Delaware-based Akronism was scratched from Fridays Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga in favor of Saturdays $163,400 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine. That proved to a wise move by trainer Tim Richey, as she got the job done in the six-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares.
Akronism stalked a hotly-contested front-end battle under Eurico Rosa Da Silva in the Grade 3 event. Favored Marina Ballerina and Sea the Joy hooked up through splits of 21.86 seconds and 44.23.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Despite getting beat less than two lengths in the 2007 Arlington Million and racing for the powerful team of Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Danak may be flying a bit under the radar when he makes his second U.S. appearance and Saratoga debut in Sunday's Grade 2 Fourstardave Stakes.
OPELOUSAS, La. - Rallying strongly down the stretch under Billy Patin, Tensas Cool Town collared pacesetter Diamond Mission in the final strides to win Friday night's filly division of the $100,000 John Franks Memorial Stakes. Favored Miss Silver Pistol finished third, followed by Alert Alert.
Heros Reward ($2.80) kept within a length of the leaders until the top of the stretch before drawing away under steady encouragement from jockey Javier Castellano to win the five-furlong $100,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup on turf by 1 3/4 lengths Friday night at Penn National. Rouse the Cat finished second, a neck ahead of Hesa Big Star.
DEL MAR, Calif. - A downturn in business through the first two weeks of the Del Mar meeting led to a discussion between track officials and executives of the Thoroughbred Owners of California on Friday regarding a potential purse cut.
Officials emphasized that no decision had been reached prior to the meeting, but that a purse cut was possible for the final 19 days of the 43-day meeting, beginning on Aug. 13. The third condition book, listing likely races from Aug. 13-25, is being finalized this weekend. The meeting ends on Sept. 3.
DEL MAR, Calif.-Del Mar announced on Friday that purses will be cut by 3.5 percent for the final three weeks of the meeting, effective Aug. 13.
The reduction was caused by a downturn in ontrack business and stagnant account wagering business in California, track officials said.
Rubber ($24.40) closed strongly in the stretch under jockey Angel Rodriguez to win Thursday night's $60,000 Jennie Wade Stakes for filly and mare sprinters at Penn National Race Course.
A 5-year-old mare who came into the five-furlong race just 2 for 18 lifetime on grass, Rubber came from seventh in a field of eight to draw clear by 1 1/4 lengths, covering the five furlongs in 56.12 seconds over yielding turf.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At 6-1, Any Limit may have been the longest price on the tote board in Friday's $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap, but she won like a 3-5 shot, drawing away through the stretch to a surprisingly easy 5 3/4-length victory over Zada Belle in the Grade 2 dash for fillies and mares.
John Passero, the New York Racing Association's director of racing surfaces since 2005, will leave that position at the end of the Saratoga meet, it was announced Friday.
Passero, 66, will be replaced by Glen Kozak, who has worked as the vice president of facilities and racing surfaces for the Maryland Jockey Club since 2004.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - It is always a special occasion when a young apprentice jockey boots home his first winner. When it happens twice on the same day, well, that practically qualifies for a state holiday given Louisiana's rich heritage in producing successful riders.