Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Now the real test for Anew

ELMONT, N.Y. - Anew has taken the fast track from low-level claimer to graded-stakes winner. But if he is to join the short list of elite sprinters in the country, he will have to derail Silver Train over his favorite surface.

Anew will get that chance Sunday, when he squares off against Silver Train and five others in a terrific renewal of the Grade 2, $150,000 at Belmont Park. A field of seven was entered for the seven-furlong Tom Fool, including quality sprinters Sir Greeley, War Front, and Big Apple Daddy.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Jazil to skip Jim Dandy

Horsephotos
Jazil, winner of the Belmont Stakes in June, will take on Bernardini in the Travers.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The showdown between 3-year-old classic winners Bernardini and Jazil will have to wait until the Travers.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Friday that Belmont Stakes winner Jazil will bypass the $500,000 Jim Dandy on July 29 and train right up to the $1 million Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 26. By electing to skip the Jim Dandy, Jazil will avoid meeting Preakness winner Bernardini twice in four weeks. Bernardini is being pointed to the Grade 2 Jim Dandy.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Nicole's Dream too hot to sit

The trainer Larry Rivelli isn't concerned about bringing Nicole's Dream back only 12 days after she beat males in the Smile Stakes here at Arlington, and with good reason feels Nicole's Dream is far and away the best turf sprinter in Sunday's J J's dream, a $45,000 overnight stakes that's just the female counterpart to the Smile.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

T. H. Approval in a good spot

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A puzzling field of turf horses are running in the Grade 2 Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park on Sunday, closing day of the spring-summer meet.

Del Mar opens Wednesday.

There are no standouts among the 10 horses in the 1 1/2-mile Sunset, but the card does include at least one equine star - Declan's Moon, the undefeated champion 2-year-old of 2004 who makes his first start in more than a year in an allowance sprint that goes as race 1.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Precious Kitten in deep field

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It can't be said that the Churchill Downs racing office saved the best for last, but they might well have saved the biggest for last. A whopping 157 horses are on the overnight for Sunday, making the 57th and final program of the 2006 spring meet a veritable showcase for full fields.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Marianne Rose back quickly

AUBURN, Wash. - A field of 11 2-year-old fillies will vie for divisional leadership in Sunday's six-furlong Angie C. Stakes, the first stakes for juveniles at the Emerald Downs meeting.

Marianne Rose may rule a slight favorite off her impressive victory over $40,000 maidens just eight days ago. Marianne Rose, a daughter of More Than Ready from the barn of trainer Richard Wright, sped five furlongs in 58.20 seconds to win by 8 1/2 lengths under Ben Russell. That was Marianne Rose's initial outing, and the 65 Beyer she earned is the highest in the field.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Unbeaten filly gets legit challenge

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Sophie's Trophy will try to remain undefeated when she takes on four other 3-year-old fillies in the Emerald Downs Handicap at Hastings Sunday. She will have to deal with a very tough Excited Miss in the 1 1/16-mile feature in order to keep her streak alive.

Sophie's Trophy, who is trained by Janet Armstrong, was very impressive winning her first two starts, both at Hastings. Both times she had clean trips and overpowered her opponents, including Excited Miss in the Langley Handicap May 20.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Socorro County invades

EDMONTON, Alberta - Vancouver invader Socorro County will test Alberta stakes winners Braetta and To Dream Again in Sunday's $50,000 John Patrick Handicap here at Northlands Park. The John Patrick, a one-mile race for fillies and mares, attracted a field of eight.

Co-owner and trainer David Forster has named Jake Barton to take the mount as Socorro County seeks her first win of the year. Socorro County is no stranger to Alberta, as she shipped to Calgary and finished third in the 2004 and 2005 runnings of the Duchess of York.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Declan's Moon returns in allowance

Horsephotos
On Sunday, Declan's Moon will race for the first since he won the Santa Catalina (above) in March 2005.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Declan's Moon, the champion 2-year-old male of 2004, makes a long-awaited comeback from injury in an allowance race at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Trainer Ron Ellis and owner Samantha Siegel say Declan's Moon has trained well enough in recent weeks to keep his unbeaten record intact.

Declan's Moon is entered in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs, the first race on the final day of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting. Declan's Moon drew post 4 and has four opponents - Yes He's a Pistol, Desert Boom, Seattle Buddy, and Areyoutalkintome.

Fri, 07/14/2006 - 00:00

Grade 1's start meet with bang

Led by four Grade 1 stakes on its first two weekends, the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting will feature 28 stakes. The meet runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 29.

Three of the Grade 1 races are being run on Sept. 30 and two of them have had their purses altered. The purse for the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles on turf, has been cut from $500,000 to $400,000. The purse for the Oak Leaf Breeders' Cup Stakes has been increased $50,000, to $250,000. The Oak Leaf, promoted from a Grade 2 since last year, is run for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.