ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Krz Ruckus was notching his fourth win in his fourth start of the year when he romped home here in last year's edition of the Overskate Stakes.
And while Krz Ruckus heads into Wednesday's running of the seven-furlong Overskate without a win in just two starts this year, trainer Mike DePaulo believes Krz Ruckus is sitting on a big effort.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - At first glance, the $136,875 Overskate Stakes, an Ontario-sired race Wednesday at Woodbine, seems made to order for Runaway Love.
Runaway Love has ground out a good living here on Wednesday nights, and the seven-furlong distance of the Overskate is right up his alley.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - My Honey Bunny, third in the $98,775 Cinderella Stakes at Hollywood Park in her previous start, broke alertly and scored a wire-to-wire victory in the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes at the Alameda County Fair on Sunday.
My Honey Bunny ($3) held off fast-finishing Frisco Belle by a head, winning the five-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies in 57.49 seconds. The first two finishers were nine lengths in front of third-place finisher Phoenixledo.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Inesperado launched his American career with a dramatic victory in Sunday's $182,600 Cinema Breeders' Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Making his first start after being privately acquired from France, Inesperado was patiently ridden by Kent Desormeaux, who rallied his mount along the rail in the final furlong to catch the frontrunning entry of Regiment and Johar.
"He bulled his way through there," Desormeaux said. "What a turn of foot he had in the last eighth of a mile."
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jockey Eibar Coa had a week to remember at Monmouth.
Coa started the week with five wins on Wednesday, ended the week with four wins on Sunday, and totaled 12 for the week. Over the weekend, Coa won all three stakes races - the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Handicap Saturday and the $50,000 Dearly Precious Stakes and $50,000 Skip Away Stakes on Sunday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Astra left everything to the last moment in major stakes at Hollywood Park this summer.
On May 27, Astra closed furiously to catch Starine in the Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap. On Saturday, Astra inherited the lead in early stretch and held off an impressive rally from Peu a Peu to win the $250,000 Beverly Hills Handicap for the second consecutive year.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Shug McGaughey had won the Grade 2 at Monmouth four times, the most of any trainer in the race's 56-year history. But on Saturday, the odds that he would win his fifth with Atelier were not good.
Atelier, sent off at 8-1 in the five-horse field, may have given McGaughey his most rewarding Molly Pitcher victory yet, pulling off a huge upset to capture the $300,000 Molly Pitcher by one length over the 3-5 favorite Summer Colony. Spain, sent off at 6-5, was 3 1/4 lengths behind Summer Colony in third.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Due To Win Again outfinished Golden Rhythm in the late stages to win the $50,000 Honeymoon Stakes by three-quarters of a length at Louisiana Downs on Saturday. It was another three lengths back in third to pacesetter Eagle Lake.
Due To Win Again($8.60) stalked Eagle Lake through an opening six furlongs in 1:12.74. The eventual winner took the lead in midstretch, then fought off a closing bid by Golden Rhythm. Due To Win Again covered the mile over firm turf in 1:36.50.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Jerry Bailey usually takes a trainer's instructions with a grain of salt. In Saturday's Grade 1 , he took trainer Frank Alexander's instructions to heart, and it helped get him to the winner's circle.
Bailey kept Nonsuch Bay last of four through the opening six furlongs of the Mother Goose, before letting his filly run. When he did, Nonsuch Bay blew past her three rivals and scored a 1 1/2-length victory in the $250,000 Mother Goose before 7,729 at Belmont.
