Mon, 10/16/2006 - 00:00

Premiers a match race - till stretch

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Under a confident ride by Quincy Welch, True Metropolitan cruised to a 3 3/4-length win over Spaghetti Mouse in the Grade 3, $150,913 B.C. Premiers at Hastings Sunday.

True Metropolitan paid $5 as the second choice behind Spaghetti Mouse. He posted a final time of 2:17.03 over a sloppy track.

Billed as a match race between True Metropolitan and Spaghetti Mouse, the 1 3/8-miles Premiers was exactly that until the top of the stretch, when True Metropolitan drew away from Spaghetti Mouse.

Mon, 10/16/2006 - 00:00

Bordonaro to supplement to BC Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bordonaro, the winner of the Grade 1 Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Stakes and two other stakes this year, is expected to be supplemented to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4, trainer Bill Spawr said over the weekend.

Spawr and owners Fred Carrillo and Daniel Cassella had hesitated to commit Bordonaro to the Sprint after the Ancient Title at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting, citing concerns about the four-week gap between races. But Spawr said the 5-year-old Bordonaro has trained well in the week since his win.

Sun, 10/15/2006 - 00:00

Senor Amigo takes Texas Hall of Fame Stakes

Senor Amigo relished the sloppy going Saturday night at Retama Park, when the $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame Stakes was moved from the turf to the main track and he rolled to a six-length win over Goosey Moose.

The race was one of six restricted stakes worth a cumulative $470,000, with the races complementing inductions into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The program was the richest of the meet at Retama.

Sun, 10/15/2006 - 00:00

Mr. Trieste victorious in Zia Express

Mr. Trieste made a rare appearance around one turn a winning one on Saturday, when he rallied for a one-length victory over Orphan Brigade in the $68,800 Zia Express at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. It was another neck back in third to Go Kitty Go.

Mr. Trieste ($4) raced about five lengths behind the pace set by Dangerous Devon, who led the field through an opening quarter in 22.60 seconds and the half-mile in 45.20. Mr. Trieste rallied through the stretch, covering the six and a half furlongs over a track rated fast in 1:17.80.

Sat, 10/14/2006 - 00:00

Gins Majesty wins Ballerina BC

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Gins Majesty came from slightly off the pace to win the Grade 3 by 1 3/4 lengths over Slewpast at Hastings Saturday.

Breaking sharply under Kevin Krigger, Gins Majesty stalked a moderate pace set by Hurry an Notis who broke down after leading for about 3-furlongs. Slewpast went to the front after a half-mile and took a one-length lead into the stretch before giving way grudgingly to Gins Majesty.

Sat, 10/14/2006 - 00:00

Malibu Mint rallies in TCA Stakes

Malibu Mint ($9.20) got precisely the kind of come-from-behind trip that has worked so well thus far on the Keeneland Polytrack when she wore down another closer, Hide and Chic, to post a one-length triumph in the Grade 3, $300,000 .

Jockey Kyle Kaenel sagely eased Malibu Mint off the pace after the filly broke sharpest of all. With a quarter-mile to run in the six-furlong race, Malibu Mint was still sixth of eight but was rolling on the outside, and she went on for her third victory, all in stakes, from 10 starts this year.

Sat, 10/14/2006 - 00:00

Gorella's victory wins BC Mile berth

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Gorella was just good enough to earn a measured victory Saturday at Keeneland in the $400,000 in an effort that told trainer Patrick Biancone he needs to run the standout filly against the boys again in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

"When a horse runs a mile in 1:34, it is not hard to decide," said Biancone, who had maintained beforehand that he was torn between entering Gorella in the BC Mile or against her own gender in the 1 3/8-mile BC Filly and Mare Turf in the Nov. 4 championship series at Churchill Downs.

Sat, 10/14/2006 - 00:00

Vacare 4 for 4 after QE II victory

Horsephotos
Vacare, with Carlos Marquez up, wins the Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Vacare answered all the questions about whether she would match up with some of the world's top 3-year-old fillies by remaining undefeated with a dramatic victory Saturday in the 23rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 at Keeneland.

"She proved she belongs," said Chris Block, the Chicago-based trainer who conditions Vacare for the Lothenbach Stables and who was registering the first Grade 1 triumph of his 17-year career. "This feels phenomenal."

Sat, 10/14/2006 - 00:00

Dark Islander wins Oak Tree Derby in U.S. debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Making his first start in the United States, Dark Islander rallied wide on the final turn to defeat the stakes winners Obrigado and A.P. Warrior in Saturday’s $150,000 at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Dark Islander ($8.80) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.21. He finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Obrigado, who finished 2 1-4 lengths clear of A.P. Warrior in the field of six. A.P. Warrior was the 6-5 favorite.

Sat, 10/14/2006 - 00:00

Grand Facile hangs on in Delicada

After setting most of the pace, Grand Facile dug in gamely to prevail by a head in the $50,000 Delicada Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Odds-on favorite Plaid lodged a late bid between horses but was unable to overtake the winner and was forced to settle for second. Raspberry Wine finished a nose farther back in third, and I. B.'s Halo was fourth. Only a quarter-length separated the first four finishers.