Snow Big Deal lowered the 440-yard track record at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday with an upset win in the $699,017 All American Derby for Quarter Horses.
Winning his first stakes, Snow Big Deal ($53) led throughout, winning by a half-length over 22-1 Talk About Me Oh My. Andthebeatgoeson finished third in the field of 10. Meteoric, the 4-5 favorite, was soundly bumped shortly after the start and never threatened Snow Big Deal.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As fast as Silver Wagon established himself as one of the better 2-year-olds of the year was as fast as trainer Ralph Ziadie plans to put him away.
Splitting horses under Jerry Bailey in midstretch, Silver Wagon came home a four-length winner over heavily favored Chapel Royal in Saturday's Grade 1, $200,000 before 23,137 at Saratoga. It was 1 1/2 lengths back to longshot Notorious Rogue in third. Birdstone, an impressive maiden winner earlier in the meet, finished fourth.
The 114 Beyer Speed Figure Dynever earned for finishing a neck behind the unbeaten Soto in the West Virginia Derby is far superior to any Beyer the nine 3-year-olds he faces in Monday's $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park have ever achieved. It's also more than 10 points higher than Dynever's previous best.
Handicappers have a right to be skeptical about Dynever's big number, especially since the main track at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 9 was so fast that three track records were broken.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin would like to conclude the 2003 Saratoga meeting the same way he finished up the 2002 stand - with a victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac Handicap.
Last year, McLaughlin won the race with Ibn al Haitham, who was coming off a maiden win earlier in the meet. Monday, McLaughlin sends out Sharp Impact, the only stakes winner in the six-horse field.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - To those who would suggest there's no such thing as a sure thing: Are you sure?
Take Charge Lady should bring out the bridge-jumpers Monday at Arlington, where she will start as the heavy favorite in the Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Matron Handicap. In her last three races, Take Charge Lady has faced Wild Spirit, Sightseek, and Azeri, quite likely the top three older female horses in the country - unless you think Take Charge Lady has earned one of the spots.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mobil, Woodbine's best 3-year-old aside from his stablemate Wando, should take some beating in Monday's Halton Stakes, a nine-furlong turf race worth $131,875.
The Halton is one of six stakes on Monday's card restricted to graduates of local yearling sales, along with the $139,750 Simcoe for 2-year-olds, the $136,375 Muskoka for
DEL MAR, Calif. - The top contenders for Monday's $250,000 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap arrive at the start under very different circumstances.
Captain Squire needs a win or placing to enhance his chances of gaining a berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in October.
Reba's Gold, who may be favored, is seeking his fourth stakes win in the last year.
Taste of Paradise will try to prove that his 37-1 upset in the San Diego Handicap was not the result of a track bias.
EDMONTON, Alberta - Polaris takes an unbeaten record into Monday's $50,000 Birdcatcher, a 6 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
Ten will run in the race, with Griffin's Wake and Wild Caribe the also-eligibles. All entrants will carry 118 pounds.
Polaris, a full brother to stakes winner Sir Deuces, is coming off a half-length victory over Duracat in the $50,000 Sale Stakes at
6 1/2 furlongs here Aug. 16. Before that, he won a maiden special weight dash at 3 1/2 furlongs.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The final preps for both the Grade 2, $250,000 British Columbia Derby and the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks highlight Monday's card at Hastings.
Dancewithavixen will be a heavy favorite to win her fifth race in a row in the $50,000 Free Vacation Stakes, the Oaks prep, and Steady Smiler may be favored in the $40,000 Richmond Derby Trial. Both races are at 1 1/16 miles.
AUBURN, Wash. - Hastings Park kingpin Roscoe Pito will invade Emerald Downs to take on five locally based 3-year-olds in Monday's $125,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby at 1 1/8 miles.
Roscoe Pito, a B. C.-bred son of Light of Mine from the barn of John Snow, is coming off back-to-back stakes wins at 1 1/16 miles at Hastings, and has not finished worse than third in six career starts, all this year. Regular rider Sam Krasner retains the mount.
