ELMONT, N.Y. - Any Given Saturday had the best post position, got the best trip, and therefore got the second half of the 3-year-old season off to a better start than did Nobiz Like Shobiz in Wednesday's Grade 2, $150,000 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park.
Sitting second behind longshot leader Believeinmenow through a modest pace, Any Given Saturday took command turning for home and easily defeated slight favorite Nobiz Like Shobiz by four lengths before a July Fourth crowd of 8,415 at Belmont Park.
Kari Craddock, who trains stakes winner Annie Savoy, was one of the first trainers to move horses into Remington Park in Oklahoma City when the stable area opened on Monday. The track's 69-date meet will get under way on Aug. 2. Remington was to open for training on Thursday.
"I'll be the first one on the track," said Craddock, who is looking forward to what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated meets in the history of Remington.
Last Sunday's State Fair Futurity had a much better ending for trainer David Anderson than last year's did, as he saddled Ittakestwobaby to a three-length win in the $20,650 dash at 4 1/2 furlongs.
In last year's race, Anderson sent out Ittakestwobaby's half-brother Touchonemore. The gelding was went off at even money, opened a three-length lead into the stretch, then suffered a fatal breakdown in his hind leg.
Gina Moore, a recent graduate of Ohio State University and an exercise rider, will have her first mount as a jockey on Friday for trainer John Bourke. Moore had been named on several horses at entry time, but refused to accept those mounts, as she wanted her first ride to be for Bourke, who has been somewhat of a mentor to her.
Trainer Kelly Von Hemel had to be sad to see the Prairie Meadows meet end Wednesday. Von Hemel set a Prairie Meadows record by winning seven of the 21 stakes at the meet. Six of Von Hemel's stakes wins came with fillies or mares.
"We've had a good meet, and I owe a lot of it to my owners who have provided me with some nice horses," said the 42 year-old Von Hemel, who has been training for 22 years. "When you've got horses like Miss Macy Sue, Irish Party, and Seekingthereinbow it makes setting records possible."
When the $45,000 A.J. Foyt Stakes was switched from turf to dirt Tuesday at Indiana Downs, the news could not have been better for Liepers Fork. Winless in four previous starts on the turf, but a stakes winner on dirt less than two months ago, Liepers Fork took advantage of the surface switch with a late-closing 1o1/2-length win over favored Play Smart, who held second by a neck over Heza Wild Guy.
A season-high 14,107 fans were on hand for Tuesday - the day before the Fourth of July - which featured three $45,000 stakes at Canterbury Park.
Ma Home Cat prevailed by a nose in the Princess Elaine Stakes for Minnesota-bred fillies and mares on the turf. Nishani set the pace in the 1 1/16-mile contest and was just collared by Ma Home Cat on the wire. Blumin Beauty finished third, another neck behind the top pair. Juan Rivera rode Ma Home Cat , who was timed in 1:45 over firm going. Ma Home Cat, a Camelia Casby homebred, is trained by Gary Scherer.
ELMONT, N.Y. - High Finance hadn't been one to carry over his big allowance race wins into graded stakes competition. Until now, that is.
High Finance backed up his fast-time, high speed figure allowance win six weeks ago with a super performance in winning Wednesday's Grade 2, $200,000 Tom Fool Breeders' Cup Handicap by 2 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park.
Awesome Twist, 12 lengths back after the opening half-mile, rallied for second by a half-length over 1-2 favorite Commentator. Rondo, Will He Shine, and Istan completed the order of finish. Saint Anddan scratched.