AUBURN, Wash. - Immigration gave trainer Howard Belvoir his fourth straight renewal of the $45,000 Emerald Express Stakes at Emerald Downs on Saturday, defeating 11 other 2-year-olds in 1:09.80 for six furlongs.
Immigration, a Washington-bred son of Delineator, pressed the pace from the outside before taking a clear advantage turning for home and drew out to score by four lengths over Onehundred Days. Pirates Deputy closed from far back for third.
Giacomo, ridden by Mike Smith, captures the to earn his first victory since last year's Kentucky Derby.
Giacomo proved in Saturday's $300,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar that he is more than just a one-hit wonder.
Winning for the first time since his 50-1 upset in the 2005 Kentucky Derby, Giacomo caught Preachinatthebar in deep stretch to claim the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap by a head. The race was Giacomo's first start since he finished fifth in the Santa Anita Handicap in March.
Both Live Life and Dancing Edie looked to be the controlling speed in the , but when Live Life walked out of the gate, Dancing Edie found herself alone on the lead. Her jockey, Corey Nakatani, nursed her through soft fractions, and then gave her an aggressive ride in the stretch to hold off a horde of challengers and win the Grade 1, $400,000 grass race for older fillies and mares.
High Strike Zone won the $75,000 Ark-La-Tex Handicap at Louisiana Downs for the second straight year on Saturday, when he set a stout pace and went on to a three and three-quarter length win over Pressed. It was another four lengths back in third to Mr. Pursuit.
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.
