Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Perfect Drift at crossroads

DEL MAR, Calif. - At 9, with career earnings of $4,699,321 and seven stakes wins, Perfect Drift has nothing left to prove. That makes his performance in Monday's seventh race at Del Mar all the more important.

In two starts this year, Perfect Drift has shown mixed results. He finished a decent fourth in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Hollywood Park on May 26, but was eighth of nine in the Hollywood Gold Cup on the main track on June 28. Another poor performance could lead to a reevaluation of Perfect Drift's career by owner William Reed and trainer Richard Mandella.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Abraaj hits stride in nick of time

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With three-eighths of a mile remaining in the six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes, Abraaj was fourth in the six-horse field and seemingly going nowhere.

But approaching the top of the stretch, an aggressive Alan Garcia began getting into Abraaj, and the horse responded with a strong stretch run to win the Grade 2, $250,000 Vanderbilt by 2 1/2 lengths over First Defence. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to the pacesetting Sammarco, who got third by a nose over Thor’s Echo. Black Seventeen finished fifth with E Z Warrior checking in last.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Co Sassy holds off odds-on favorite

Co Sassy got the benefit of a ground-saving trip through the final turn, then held off a late run by 4-5 favorite Deputy's Whirl to capture the $10,900 Inaugural Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length at Columbus.

Co Sassy ($13.80), ridden by Jesus Ponce for trainer Jimmy Compton, covered the six furlongs in 1:13.40 over a fast track while earning her third win this year.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Capitano handles switch back to dirt

Capitano hadn't raced on dirt in more than three years or won over the surface in more than four years, but he had no problem when Friday night's $75,000 Ligature Stakes at Penn National Race Course was taken off the turf.

Ridden for the first time by Rosemary Homeister Jr., the 7-year-old Capitano ($5.20) rallied to defeat 4-5 favorite Delaware River by three-quarters of a length in the 1 1/16-mile stakes restricted to Pennsylvania-breds.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Olympic relishes more ground

Stretching out from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles proved to be the solution to Olympic's eight-month slump.

Capitalizing when the $50,000 Mataji Stakes was moved from turf to the main track at Calder, the 6-year-old Olympic ($5.40) took control after the first six furlongs and cruised to a 4 1/2-length victory.

Ancient Culture outfought 4-5 favorite Imawildandcrazyguy by a head for second in a field reduced to five by five scratches when the race was taken off the turf.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Local horses sweep stakes for 2-year-olds

Horses with proven form over the Colonial Downs turf course outshined out-of-town favorites to sweep the co-featured $60,000 stakes for 2-year-olds.

Captain Bry ($8.80), who crushed maiden special weight rivals three weeks earlier, rallied for a one-length victory over Mr. Keeper in the Chenery. Ridden by Craig Gibbs for owner/trainer/breeder Bryan Baker, Captain Bry completed 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:04.77.

Kentucky Stormin, a 20-1 shot who had his head in front with a furlong remaining, weakened to finish third.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Northern Kraze surprises heavy favorite

Northern Kraze, with Chantal Sutherland aboard, wore down a game Roses 'n' Wine in deep stretch to capture the $252,800 Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian triple tiara at Woodbine.

Roses 'n' Wine set tepid fractions of 25.38 seconds, 50.23, and 1:15.49 in the 1 1/4-mile race, which was contested over a rain-softened turf course labeled yielding. Northern Kraze ($17.20) raced in fourth early on the backstretch, before moving into second approaching the far turn.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Fareena finishes strong in return to turf

Fareena managed to overcome a slow pace set by slight favorite Time Reveals All to earn her first career stakes victory in Saturday's $75,300 Denise Rhudy Memorial at Delaware Park.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Shopton Lane left alone on the lead

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Shopton Lane shot right to the front and was never headed, rolling to a 2 1/2-length win in the $70,000 Skip Away Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

The expected speed duel between Shopton Lane ($7.80) and Gottcha Gold never materialized. Stewart Elliott opted for a stalking trip with Gottcha Gold, sitting second with the even-money favorite while Shopton Lane carved out the fractions in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 00:00

Ginger Punch shows why she's a champion

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - That was brutal!

Trainer Bobby Frankel wasn't referring to the sudden showers and bolts of lightning that hovered over the track as the field left the starting gate for Saturday's $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap at Saratoga. He was talking about the nightmarish trip his Ginger Punch endured before asserting her class and superiority to post a nerve-wracking 1 1/4-length victory over Copper State in the Grade 1 Go for Wand.