ETOBICOKE, Ontario - San Diego Blowout lived up to his name last Sunday at Woodbine, winning the $134,875 Colin by 7 1/4 lengths.
While the success did not necessarily surprise trainer Abraham Katryan, the manner in which it was accomplished was a bit of an eye-opener.
"I knew he could go in 1:10 and change," said Katryan, after watching San Diego Blowout complete the six furlongs of the Colin in 1:10.47 under jockey Emile Ramsammy. "But it was the way he did it."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dance Engagement, fifth in the $1 million Queen's Plate, will take a sharp drop in class in Thursday's first race at Woodbine, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race.
Trainer John Ross nominated Dance Engagement to several stakes in the spring, but the horse debuted in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race May 18. Sent off at 11-1, he encountered traffic on the turn and at the sixteenth pole before closing for fourth.
AUBURN, Wash. - Sunday's Tacoma Handicap produced the fourth different winner from the four stakes for 3-year-olds at the Emerald Downs meeting, but it also produced a local favorite for the $125,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby at nine furlongs on Sept. 1.
ELMONT, N.Y. - On Tuesday at Belmont Park, Funny Cide had his first serious work since competing in the Triple Crown.
With exercise rider Robin Smullen in the saddle, Funny Cide worked five furlongs in 58.69 seconds, breezing, over a fast track at 5:30 a.m. The move was the third-fastest of 20 works at the distance. According to the Belmont clockers, the gelding completed his first quarter in 23.35 seconds and followed with 35.02 for three furlongs. Funny Cide galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.89.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher caught the red-eye back from California and was at work Monday morning at Belmont Park, plotting the next race for Harlan's Holiday, the runner-up in Sunday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Harlan's Holiday finished second in the Gold Cup, beaten three lengths by the favorite, Congaree, and was two lengths clear of the third-place finisher, Kudos.
Pletcher said Harlan's Holiday was scheduled to return from California on Tuesday and will be pointed to the $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Aug. 2.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The countdown to Saratoga begins in earnest at Belmont Park Wednesday when the first of the final five cards at the spring-summer meet will be run.
The feature is the $65,000-added My Juliet Stakes, a six-furlong dirt race for fillies and mares that drew a strong field of eight.
The My Juliet features Forest Heiress, a winner of her last two starts, and Zonk, a graded stakes winner who hasn't run since finishing fourth in the Barbara Fritchie at Laurel Park in February.
CHICAGO - They go on and on, the past performances for Arlington's featured race on Wednesday.
An $80,000 optional claiming race on turf hit a sweet spot in the schedule, drawing 13 entrants. Twelve are in for turf, while Horrible Evening runs only if the race moves to the main track.
In a thoroughly solid group, Lacer may escape notice. He did last time, and those astute enough to recognize his ability on June 27 uncovered a $43 winner. When he started that day, Lacer hadn't raced since
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - On Wednesday's eight-race card at Hollywood Park, which includes five maiden races, the top race offers a glimpse at a few 3-year-old fillies who could develop into stakes-caliber runners. There are six starters in a $51,000 optional claimer over a mile on turf. A case can be made for each.
Varnished, trained by Bobby Frankel, is the likely favorite. She faces a maiden winner from England, a filly who was second in an optional claimer last month, and three fillies emerging from claiming races.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Regal 'n Bold makes her turf debut against six other Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies in Wednesday's $131,000 Passing Mood Stakes at Woodbine.
Regal 'n Bold, trained by Reade Baker, has displayed flashes of brilliance, winning 4 of 7 career starts. She received a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 when she won her maiden in her second start as a 2-year-old, and earned an 87 Beyer when she won her second straight six-furlong allowance race a month ago.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Asong for Billy approaches his graded stakes debut in Sunday's $150,000 Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park following an impressive victory in an allowance race June 22.
He also comes into the race fighting chronic foot problems, which is why trainer Paul Aguirre is eager for the weekend to get here.
