Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Win McCool takes first stakes

Horsephotos
Win McCool with Garrett Gomez riding wins the Floral Park on Saturday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Win McCool finally lived up to her regal bloodlines Saturday, dueling longshot Pretty Imposing into defeat and drawing off to a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $110,900 at Belmont Park.

Great Intentions, who was perfectly positioned behind the dueling leaders, had to settle for second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Stormy Kiss in third. Swap Fliparoo, the Test winner and 2-1 Floral Park favorite, finished fourth and was followed by For All We Know, Indian Flare, Ever Elusive, and Pretty Imposing.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Who's the Cowboy impressive

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Owner Gerry Sleeter tossed and turned all night, debating whether to scratch Who's the Cowboy from the $100,000 Friendly Lover Handicap on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Sleeter opted to run and was rewarded with a fourth straight stakes win by the 4-year-old Who's the Cowboy. The effort was easily the most impressive during the fourth annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival.

Sat, 09/16/2006 - 00:00

Two spills at La. Downs

Three riders were involved in two spills early on Saturday's card at Louisiana Downs. All three of the riders - the apprentice Cody Meche, Anthony Lovato, and Michael Wright - appeared to escape serious injury.

In the first race, the tiring Deputy O'Neal shied in the stretch and ducked into the rail, unseating Meche. Deputy O'Neal appeared uninjured while Meche, though slightly shaken up, kept his riding commitments for the remainder of the day.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Remarkable News fast and consistent

Horsephotos
Remarkable News, with Javier Castellano up, wins the 2006 Fourstardave at Saratoga Race Course.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Remarkable News is the main front-runner in Sunday's Grade 1, $1 million , and that, coupled with his consistent record and determination, makes him the one to beat.

Run for the 10th time, the Woodbine Mile headlines a blockbuster 11-race card, which also includes two other outstanding turf stakes, the Grade 2 Canadian and the Grade 3 Summer.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Ambitious Cat facing some tough opposition

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ambitious Cat, Canada's champion turf filly or mare in 2005, ended a frustrating run of near-misses by becoming a stakes winner in the July 15 Dance Smartly here at Woodbine.

On Sunday, Ambitious Cat will be looking to enhance her case for another divisional title when she faces five rivals in the $300,000 Canadian, which like the Dance Smartly is a Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Certifiably Crazy seeks 3rd in row

ELMONT, N.Y. - For the last few years, it seems like the triumvirate of , Dave, and Golden Commander have taken turns winning the series of New York-bred turf stakes run on this circuit. After victories in the last two statebred turf stakes, it doesn't seem that Certifiably Crazy wants to surrender his turn.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Her Royal Nibs suddenly going great

ELMONT, N.Y. - Her Royal Nibs didn't make it to the races until this, her 5-year-old season. And though she was able to win a maiden race in her second start, she certainly wasn't breaking any stopwatches.

But in her last two starts, Her Royal Nibs has rewarded her connections for their patience and perseverance with two authoritative allowance wins at Saratoga. Sunday, she stands an excellent chance to win her stakes debut in the $100,000 Schenectady Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Tough cast in Summer

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - European raider Streets Ahead and unbeaten American runner Marcavelly head a superb field of 2-year-olds in Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Summer, a one-mile turf stakes that is a supporting feature on Woodbine Mile Day.

Streets Ahead is based in England with trainer Andrew Balding, who captured two stakes here last year, with Vanderlin and Silver Highlight.

Streets Ahead won his maiden in his third start Aug. 17 at Salisbury, and then took the listed Stonehenge Stakes there eight days later, receiving a Timeform rating of 98.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Favorites not helping Fairplex figs

POMONA, Calif. - Autumn racing at the Los Angeles County Fair is not quite the same as summer racing at Del Mar. But six days into the Fairplex Park meet, at least two similarities to Del Mar have emerged: a slight handle decline and a swollen win rate for favorites.

All-sources wagering at Fairplex is down slightly from the record 2005 season and is averaging $6.3 million daily.

"It is kind of mirroring the Del Mar meet," said Fairplex equine manager George Bradvica.

Fri, 09/15/2006 - 00:00

Chief's Magic big chalk

POMONA, Calif. - A smashing maiden victory by Chief's Magic stamped the 2-year-old as a potential graded stakes runner. But what's the rush?

Chief's Magic could have run anywhere in the country after blasting Del Mar maidens Sept. 2 by more than seven lengths while earning an 89 Beyer Speed Figure. The number is only 3 points less than Horse Greeley earned winning the Del Mar Futurity.