The purse for the Charles Town Invitational Dash has been doubled to $200,000 as part of the newly created Charles Town Sprint Festival.
The event, on Saturday night, June 21, highlights a schedule of eight open stakes worth a cumulative $900,000, announced by the West Virginia track Friday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Crimson Ore's victory in the second race at Churchill Downs on Thursday gave trainer Steve Asmussen his ninth win of the meet, placing him in a three-way tie with Tom Amoss and Ken McPeek for leading trainer honors.
The win marked Asmussen's seventh victory from 18 starters since racing resumed at Churchill after the May 3 Kentucky Derby.
On Sunday he hopes to continue that momentum, starting three horses in the final three races, including morning-line favorites First Degree and Far East Gold in the two allowances on the card, races 8 and 9.
BALTIMORE - When discussing a possible start in May for Sweet Vendetta, co-owner David Cassidy and trainer Gary Contessa at first thought small, examining the Bouwerie Stakes for New York-breds on May 4 at Belmont Park. But then Contessa convinced Cassidy to aim higher. On Friday at Pimlico Race Course, Cassidy probably wanted to tell Contessa, "I think I love you."
Sweet Vendetta, making her first start in a graded stakes race, ran down Shes All Eltish in the final yards to score a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Better Than Bitter, trained by Allen Desruisseaux, ran away and hid opening day at Fort Erie, and Desruisseaux has since added a couple more to the win column in his first full-time year of training.
Desruisseaux, 49, has been involved with horses ever since his first $500 purchase won at first asking back in 1978.
He finally took out his trainer's license last year and immediately proved his potential by sending Better Than Bitter up to Woodbine to score in her debut effort last July.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Apprentice jockey Stephanie Fedora is pleased with the start she has gotten off to at Hastings. Fedora, who began her career riding Quarter Horses at Ajax Downs in Ajax, Ontario, arrived at Hastings a week before the current meet started. Fedora wasn't expecting to get many mounts right off the bat, but her business has been steadily growing, and she won the first race at Hastings last Sunday aboard Include the Grand for trainer David Milburn.
Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M., has scheduled 17 stakes for Thoroughbreds during its mixed meet that opens on Sept. 13. The slots-rich track, which also runs Quarter Horses, will conduct a 53-day season through Dec. 9. Purses during the meet are projected to average a record $300,000 a day.
The stakes for Thoroughbreds are worth a cumulative $2 million. The schedule is led by the $200,000 Zia Park Distance Championship, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up on Dec. 7. The $150,000 Zia Park Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, will be run Dec. 6.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Won Awesome Dude will get his first shot at graded stakes company in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap here May 26, according to his trainer, Mike Mareina. Won Awesome Dude was a dominant 5 1/2-length winner of the $50,000 Tony Sanchez Memorial Stakes in his last start April 19, and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.
"He's coming off a good race," said Mareina. "He's just been consistent, and it's time to step up and see what he is."
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Magnificience was gone, but never forgotten. And even when she disappeared after brilliant victories in both of her starts last spring, trainer Bruce Headley promised the best was yet come.
"People I've never seen before, racing fans, ask, 'How's Magnificience?'" Headley said.
Sunday at Hollywood Park, the answer will be clear. Magnificience returns from a 13-month layoff in a sprint allowance (race 3) that is the first step on an ambitious campaign.
"What am I trying to do? - go all the way to the Breeders' Cup," Headley said.
Trainer Michelle Lovell tested the waters at Louisiana Downs last year, when she shipped in from Texas and won 6 races from 24 starters, including the $50,000 Princess with Shedoesrock. This meet, she has set up shop at the Bossier City, La., racetrack. Lovell has a 30-horse stable settled in for the season that opened on Saturday.
All Giving improved his record on off tracks, getting a perfect inside trip under Eric Rodriguez and splashing to a five-length victory in the $67,750 The Very One Stakes.
Owned by the Concepts Unlimited Stable and Catherine Smith and trained by Flint Stites, All Giving figured as a longshot in the five-furlong The Very One had remained on turf but it didnt, because of soggy conditions. Bet down to second favoritism at 5-2, the 4-year-old filly laid several lengths the pace from a favorable inside spot, then surged past front-running Cat on a Cloud at the top of the stretch.