INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bend a Little's first career stakes win, in the Hermosa Beach Handicap at Hollywood Park on Nov. 11, made a fan of jockey Jose Valdivia Jr.
Valdivia rode Bend a Little for the first time in that turf race at 1 1/2 miles and was impressed by her performance after hearing a scouting report from trainer Christophe Clement's staff.
"Before the race, they told me that the distance would be no problem," Valdivia said. "She proved it."
STICKNEY, Ill. - Stellas New Groove got a taste of the big time a couple of months ago at Keeneland. And now it is back to reality for this 2-year-old filly.
Stellas New Groove may not note the starkly different surroundings she encounters Wednesday at Hawthorne Race Course, where there is a chance of snow with temperatures struggling to hit the freezing mark.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gary Contessa held his annual high school reunion a week too early.
On Nov. 26, Contessa entertained a few dozen of his pals from the 1975 graduating class of Calhoun High School in Merrick, N.Y., at Aqueduct. Amazingly, Contessa did not have a runner on the card, nor did he have one the previous day.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - No track records are safe this fall on the new synthetic surface at Hollywood Park.
With cooler temperatures in recent weeks, the track has quickened noticeably, often producing six-furlong times well below 1:10. In Saturday's Grade 3 Vernon Underwood Stakes, Sailors Sunset led throughout, finishing in 1:07.79. The time was the fastest of the meeting at the distance, and the fastest on the Cushion Track synthetic surface installed last summer.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bob Tiller has been first or second in the trainer standings at the last five Woodbine meetings, but this fall, he endured a six-week span in which his horses did not win a single race.
"When you go through that, you think you forgot how to do it," said Tiller. "It becomes very frustrating. We lost at least a dozen horses through serious injuries, and it showed this fall. But we're back doing it again, and I'm very pleased with our year when you consider all the ups and downs we've had."
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Even though she ran for a $32,000 claiming tag in her debut, Dixie Magic impressed trainer Bill Morey Jr. For her second start, Morey has entered Dixie Magic against 10 rivals in a $40,000 starter allowance race at six furlongs Wednesday at Bay Meadows.
A 3-year-old filly, Dixie Magic scored by 3 1/2 lengths in her debut and paid $35.20. The victory was something of a surprise, since Dixie Magic is by Dixie Dot Com, a young sire who has not had much success with first-time starters.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - My Kitty prevailed in a thrilling stretch drive, outfinishing Laurentide Ice and Visual Candy to win Sunday's $70,070 East View Laurentide Ice nosed out Visual Candy for second. American Dream'a, Court and Spark, and Twistaway, the 8-5 favorite, completed the order of finish.
My Kitty's victory completed a weekend sweep of Aqueduct's stakes for trainer Gary Contessa, who on Saturday won the Garland of Roses with Magnolia Jackson and the Coyote Lakes with Successful Affair.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The experiment of trying the turf stakes winner Foxysox on the main track in Sunday's $150,000 was not only a success, but may lead to a change in her 2007 campaign.
After the race, trainer Carla Gaines said Foxysox would be pointed to the three-race La Canada Series for 4-year-old fillies of 2007 during the upcoming Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.
Foxysox certainly took to Hollywood Park's synthetic surface in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Arch Hall ($4.30) captured the mile and a sixteenth Sir Barton Stakes for the third year in a row at Woodbine Sunday.
Arch Hall trailed the six-horse field of Ontario-sired runners on the backstretch, while racing about three lengths off the leaders. His stablemate, Schooner Bay, and Millfleet dueled through moderate fractions, and were joined up front by Executive Choice on the far turn.
Valiant Hero held off First Prize Perry by a neck to win Saturday night's Grade 1, $1,053,912 Texas Classic Futurity for Quarter Horses at Lone Star Park and give his trainer, Jack Brooks, and his rider, G.R. Carter Jr., a sweep of the three stakes run closing night at the track. The Texas Classic was the richest race held this year in Texas.
Valiant Hero ($6.60) covered the 400 yards in 19.72 seconds, and for the victory earned $468,991.