ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. was very surprised to see Wonder Lady Anne L part of the early pace in Saturday's $300,000 at Belmont Park. But as long as jockey Edgar Prado was happy being there, so was he.
"I was just riding along with Edgar, just seeing what was going to happen," Dutrow said. "She took control turning for home."
DEL MAR, Calif. - With wins in half of her six starts, has lived up to her impeccable breeding. One thing missing from her career is a stakes start, which trainer Ron McAnally hopes to achieve in coming months.
Monday at Del Mar, Charm the Giant, who is by Giant's Causeway out of the stakes-winning mare Olympic Charmer, starts from the rail in an optional claimer at a mile on turf. A win could lead to a start in the Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap on Sept. 2.
MIAMI - Calder's Extreme Day, held Saturday, took many months of planning and forced track management to overcome numerous logistical obstacles. Unfortunately, the one variable nobody could control was the weather, which ultimately put an end to the afternoon's two most extreme events: the clockwise King George's Wrong Way Stakes and the World's Fastest Daily Double, which was to have consisted of two simultaneous races.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Jockey Patrick Valenzuela will not ride at Del Mar this summer because of a back injury, according to his agent, Tom Knust.
Knust said that Valenzuela was advised on Friday that the back injury will require surgery and that he could be out from four to eight weeks. If that time frame proves correct, Valenzuela could return for the start of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting on Sept. 27.
"He'll probably have to have surgery," Knust said. "He won't be here at this meeting. They're going to run more tests on Monday or Tuesday."
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Love Locket rallied past a determined Zooming By in deep stretch to the win the $65,000 Serena's Song Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Love Locket ($5.40) got up by three-quarters of a length to earn her fourth win in seven career starts for owner Michael Tabor and trainer Todd Pletcher.
The time was 1:41.85 for the mile and 70 yards on a muddy, sealed track.
Corey Fraser guides 8-1 shot Are You Serious to a one-length victory over 1-2 favorite Judiths Wild Rush in the Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine.
Under a ground-saving ride from Corey Fraser, Are You Serious upset last year's Canadian champion sprinter, 1-2 favorite Judiths Wild Rush, in the $125,000 Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.
Diabolical, returning to dirt for the first time since finishing a distant eighth in the Preakness, easily handled his first assignment on an off track by scoring a 4 1/2-length victory in the $58,200 Stanton Stakes at Delaware Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds was reduced from 11 to five runners when sloppy conditions forced track officials to take the stakes off the turf.
Bright Gold pulled clear of pacesetter Partners Due in deep stretch to win the $60,000 Somethingroyal Stakes at Colonial Downs for the second straight year.
A 6-year-old mare ridden by Horacio Karamanos for trainer Mary Eppler, Bright Gold ($2.40) earned her 12th career victory in 31 starts and her second consecutive stakes over the local turf course. She previously won the $70,000 Buckland on June 25.
Costa Rising won his fifth straight race when he cruised to a 2 1/2-length win over Chromite Soldier in the $75,000 A.L. "Red" Erwin for 3-year-old statebreds at Louisiana Downs. It was another nose back in third to Tommy's Turn.
Costa Rising ($3.80) led the field through fractions of 23.58 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 47.34 for the half-mile, and 1:12.74 for six furlongs en route to covering about one mile on good turf in 1:36.75.
Mario Reyes rode the winner for trainer Joseph Boxie.
