SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As the trainer of the multiple stakes-winning sprinter Distorted Humor, Elliott Walden naturally is interested in the progress of that colt's progeny. One 2-year-old filly in particular caught his eye and is now in his barn.
Following Awesome Humor's decisive victory in the Grade 3 Debutante at Churchill Downs on July 6, Walden and his owners, Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner of WinStar Farm, purchased the filly privately from Tom Durant and trainer Ronny Werner.
DEL MAR, Calif. - When Menacing Dennis left California in May for stakes in the East, he appeared on his way to a promising campaign. Three months later, he returns to the West attempting to repair his reputation.
Menacing Dennis starts in Monday's $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at Del Mar, trying to end a five-race losing streak.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Pat Day has always had a keen sense of timing and a flare for the dramatic.
On Saturday, he used both traits to become Thoroughbred racing's all-time richest rider, as he guided With Anticipation to a head victory over 2-1 favorite Denon in the $500,000, Grade 1 before 33,342 at Saratoga. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Volponi in third.
Last month at Monmouth Park, With Anticipation beat Denon by a neck in the Grade 1 United Nations Handicap.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Left Bank, who established himself as one of the top horses in the country with an authoritative victory in the Whitney Handicap on Aug. 3, underwent colic surgery Saturday afternoon at the equine clinic at Tufts University in Massachusetts, and his racing career is most likely over.
MIAMI - On paper it appears Junior Deputy has a better chance to win Monday's $40,000 Elite Jeblar Handicap if the race, scheduled for a mile on the turf, was transferred to the main track, as is always a possibility at Calder this time of year. But it might be a mistake to count out Junior Deputy entirely if the overnight handicap remains on turf.
Unrestrained benefited from a fast early pace and went from last to first to score a 3 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Open Fire Stakes at Delaware Park.
Ridden by Eddie Martin Jr., the 4-year-old Unrestrained ($8.60) covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.27 over a fast main track.
"My instructions were not to let her get too far back," Martin said. "But they were going so fast the first quarter and half I fell back about 15 lengths. I was really comfortable where we were at. By the end of the backstretch they came right back her, too."
The $125,000 Straight Deal Breeders' Cup turned out to be little more than a public workout for Xtra Heat.
Last year's champion 3-year-old filly, Xtra Heat was hand ridden to a 2 1/2-length victory over four outclassed opponents in the seven-furlong Straight Deal at Laurel Park.
Xtra Heat ($2.10), who spotted her rivals 16 to 17 pounds while carrying 126 pounds, got some brief pressure from Winter Leaf through the first half-mile of 45.21 seconds, but shook off her closest pursuer entering the turn and won as rider Harry Vega pleased, covering the distance in 1:23.08.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Portcullis overcame traffic problems at the head of the stretch to defeat El Soprano by a neck in the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Woodbine.
Winning rider Slade Callaghan said Portcullis ($3.80) showed tremendous grit in overcoming adversity in the 1 1/2-mile turf race.
"Questing Knight bolted on the apex of the turn," Callaghan said. "He shut me off, and my horse clipped heels and bobbled, and almost went down. For a horse to regain his momentum the way he did, is a feat in itself."
MIAMI - Tommy Heard won his first stakes race with Be Blue in 1938. He won his most recent stakes 64 years later when Lawbook ran down the previously undefeated Trust N Luck to post a three-quarters of a length decision in the $75,000 Dr. Fager Stakes at Calder.
In the co-featured $75,000 Desert Vixen Stakes, the filly division of the Florida Stallion Stakes series, Fortunate Card outgamed Heavenly Miss by a head following a stirring stretch duel.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - After Valid Video won his maiden June 14, earning a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, trainer Dennis Manning said he would rest him until the Grade 3 Sapling at Monmouth Park. Each time he was asked about his standout 2-year-old leading up to the race, Manning would knock on the closest piece of wood and say that everything was going according to plan.
