ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Better Talk Now has traveled a long way, both literally and figuratively, between his first appearance here at Woodbine in August 2003 and his triumphant return in last Sunday's Sky Classic.
Better Talk Now's third-place finish in the 2003 Niagara marked his first Grade 2 stakes appearance for trainer Graham Motion, who has trained the 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding throughout his career.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Perfect Drift and Premium Tap are among the most accomplished runners expected Saturday for the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Julien Leparoux, the national leader in wins this year, has been named by trainer Murray Johnson for his first ride aboard Perfect Drift in the Grade 2 Classic, the showcase event in the 13th running of the $825,000 Kentucky Cup series. The Classic will be part of a National Thoroughbred Racing Association national pick four wager and an ESPN broadcast originating from Belmont Park.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The Monmouth Park meet that concluded Sunday was a season of unusual occurrences that produced a down year for racing on the Jersey Shore.
All major averages fell from 2005.
Ontrack handle on live Monmouth races dropped 10 percent to $580,824, as daily attendance slipped 7.5 percent to 8,400.
Total handle from all sources on Monmouth races dropped 1.6 percent to $2,354,237.
As a seasonal meet, Monmouth is heavily dependent on three major holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Each was damaged this year by separate factors.
ELMONT, N.Y. - I'm a Numbers Guy, a debut winner against open company at Delaware Park on Sept. 9, ran the local contingent of New York-bred 2-year-old males off their feet Sunday, galloping to a seven-length victory in the $114,300 Bertram F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park.
Bad Boy Rising finished second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Solid Strike.
Orphan Brigade stalked a hot pace then drove to a neck win over Keep On Punching in the $160,800 Premiere Breeders' Cup Stakes at Zia Park on Sunday. It was another two lengths back in third to Go Kitty Go.
Orphan Bridgade ($19.60) settled in fourth as Stone Rain, the favorite, and Sweepingly, dueled through fractions of 21.40 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.20 for the half-mile. Orphan Brigade overtook the leaders and went on to cover the six furlongs in 1:10.80.
POMONA, Calif. - Southern Africa, the only graded stakes winner among eight starters in the $123,750 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Handicap, won the centerpiece race of the Los Angeles County Fair on Sunday by a half-length over Top this and That.
Jon Court rode Southern Africa ($9.20) for trainer Mike Puhich. Racing about 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.19, Southern Africa won for the first time since the Grade 3 Lone Star Derby in May 2005. Longshot Itstufftobegood finished third; 2-1 favorite Stormin Away finished fifth. Skipaslew and He's the Rage scratched.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Halo Steven, who is trained by Barb Heads, displayed tremendous courage in winning the Grade 3 $348,500 at Hastings Sunday.
With Pedro Alvarado aboard, Halo Steven battled with Ok Nothanksforaskn through sprint like fractions of 22.27, 45.35 and 1:10.08 and then held off a late bid by Head Chopper to win by a nose while posting a final time for the 1 1-8 miles of 1:49.96. In a four horse photo, Ok Nothanksforaskin finished third, a neck behind Head Chopper and a neck in front of Emerald Derby winner Raise the Bluff.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Better Talk Now ($5.70) prevailed in a three-way win photo over Jambalaya and Last Answer in Sunday's Grade 2, $300,800 at Woodbine.
With Ramon Dominguez riding, Better Talk Now rated kindly about seven lengths off the lead going down the backstretch of the mile and three-eighth grass event. Last Answer set a slow pace over a yielding course while being stalked by Jambalaya, who joined him on the lead in mid-stretch.