Mon, 06/18/2007 - 00:00

Foster's best aim for the Whitney

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Several of the top finishers in the $829,500 Stephen Foster Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs, including the victorious Flashy Bull, are expected to reconvene July 28 at Saratoga in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap.

Mon, 06/18/2007 - 00:00

Buzzards Bay out of Gold Cup

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Buzzards Bay, the winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes earlier this month, will miss the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30 because of a sore back, trainer Ron Ellis said Sunday.

"He's still a little stiff behind, so well skip it," Ellis said of the Gold Cup. "He's not coming back the way I'd like."

Owned by Gary Broad, Buzzards Bay, 5, was a leading contender for the Gold Cup based on his recent win. A winner of 6 of 18 starts and $1,325,507, Buzzards Bay won the Californian by a nose for his first stakes win since the 2006 Oaklawn Handicap.

Mon, 06/18/2007 - 00:00

Frankel barn dormant no more

ELMONT, N.Y. - Through the first half of the Belmont spring-summer meet, the Bobby Frankel stable was a virtual non-entity, having won just one race from nine starters.

But last weekend, Frankel became relevant again, running several horses that ran big races and bear watching the remainder of the season. In a span of three days, Frankel - whose barn is being overseen by assistant Scott Hansen - won two stakes races and ran second in two more.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

Stormin Away up in time at 1 3/4 miles

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Stormin Away made up 4 1/2 lengths in the stretch to win the $78,375 Round Table Handicap over 1 3/4 miles on turf at Hollywood Park on Saturday, scoring his third stakes win in the last year.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Stormin Away ($8.40) ran down Spring House to win by three-quarters of a length. Spring House, who led for most of the last six furlongs, finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Runaway Dancer. The 9-5 favorite, Runaway Dancer closed from last in the field of nine to finish third.

Stormin Away was timed in 2:54.75, a stakes record.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

Lincoln: Heso finally gets his chance

It took three weeks of delays, but Heso finally got to strut his stuff at Lincoln on Friday night as he took command through the far turn and drew off for a 7 3/4-length win in the $20,600 State Fair Breeders' Special for Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

Toga Too slips through

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Toga Too slipped through an opening along the inside nearing the quarter pole and darted to a length and a half win over Lissa’s Star in the $50,000 Carter McGregor Memorial Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday. 

It was another length back in third to War Bridle. Nuttyboom, who was favored, closed for fourth in the race, which was restricted to horses bred in Texas.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

River Downs: The Potters Hand gets up

The Potters Hand needed the entire River Downs turf stretch, but got by Catlaunch nearing the wire to win by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile $50,000 Sydney Gendleman Memorial at River Downs.

Jockey Edgar Paucar stalked the pace early from the hedge aboard The Potters Hand before angling out on the far turn and rallying into the stretch. The Potters Hand ($6), trained by Marie Vaught, has now won 7 of 14 times on the grass. The 2-1 favorite, he ran the distance in 1:14.40.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

Philadelphia: Longest shot wins

After half of the eight-horse field in the Jostle was scratched, Akronism - the longest shot on the board - went quickly to the lead, beat back a challenge by 2-5 favorite Cantrel at the quarter pole, and won the $100,000 race for 3-year-old fillies by 7 3/4 lengths.

Trained by Tim Ritchey for Cranes Racing Stable, Akronism ran the 6o1/2 furlongs on a fast strip in a slow 1:15.08 under Anthony Black and paid $21.60. Akronism raised her record to 4-1-2 from 9 starts and her earnings to $158,977.

Cantrel held second by 2 3/4 lengths over Richwoman.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

Woodbine: Bear Now preps nicely

Bear Now ($3.10) dueled with Femmina through an opening quarter of 23.65 seconds in 1 1/16-mile race. She opened up a clear lead on the backstretch, while setting fractions of 47.03 and 1:11.21, and then drew off for a 9 3/4-length win, in a time of 1:43.78.

Like a Gem finished a clear second, and Top Notch Lady nailed Roving Angel on the wire for third in the seven-horse field. Silver Highlight was pulled up on the backstretch.

Trainer Reade Baker said Bear Now would make her next start in the $500,000 Delaware Oaks.

Sat, 06/16/2007 - 00:00

Moon Catcher surprises in Susan's Girl

Moon Catcher, a 13-1 longshot, and Winning Point, the 6-5 favorite, ding-donged for the lead throughout the 1 1/16-mile Susan's Girl Breeders' Cup at Delaware Park, a $175,000 race for 3-year-old fillies.

Winning Point trailed by a head and was rallying in midstretch when Moon Catcher suddenly edged away, opened up, and won by a widening two lengths.

Winning Point had run second, 8 1/4 lengths ahead of fourth-place Moon Catcher, in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan on May 18 at Pimlico.