ELMONT, N.Y. - Delaware Township reaffirmed his fondness for Belmont Park on Sunday while strengthening his credentials for the Breeders' Cup Sprint with an easy 3 1/4-length victory in the $250,000, Grade 2 Forest Hills Handicap before 6,210 at Belmont Park.
Hook and Ladder, who raced up close in the early stages, finished second, a neck in front of Yonaguska. Peeping Tom and Disco Rico completed the order of finish.
Ceeband closed from sixth to win his second stakes of 2001 in Saturday's $100,000 California Sprint Championship at Bay Meadows.
The race was a prep to the $150,000 California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Ceeband won by 1 1-4 lengths over Gibson County, who had a three-length lead at the eighth-pole. Reds Superstar finished third in a field of seven.
Ceeband ($3.60), ridden by Russell Baze, ran six furlongs in 1:08.16.
ARCADIA, Calif. - More than two years after his career was threatened by a tendon injury, Val Royal joined the list of contenders for the Breeders' Cup Mile with a striking victory in Sunday's $219,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.
The Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile was the most impressive victory of Val Royal's career.
Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., for trainer Julio Canani, Val Royal closed from last and outfinished Thady Quill, running a mile on turf in 1:33.21. I've Decided finished third, followed by Smile Again, Redattore, Spinelessjellyfish and Lonesome Dude.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Saturday night saw two stakes and two career turnarounds for the victorious fillies in the pair of $75,000 co-features at the Meadowlands.
In the Summit Stakes for three-year-old fillies, Unrestrained finally earned an added-money win after a runner-up effort in the Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks this summer and a crushing 20-length loss to Flute in the Alabama in her last start. She moved her record to 3-for-12 for owner Edward P. Evans by getting past a stubborn Latour for the half-length win in 1.41.53 and gave Eibar Coa a riding triple.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Bobby Frankel will now have company aboard Aptitude's bandwagon.
Aptitude became a major player for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday afternoon by rolling to an emphatic 10-length victory in the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup before 13,653 at Belmont Park.
Generous Rosi, the pacesetter, held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of 80-1 shot Country Be Gold. It was nine lengths back to Albert the Great, the 6-5 favorite who tired badly after chasing Generous Rosi around the turn.
ELMONT, N.Y. - First, Exogenous had to survive a health scare in the days leading up to Saturday's Grade 1 Beldame. Then, she had to survive a stewards' inquiry.
Exogenous emerged from both incidents unscathed and became a major player in the 3-year-old filly division Saturday with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $750,000 Beldame at Belmont Park.
Flute, the 4-5 favorite and the leader of the 3-year-old filly division, finished second, a head in front of Spain. Critical Eye, Serra Lake, Beautiful Pleasure, Pentatonic, and Irving's Baby completed the order of finish.
ELMONT, N.Y. - After crushing four rivals in Saturday's $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday, Officer heads to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile as the heavy favorite.
With no whip encouragement from jockey Victor Espinoza, Officer, the 1-5 favorite, was a 3 3/4-length winner over Jump Start in the Grade 1 Champagne. Heavyweight Champ, the second choice at 5-1, finished third, a half-length behind the runner-up. Saarland, who got off to a horrible start, and Thunder Days completed the order of finish.
