Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Level Playingfield captures Marfa

Level Playingfield proved an aptly named winner of the Marfa Stakes at Turfway Saturday. Racing over a Polytrack surface that played fair to all running styles, he rallied from ninth to win the 6.5-furlong Marfa Stakes in track-record time.

Ridden by John McKee, Level Playingfield was far out of it in the early going, racing last as Caller One and Old Deuteronomy dueled on the front end with splits of 22.24 seconds and 44.70. But once in the stretch, he quickly became a player, advancing to fourth with a furlong remaining and surging to the lead in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Wanderin Boy easily takes Brooklyn

Horsephotos
Wanderin Boy with Javier Castellano riding wins the Brooklyn Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - When the best horse in a race is able to get loose on the lead, it usually makes for very little drama.

That's exactly what happened in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 at Belmont Park, in which Wanderin Boy, under Javier Castellano, was able to control the race from the outset en route to a 1 1/2-length victory over hard-trying Awesome Twist. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back to Reverberate in third.

Funny Cide finished fourth and was followed by Good Reward and We Can Seek.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Knight in Flight stretches out

MIAMI - Knight in Flight has won on the lead and won from behind. He's won on dirt and he's won on grass. The key question Monday is whether Knight in Flight can also win going 1 3/8 miles in the $45,000 Oliver Stakes on the turf at Calder.

Knight in Flight has never won beyond 1 1/16 miles or run farther than 1 1/8 miles. A versatile son of Family Calling, Knight in Flight rallied to a three-length victory going 1 1/16 miles here last summer and also led throughout to capture his third-level allowance condition by 4 1/4 lengths at the same distance June 19.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Its His Time flawless at meet

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Its His Time will try to keep his perfect season at Great Lakes Downs intact when he faces nine rivals in the $50,000 Frontier Handicap on Monday evening. The 1 1/8-mile feature, being run for the 82nd time, is the fifth race on the card, which begins at 5:10 Eastern.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Marian good fit for O'Neill filly

Ambition will take a backseat to reality on Monday at Fairplex Park for Meetmeinthewoods, who should rule a strong favorite when she returns to face fellow California-bred 3-year-old fillies in the day's feature, the $65,000 CTBA Marian Stakes.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

A Sea Trippi scores for Spatz

Trainer Ron Spatz did it again at Calder on Saturday, winning the $100,000 U Can Do It Handicap for the third time in five years after A Sea Trippi rallied to a 2 1/4-length decision over 2-1 favorite Running Bobcats in the 6 1/2-furlong filly and mare dash.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Laurel: Friel's for Real by head

Friel's for Real outdueled Silmaril in an extended drive down the stretch of the $100,000 Gala Lil Stakes at Laurel to grab a head victory in the one-mile race for fillies and mares.

Trained by Ned Allard, Friel's for Real proved her love of Laurel once again. The 6-year-old mare, based at Philadelphia Park, has now turned in five of her 13 victories at the Maryland track, including the Gala Lil in 2004.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Delaware: Celtic Innis hangs on

Southern Missile figured to be hard to catch in the $100,000 Vincent A. Moscarelli Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park, but Celtic Innis caught him and still had enough to hold off the late charge of City Weekend to win by a neck.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Woodbine: Barilko takes Swynford

Barilko ($2.90) maintained his position as the leader of Woodbine's 2-year-old division following a workmanlike score in the $126,200 Swynford Stakes.

Barilko set fractions of 22.96 and 46.03 under jockey Constant Montpellier while being pressed by Carysfort Light. He opened up a clear lead early in the stretch, and coasted home to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Bilbo. Acoustic Shadow finished third in the eight-horse field. Full Blast and Stillistillmovin were scratched.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Top 4 in Ann Arbor return in Oaks

MUSKEGON, Mich. - The $50,000 Michigan Oaks on Tuesday at Great Lakes Downs has attracted six Michigan-bred 3-year-old fillies, including the first four finishers in the $50,000 Ann Arbor Stakes here Aug. 19. A 1 1/16-mile race, the Michigan Oaks will be run for the 33rd time and is the eighth race on the card, which begins at 5:10 p.m. There will be no exotic or show wagering, because there are two stable couplings in the race.