Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Motion filly rested, ready for Waya run

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The initial disappointment of having to scratch Sweet Science out of a stakes race three weeks ago may prove serendipitous for trainer Graham Motion, who on Friday will send out Sweet Science in search of her first stakes victory in the $70,000 Waya Stakes at Saratoga.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Da Stoops formidable vs. Cal-breds

DEL MAR, Calif. - When racing against California-breds, Da Stoops can do just about anything. In his 12-race career, Da Stoops has won four of seven starts against statebreds, including three stakes.

It is that record that will make Da Stoops a heavy favorite in Friday's $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.

is one of five 3-year-olds entered in the seven-furlong Real Good Deal. None of the other four runners is a stakes winner, though Bold Chieftain and Seven Nation Army have placed in stakes.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Claimers rematched in sprint

AUBURN, Wash. - Waverly Girl will shoot for her fourth win at the Emerald Downs meeting on Friday when she heads a field of nine fillies and mares, each eligible to be claimed for $8,000 to $10,000, in the 5 1/2-furlong feature.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

3 stakes winners go at it

EDMONTON, Alberta - Friday evening's Madamoiselle here at Northlands Park will see topweighted To Dream Again seek her second stakes victory in a field of eight that includes two other stakes winners in Ice Girl and Braetta. The Madamoiselle, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, offers a purse of $50,000.

To Dream Again, who will carry 124 pounds and be ridden by Leanne Painter, won the Sales Stakes and the Jenkins Memorial in Calgary this spring. Ice Girl won the one-mile John Patrick in her last start here July 16, with Braetta fifth.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Stronach filly been keeping good company

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - There are key races and key workouts, and Wedded Woman has both angles going for her heading into Friday's Woodbine feature, an allowance prep for the Sept. 2 Ontario Colleen Stakes.

Wedded Woman, trained by Brian Lynch for Stronach Stable, had a productive winter stint on the grass at Gulfstream, where she won a first-level allowance in March despite a troubled trip. Her next start there resulted in a third-place

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Class drop benefits Asi Siempre

Adam Coglianese / NYRA
Asi Siempre overtakes Bright Abundance by a neck in the De La Rose.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - After knocking heads with some of the top turf fillies and mares in training, Asi Siempre found some class relief Wednesday and was able to wear down Bright Abundance to win the $73,250 by a neck at Saratoga.

Bright Abundance finished second for the third straight time in an overnight stakes, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Connie Belle.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Samyn breaks bones in fall

Jockey Jean-Luc Samyn suffered a broken collarbone and a fractured pelvis as a result of a spill during training hours Tuesday morning at Saratoga. Though the oldest active member of the Saratoga jockey colony - Samyn will turn 50 in November - he vows to return to race riding.

"When I retire it will not be after a fall,'' Samyn said by phone from his Saratoga Hospital room. "I would never go out like that. It's just another bump in the road, not uncommon in this game."

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Pletcher pair in Sword Dancer

Horsephotos
Todd Pletcher will send out Go Deputy and Ramazutti at Saratoga while English Channel runs at Arlington.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Todd Pletcher may be sending his top male turf marathoner, English Channel, to Chicago for the Arlington Million, but he will still have a strong hand to play in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Business on decline from record 2005 meet

Lone Star Park
Magnum, here winning the Lone Star Handicap, had a seven-furlong workout Wednesday for the Pacific Classic.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Business figures have slumped during the first three weeks of the Del Mar meeting compared with a record-breaking 2005 meeting, and are unlikely to rebound before the season ends on Sept. 6, according to Del Mar's chief financial officer, Mike Ernst.

Through Monday, the 18th day of the 43-day meeting, ontrack handle was down 5.9 percent and ontrack attendance was down 4.5 percent, Ernst said. All-sources handle had fallen 6 percent.

Wed, 08/09/2006 - 00:00

Divide and Conquer smooth so far

DEL MAR, Calif. - For the moment, trainer Don Chatlos is content talking down the prospects of Divide and Conquer, a promising 2-year-old who starts in Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. Divide and Conquer beat maidens convincingly in his debut at Hollywood Park on July 15, but Chatlos has been raving about an unraced colt by Buddha, who may start soon.

"I'm going to keep saying Divide and Conquer is not the best, and I hope he'll keep us going all the way to Churchill Downs in November," he said, referring to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.