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.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Spirit One tops 1-2-3 Euro finish

Four-Footed Fotos
Spirit One, ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, beats the favorite Archipenko to the wire in the Arlington Million.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Archipenko and Mount Nelson got the publicity, but Spirit One got the candy, taking the 26th Arlington Million wire to wire over his more highly regarded fellow European shippers.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Small entry runs 1-2-3

The three-horse Richard Small-trained entry ran first, second, and third in the $50,000 Twixt for Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park, but with a twist.

Pissarro crossed the line first after a roughly run stretch drive, a neck ahead of Hartigan with Inventive another 4 3/4 lengths behind. After a review, the stewards reversed the order of the first two finishers.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Red-hot Mauralakana adds Beverly D.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Mauralakana continued her rise to the top of the filly-mare turf division when getting a textbook trip under Kent Desormeaux and giving trainer Christophe Clement a record third victory in the Grade 1, $750,000 Beverly D. on Saturday at Arlington Park.

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 00:00

Hellvelyn to make U.S. debut

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It has taken longer than expected to get Hellvelyn to the races, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is eager to find out if it was worth the wait when Hellvelyn makes his U.S. debut in Monday's $80,000 Troy Stakes.

The Troy, carded for 5 1/2 furlongs on the outer turf course, is the featured event on a 10-race card that brings to a close the first half of the meet. The Troy goes as race 4.