ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A sharp Devil Valentine should be tough at a short price in Wednesday's $108,600 Deputy Minister Stakes, a seven-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.
Devil Valentine looked like a serious Queen's Plate prospect last fall, winning the Kingarvie Stakes and running second in the important Coronation Futurity. But he was a big disappointment after coming off the shelf in May, finishing well back in two stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela appeared before the Santa Anita board of stewards on Sunday, requesting an exercise rider's license that could lead to him resuming his riding career.
Valenzuela and his lawyer, Donald Calabria, met with stewards Pete Pedersen, Ingrid Fermin, and Tom Ward for approximately 45 minutes, according to Calabria.
The winning rider in the 1989 Kentucky Derby, Valenzuela has not ridden since February 2000, when he received a one-year suspension for a substance abuse violation. Last February, his request to be relicensed was rejected.
Adorable One just beat a similar field at Santa Anita and should be the one to beat in Wednesday's featured seventh race. The six-furlong first-level allowance/$40,000 optional claiming race is for 3-year-old fillies and drew a strong field of 11.
Adorable One is still eligible for the first-level condition because the allowance race she won last out at Santa Anita was restricted to California-breds and does not count against her conditions. Adorable One has made only four starts thus far in her career and has enjoyed great success.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Fancy As, a $3,200 yearling purchase, staked his claim to the Sovereign Award for the best 3-year-old in Canada with a convincing win over Lord Nelson in the Grade 3, 1 3/8-mile Premier's Stakes at Hastings Park on Sunday.
A Manitoba-bred gelding with an obscure pedigree, Fancy As will likely receive all of the Western votes for the Sovereign Award. He won the Canadian and B.C. Derbies and followed up with his impressive win over older horses in the Premier's.
ARCADIA, Calif. - More than a year after her last win, Cindy's Hero revived her career with a thrilling victory in Sunday's $110,500 Harold Ramser, Sr. Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Cindy's Hero ($8.40) closed from fifth at the top of the stretch to catch an unlucky Gabriellina Giof by a nose, finishing a mile on turf in 1:33.70.
Walts Wharf, the longtime pacesetter, finished third, a half-length in front of Love Roi, the even-money favorite who was out of contention at the eighth pole.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A nod of the head was the difference between No Slip and Sligo Bay in Saturday's $150,000 Oak Tree Derby at Santa Anita.
The pair traded leads in the final few strides, but No Slip had his head down at the finish. The official margin was a nose after 1 1-8 miles on turf in 1:46.56.
Trained by the red-hot Bobby Frankel, No Slip was patiently ridden by Kent Desormeaux. He said that urging his mount with his reins instead of a whip worked well through the stretch.
MIAMI - Trainer Steve Klesaris had the $400,000 In Reality Stakes in his sights for Booklet ever since the diminutive colt won his maiden at Delaware in early July. His plan worked to perfection as Booklet dominated the In Reality, the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series, with a 4 1/4-length victory over Rulebook and 12 other 2-year-old colts and geldings at Calder on Saturday.
Carey's Gold finished third in his quest to become only the sixth horse to sweep the Stallion Series.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - California invaders Affluent and Golden Apples staged a thrilling stretch duel Saturday in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, with Affluent edging away in the final yards to win the Grade 1 race for 3-year-old fillies.
Affluent, trained by Ron McAnally and ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, rallied from midpack to prevail by a neck over Golden Apples. Snow Dance, the pacesetter throughout in a field
BOSSIER CITY, La. - White Star led wire to wire to win the $65,000 Shiskabob Stakes by five lengths over Doctor Mike during the fourth annual Breeders' Festival at Louisiana Downs on Saturday. It was 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Cyrus.
The Shiskabob was scheduled for turf, but was forced to the main track after four inches of rain fell in the area. The field was reduced eight starters following the scratches of Coach Rags, Caro's Royalty, King Corley and C M's Mark.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Everything trainer David Donk believed about Sharp Performance rang true in Saturday's $150,000 Lawrence Realization Handicap at Belmont Park: Sharp Performance does have a lot of talent and he is still green.
Sharp Performance displayed both traits Saturday while weaving his way to a 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Lawrence Realization before a crowd of 7,676. Tiger Trap finished second, two lengths ahead of Whitmore's Conn. Megantic and Topdown completed the order of finish.
