Mon, 08/13/2007 - 00:00

Jambalaya true rags to riches story

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The celebration had started late Saturday afternoon when Jambalaya, owned by the Phillipses' Kingfield Racing Stable, upset the Grade 1 Arlington Million and earned an automatic berth in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Monmouth on Oct. 27. And now Todd Phillips was sleeping soundly at the desk of his wife, trainer Catherine Day Phillips, after having spent the previous 12 hours driving a horse van back from Arlington Park.

Mon, 08/13/2007 - 00:00

Hot pace sets up Skwhirl

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Skwhirl ($20.60) rallied from off a hotly contested pace and drew off through the final furlong to score his fourth career stakes victory in the $15,750 Amadevil Stakes for older Nebraska-breds at Columbus on Saturday night.

Mon, 08/13/2007 - 00:00

No Constraints emerges from battle of pacesetters

AUBURN, Wash. - No Constraints ($4.60) weathered a three-horse speed battle before drawing off to score a 7 1/2- length victory in Saturday's $45,000 Knights Choice Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

No Constraints, a homebred daughter of Katowice who races for Dunn Bar Ranch, fought for the lead from between horses through a half-mile in 45.20 seconds, then powered away under rider Ricky Frazier to complete the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.40. Russian, who was also part of the early pace, held second by 2 1/4 lengths over the fast-finishing Silky Sally.

Mon, 08/13/2007 - 00:00

Costa Rising sets track record

OPELOUSAS, La. - Costa Rising returned to his winning ways Saturday night by capturing the $200,000 Evangeline Mile in track-record time.

Super Frolic, the even-money favorite and starting highweight, was left more than 12 lengths back in Costa Rising's wake. The longshot Watchem Smokey finished a distant third.

Mon, 08/13/2007 - 00:00

Bravo Cyclone surprises in futurity

ALTOONA, Iowa - Bravo Cyclone ($28.40), the longest shot on the board, upset Saturday's $60,000 Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows and established a stakes record in the process.

Bravo Cyclone, an Iowa-bred son of Bravo Bull, covered the six furlongs in 1:10.99 under jockey Alex Birzer.

Bravo Cyclone stalked the front-running filly Judy Faye through the first half-mile but began to close in at the quarter pole. The two raced together until the furlong pole when Bravo Cyclone began to pull away, finishing two lengths in front.

Sun, 08/12/2007 - 00:00

It's Ruffian – not Alabama – for Rags to Riches

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher made official on Sunday what he’d been hinting at for weeks: Rags to Riches won’t run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

Instead, Pletcher will point Rags to Riches to the Grade 1, $300,000 Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park on Sept. 8. That will be her last race before the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park. If, for some reason, Pletcher opts to skip the Ruffian, the back-up is the $250,000 Gazelle at Belmont on Sept. 15.

Sun, 08/12/2007 - 00:00

Del Mar Sunday carryover: $239K

DEL MAR, Calif.-A 42-1 upset in Saturday’s seventh race led to a pick six carryover of $239,832 for Sunday’s nine-race program at Del Mar.

With the exception of the five-runner $150,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds, the races in Sunday’s pick six have competitive fields.

Sun, 08/12/2007 - 00:00

Favored Istan takes Governor's

Istan, the favorite in a field of 10 older horses, rolled to a 4 1/2-length victory Saturday in the $50,000 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Miguel Mena, Istan stalked the pace before moving outside the front-runners and opening an unassailable lead in midstretch. Spellbinder finished second, 4 1/2 lengths before Red Raymond in the one-mile race.

Sat, 08/11/2007 - 00:00

Medici Code gets first U.S. win in La Jolla

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Medici Code, whose trainer described him as "a very expensive gelding," looked like more of a bargain than a $585,000 purchase winning Saturday's $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar.

Winning the first stakes of his career, Medici Code ($12.40) won the Grade 2 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths over 9-5 favorite Worldly. Latin Rhythms, who set the pace, finished a head back in third, a nose in front of Ten a Penny, who disputed the pace throughout.

Sat, 08/11/2007 - 00:00

Longshots create Sunday carryover at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With longshots Senor Enrico ($87.50) and Grand Couturier ($33.20) in the sequence, nobody hit the pick six at Saratoga on Saturday, creating a carryover of $101,391 into Sunday's card.

Senor Enrico, trained by LeRoy Jolley and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, was the longest price on the board in a field of 10 turf maidens. Grand Couturier, trained by Robby Ribaudo, won for the first time in this country, beating 3-5 shot English Channel in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational.

The consolation (5 of 6) payout was $33,797.