California from New York and made off with the Grade 2, $200,000 Palomar Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar, emerging best in a three-way drive to the wire.

Vacare, fanned six lanes wide into the stretch, outbattled Kris' Sis to her inside and Gotta Have Her to her outside and prevailed by a half-length. Kris' Sis and Gotta Have Her finished in a dead heat for second in the field of 10 older fillies and mares.