Ravalo, under jockey Mike Luzzi, set a new track record at Presque Isle Downs while winning the $100.000 Karl Boyes Memorial. Ravalo led every step of the way and drew clear entering the stretch to win by two lengths over Pete's Wonder in the 5 1/2-furlong event.
Trained by Donald Barr, Ravalo dueled early with Pete's Wonder, repelled his bid on the turn, and was kept to task through the stretch.
ELMONT, N.Y. - You may not be able to teach an old horse new tricks, but you can at least give one a refresher course. In an attempt to get the 10-year-old Evening Attire to break better, trainer Pat Kelly worked him a half-mile out of the gate over the weekend.
Not Bourbon ($9.90) won Sunday's $150,800 Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine. Harlem Rocker, the 1-5 favorite, could only manage fourth in the nine-furlong prep for the June 22 Queen's Plate.
In his first start around two turns, Not Bourbon stalked the pace under Jono Jones as Pewter set soft fractions of 24.18 seconds and 48.67. Sebastian's Song made an early move on the far turn to take control until the top of the stretch, where he was joined on the lead by Not Bourbon.
All Is Vanity displayed a new dimension in winning the $78,000 Beautiful Pleasure Stakes by a nose over Paris Winds at Belmont Park.
Racing on the front end in her last eight starts, All Is Vanity sat third through the early stages of the Beautiful Pleasure. Under Alan Garcia, All Is Vanity swung three wide turning for home, made the lead in upper stretch, and then held off a rallying Paris Winds to get the victory. It was All Is Vanity's second win from three North American starts.
Big Booster won his second consecutive marathon stakes in Sunday's $104,900 Gallant Man Handicap at Hollywood Park, closing five lengths in the final three furlongs of the race over 1 5/8 miles.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano had Big Booster at the back of the field for the first 1 1/4 miles and guided the 7-year-old gelding wide through the stretch to run past his three rivals. Big Booster ($3) was timed in 2:44.48 and won by two lengths.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sunday's Plate Trial was a true trial for Not Bourbon, whose ability to handle the 1 1/8-mile distance was the subject of much speculation.
"The Trial had to tell me something," said Roger Attfield, who trains Not Bourbon and had elected to bypass the 1 1/16-mile Marine here May 17 after Not Bourbon romped in the seven-furlong Queenston two weeks earlier. "He'd never been two turns and a big effort in the Marine, plus a big effort in the Trial, would have been too much to get to the Plate."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario Ginger Brew, winner of the Calder Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf in her last start on April 26, could have up to 10 rivals in Saturdays $500,000 Woodbine Oaks for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.
Ginger Brew, who will be favored for the 1 1/8-mile Oaks, breezed a sharp six furlongs in 1:12.60 here last Saturday.
Shes always been a good work horse, and with racing shes gotten a little better, said Brian Lynch, who trains Ginger Brew for Stronach Stable. It was a solid work.
By MARTY McGEE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, took another major step toward his next race, the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, when he drilled seven furlongs early Monday in 1:24.74 over a fast track at Churchill Downs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif.-At the age of 5, with a million-dollar race to his credit earlier this year, Heatseeker is finding new ways to win.
In Saturday's $250,000 Californian Stakes at Hollywood Park, Heatseeker led or disputed the pace throughout 1 1/8 miles, and easily beat three rivals, including the multiple stakes winners Tiago and Surf Cat. Albertus Maximus, who was expected to lead early, never reached the front and finished last in the four-horse field.