Sat, 05/27/2006 - 00:00

Calder: Upsets in off-the-turf stakes

A change of surface due to heavy rain the previous afternoon changed the outlook of both divisions of the $45,000 Sara's Success Stakes at Calder, with Out of Pride and Silversider taking advantage of the situation to register mild upsets in the one-mile overnight stakes.

Sat, 05/27/2006 - 00:00

Pimlico: Dynamic Deputy scores

Jim McCue / Maryland Jockey Club
Dynamic Deputy wins the $50,000 Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday.

The drop into statebred company helped Dynamic Deputy snap a four-race losing streak in the $50,000 Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico.

Racing against Maryland-breds for the first time in her 11-race career, the 4-year-old Dynamic Deputy drew close to pacesetter My Girlie entering the stretch, opened up a 1 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole, and increased her margin to 3 3/4 lengths at the wire.

Ridden by Luis Garcia for trainer Dickie Small, Dynamic Deputy ($3.20) recorded her fifth victory and first stakes win while running 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.74.

Sat, 05/27/2006 - 00:00

Woodbine: London Snow pounces

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
London Snow wins her first stakes in the $126,200 Lady Angela at Woodbine on Saturday.

London Snow ($8.60) parlayed an ideal stalking trip into her first stakes victory in the $126,200 Lady Angela at Woodbine.

London Snow tracked the leaders, San Diego Nights and Perigee Girl, on the outside in the seven-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies. She hit the front at the eighth pole, then drew clear to score by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:24.16.

Sat, 05/27/2006 - 00:00

Thistledown: Imahoneytoo upsets

Imahoneytoo went up to make the lead just before a half and widened out to a 1 3/4-length win over 2-5 favorite Just Michel in the $50,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial at six furlongs at Thistledown. Cloud Forty Nine finished third, 2 3/4 lengths farther back in the field of six Ohio-bred fillies and mares.

Imahoneytoo ($13) is owned by her breeder, Ronald Zielinski, and trained by his son Richard. She was ridden by leading jockey Scott Spieth and got the six furlongs in 1:11.28 over the fast track.

Sat, 05/27/2006 - 00:00

'That Cat' difficult to deny

Kentucky-based filly She's That Cat, 3 for 3 shipping into Mountaineer Race Track this season, will be favored to keep her perfect local record intact in Tuesday night's $75,000 Ohio Valley Handicap.

The success of She's That Cat is a prime reason trainer Steve Flint is 6 for 9 with the runners he has brought from Churchill Downs to Mountaineer this year.

Two weeks ago, the 4-year-old She's That Cat earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure winning the five-furlong Hancock County Handicap at Mountaineer.

Sat, 05/27/2006 - 00:00

Indiana: Can chalk handle turf?

Father Art towers over his eight Indiana-bred 3-year-old rivals in the $40,000 Governor's Stakes at Indiana Downs.

A winner of all four of his starts by a combined margin of 36 lengths, Father Art must answer only one question in the 7 1/2-furlong Governor's: Can he handle turf? None of the nine entrants in the Governor's has ever raced over the surface.

Fri, 05/26/2006 - 00:00

Wilko returns from England for Met Mile

Horsephotos
Wilko returns from England to start in Monday's Grade 1, $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The last time Wilko shipped to North America from England, he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, upsetting the likes of Afleet Alex, Sun King, and Roman Ruler.

Of course, that was 19 months and 10 races ago. Since then, Wilko has been a disappointment, going winless in 10 stakes tries, though he did finish third in the $6 million Dubai World Cup in March.

Fri, 05/26/2006 - 00:00

Not Phone right on for Jaipur

ELMONT, N.Y. - Not Phone has not been the easiest horse to keep sound. But when he's right, Not Phone is an extremely talented individual, one capable of setting a course record at age 8, even off a seven-month layoff.

If Not Phone is able to duplicate the performance he put in 24 days ago over Belmont's inner turf course, he will likely win Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Jaipur Handicap. A field of eight was entered for the Jaipur, which has been cut in distance from seven to six furlongs on turf.

Fri, 05/26/2006 - 00:00

Turf action on center stage

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - An unmistakable emphasis on turf racing will be in evidence Sunday at Churchill Downs. Although there isn't a stakes on the 10-race program, three excellent turf events, including the Top Corsage overnight handicap, should combine for a fine afternoon of racing.

Fri, 05/26/2006 - 00:00

Jambalaya out to fill big shoes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The recent retirement of the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, A Bit O'Gold, has left a hole in trainer Catherine Day Phillips's barn.

Jambalaya, a successful runner in his own right, will try to fill that void this year. He should be among the favorites in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Connaught Cup, the first turf stakes of the Woodbine meeting.