Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Vestrey Lady pulls off Royal North upset

Vestrey Lady ($16.80) turned back a stretch challenge from 1-5 favorite Financingavailable to take the Gradeo3, $169,300 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine on Monday.

Vestrey Lady led throughout the six-furlong turf sprint, setting fractions of 22.90 and 45.69 seconds under Emile Ramsammy. Financingavailable drew even with Vestrey Lady in midstretch, but Vestrey Lady held her ground and prevailed by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:09.17.

"She acted very professional," said Ramsammy. "She was happy doing what she did."

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Jock just misses nine wins in row

Jockey Tommy Molina came within a neck of winning with nine consecutive mounts at Great Lakes Downs last week. Last Wednesday he had three wins and a second before roaring back on Saturday and winning five straight of his seven mounts.

He won Wednesday's fifth race with Catch the Dew for trainer Shane Spiess. He then won a pair for trainer Bob Gorham, scoring in the sixth on Demolition Zone and the seventh on Red at Nite. In the card's eighth and final race, Molina's mount, Sheain't a Lady, lost by a neck.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Hard Spun might go in King's Bishop next

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Hard Spun might be shortening up in distance after a second-place finish Sunday in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

The Haskell at 1 1/8 miles was Hard Spun's first race since he ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown. Trainer Larry Jones said Monday morning from Delaware Park that Hard Spun came out of the Haskell in good order.

"Everything seems good on him after the race," Jones said. "He doesn't seem to have any issues. Everything is good."

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Crown jewels land in three separate camps

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mike Fox, Alezzandro, and Marchfield were the only three horses to compete in all three legs of this year's Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, which concluded with the Breeders' Stakes here Sunday.

And it was Marchfield, who had been disappointing in both Mike Fox's Queen's Plate at Woodbine and in Alezzandro's Prince of Wales at Fort Erie, who stepped up to capture the $500,000 Breeders' over 1 1/2 miles of turf.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Trainer finds himself in odd spot

DEL MAR, Calif. - Being the leading trainer at Del Mar has led to a few awkward moments for Peter Miller. He found that out recently while visiting with friends between races.

"Someone said, 'I'm sitting with the leading trainer at Del Mar,' and I started to look around for Jeff or Doug," Miller recalled over the weekend.

Perennial leaders Jeff Mullins and Doug O'Neill were nowhere to be seen. Miller was the focus of the comment. Through Sunday, Miller has forced people to notice his stable, winning seven races and tying for the lead in the standings with O'Neill.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Slim pickings on fair's first two race cards

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The San Mateo County Fair, better known as the Bay Meadows Fair, opens Wednesday.

The fair could also be called "Bay Meadows light" since is serves primarily as a two-week prep for the fall Bay Meadows meet, which opens Aug. 22 after an 11-day fair run.

Filling races at the meet has traditionally been a delicate balance and appears to be even tougher this year. Only 52 runners were entered on opening day, when only one of the eight races drew the minimum of eight horses required to offer superfecta wagering.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Columbus: Bevys Best all the way

Bevys Best took advantage of the speed-favoring surface at Columbus to claim his first stakes victory with a 5 1/2-length score in the $11,025 Hall of Fame Stakes on Saturday.

Bevys Best, trained by Larry Staroscik and with Armando Martinez riding, took control at the very beginning of the six-furlong sprint, posting a mild $8.40 upset over 6-5 favorite My Secret Star, who finished second.

Bevys Best covered the distance in 1:12.60 over a fast track.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Canterbury: Prospective Kiss blows by them

Prospective Kiss used an impressive finish to capture Saturday's $45,000 John Bullit Stakes at Canterbury Park.

Prospective Kiss was part of an uncoupled entry for trainer Mac Robertson, who also saddled Honour Colony. The narrow favorite, Honour Colony sprinted to the lead but was joined by Sir Swervalot racing into the first turn.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Remington: Tempting Date dominates

Tempting Date rolled to 2 1/2-length win over Annie Savoy in the $50,000 Adena Springs Matchmaker Turf Sprint at Remington Park on Saturday. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Amarula.

Tempting Date ($5) dueled with Runs Naked through an opening quarter-mile in 21.44 seconds, disposed of her rivals, and rocketed home to cover five furlongs on firm turf in 55.49 seconds. Ramsey Zimmerman was aboard for trainer Chris Hartman.

Mon, 08/06/2007 - 00:00

Santa Rosa: Now Victory repeats in Grace

Relaxing nicely on the lead, defending champion Now Victory ($3.40) had no trouble repelling a brief challenge by Saratoga's Magic at the quarter pole to score an easy victory in the $50,930 Joseph T. Grace Handicap at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Saturday.