Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Headley's Cup hopefuls get tryouts

DEL MAR, Calif. - The Breeders' Cup is two months away, but how much participation trainer Bruce Headley has in the event largely will be determined on Sunday, when he sends out Arson Squad, Magnificience, and Surf Cat in three stakes at Del Mar that all are part of the Breeders' Cup's Win and You're In program.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Mambo in Seattle refuses to lose

Barbara D. Livingston
Both jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Neil Howard have the utmost confidence in their Travers contender, Mambo in Seattle.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On a dreary Tuesday morning in which raindrops eventually gave way to fall-like temperatures, a bleary-eyed Robby Albarado dragged himself out of bed and made his way to trainer Neil Howard's Saratoga barn.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Tres Borrachos seeks dirt success

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Throughout the spring, Colonel John was considered the leader of Southern California's 3-year-old division. But Tres Borrachos may have taken over that role by beating Colonel John in last month's Grade 2 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Both 3-year-olds were expected to arrive in Saratoga on Wednesday for Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes. On Tuesday, Tres Borrachos worked four furlongs in 48.80 seconds over the synthetic surface at Hollywood Park under exercise rider Patrick Dalton.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Locals punch tickets for Super Derby

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Louisiana produced a handful of potential starters for the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby last week, and not all of them are coming out of the $100,000 Prelude Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs that was won in a three-way photo by Star Production.

Ide Like a Double set a track record Saturday night at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas, La., when he won the $200,000 Evangeline Mile over older horses in a time of 1:36.28. For the effort, he earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Winchester targets BC Turf

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The trip Winchester got scoring a 7 1/4-length win in the Secretariat Stakes here at Arlington on Aug. 9 was much cleaner than the one he had going home to Ireland. But after a two-day journey, Winchester arrived back at Rosewell House, trainer Dermot Weld's training yard in County Kildare, without incident, and Weld confirmed Tuesday that a return trip to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Turf is being planned for Winchester this fall.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Exercise rider dies a day after spill

Parker Buckley III, a former jockey who had worked as an exercise rider for trainer Steve Asmussen, died Tuesday morning at Albany Medical Center due to complications from a riding accident he was involved in Monday at Saratoga. He was 40.

Buckley, a jockey from 1988 to 2007, rode 947 winners from 7,308 starters and his horses earned $9,215,235. Asmussen said that Buckley began working for him around Kentucky Derby time in 2007.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Stakes renamed for for Kruytbosch, Coady

PHOENIX – Turf Paradise unveiled its $2.1 million stakes schedule for the upcoming 2008-2009 meet, including two stakes renamed in honor of two members of its family who died recently.

Among the 41 stakes are races renamed in honor of track announcer Luke Kruytbosch and longtime track photographer Jack Coady Sr.

The $50,000 Luke Kruytbosch (formerly the Saguaro), will be run opening day, Oct. 3. It is for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Kruytbosch, 47, was Turf Paradise’s announcer since 1993. He died July 14.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:00

Cocktail Chatter in right spot

AUBURN, Wash. – After a weekend of stakes-studded racing, Emerald Downs will shift gears abruptly on Thursday with an eight-race card headed by a field of seven 3-year-old fillies, each a nonwinner of two races eligible to be claimed for $7,500, going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Mon, 08/18/2008 - 00:00

Robertson wins four on Festival card

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - The seven-race Minnesota Festival of Champions card on Sunday at Canterbury Park featured several memorable upsets before by a crowd of 8,382 fans.

Mon, 08/18/2008 - 00:00

Curlin impresses in main-track drill

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Shortly before sunrise Monday morning, Curlin gave this sleepy town a wake-up call with a strong seven-furlong workout in what was his first-ever breeze over Saratoga's main track.

Curlin, the defending Horse of the Year, worked seven furlongs in 1:24.84 under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas as he prepares for the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward Stakes here Aug. 30. Curlin worked in company with stablemate Hawaii Calls, breaking off about a half-length in front of that horse while on the inside.