CALGARY, Alberta - Sixthirtyjoe edged closer to the half-million-dollar mark in earnings with his 17th career victory Saturday at Stampede Park.
Sixthirtyjoe's trainer, Deanne Davies, opted for the $21,800 allowance purse after nominating Sixthirtyjoe to next Saturday's $50,000 Teeworth Plate at the same one-mile distance, and the victory upped the 7-year-old gelding's career bankroll to $474,651.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Southern Africa kept the Al and Saundra Kirkwood train rolling last Saturday when he won the Grade 3, $300,000 at Lone Star Park for trainer Mike Puhich. The win was the latest accomplishment in what has been an outstanding year for the Kirkwoods, an owner-and-breeder team based in Washington state.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The most fitting way for the most dominant jockey in Churchill Downs history to return from a rare layoff is obvious - with a victory. So when Pat Day and his agent, Doc Danner, were trying to pin down the best time and race for Day's return, they were hoping to have a good chance to win right away.
Their mission has been accomplished, it seems. Day, who postponed his return to the saddle by several days, taking off three scheduled mounts Saturday, is named on two horses Wednesday, including a horse who figures very tough to beat in the ninth-race feature.
CHICAGO - Straight Line, whose lone start this year as a 3-year-old was a disaster, has resumed a regular workout schedule and should make a return to the races in the coming weeks.
Straight Line's latest breeze came Monday at Arlington, when he worked five furlongs under jockey Chris Emigh in the company of stablemate Treat Me Neat.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Dan Hendricks was on his way out of the winner's circle after Runaway Dancer's victory in Saturday's $350,000 , unsure of what to claim as the highlight of the day.
It was the second win of the day for Hendricks, coming an hour after Brother Derek won a maiden race for juveniles.
"I don't know which race to be more excited about - this race or the 2-year-old's," Hendricks said.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - With a stable that is low on runners but high on promising horses, trainer Ben Cecil is off to a strong start at the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.
Through Sunday, he had won with two of his first three runners. Wednesday, one of those winners, Legal Precedent, will attempt to stay undefeated in a $51,000 allowance race for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
ALBANY, Calif. - Lost in the Fog's appearance Saturday in the at Golden Gate Fields, which resulted in a record-setting victory, attracted fans to the track as well as attention from the local media.
A total of 6,060 fans were ontrack, up 72 percent from the corresponding Saturday last year (when racing was at Bay Meadows) and 49 percent compared with the average Saturday attendance at the just-concluded Bay Meadows meeting.
Peter Tunney, Golden Gate general manager, said Lost in the Fog created a buzz, and fans and media responded.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nashinda's first two campaigns were cut short by injury, but the filly has returned stronger than ever this season.
On Sunday, Nashinda dominated the George C. Hendrie Handicap, leading through every step of the 6 1/2 furlongs en route to a 4 1/4-length victory that yielded a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 100.
Nashinda, owned and bred by George Strawbridge and trained by Mac Benson, became the first horse to win two stakes at the meeting, having captured the six-furlong Whimsical in her April 17 seasonal bow.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Foofaraw, who spent the winter racing at Fair Grounds, and stakes-placed Faswiga appear to be the main contenders in Wednesday's Woodbine feature.
With no rain in the forecast, the 1 1/16-mile first-level allowance for fillies and mares should be the first turf race of the meeting. Last Sunday's prep for the Connaught Cup Stakes was supposed to launch Woodbine's turf season, but that allowance was moved to the main track.
Avery Hall, the 9-5 favorite, went straight to the lead in the $60,000 Open Mind Handicap at Monmouth Park and never looked back, winning the six-furlong stakes for New Jersey-breds by five lengths.
Cigno d'Oro and Smart N Classy both came flying late for second and third in the field of 11 fillies and mares.
Avery Hall, ridden by Harry Vega and trained by Cynthia Reese, paid $5.80 to win and covered the six furlongs in 1:11.33. By the New York sire A. P Jet, Avery Hall has won 3 of 5 starts, all for owner and breeder Timber Creek Farms.
