ETOBICOKE, Ontario - English invader Mutamam prevailed with determination by a half-length over German runner Paolini in an inquiry-filled running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Canadian International at Woodbine Sunday.
Mutamam, the 4-1 second choice under Richard Hills, covered 1 1/2 miles over firm turf in 2:28.46. A 6-year-old son of Darshaan, Mutamam earned $900,000 for Shadwell Stable and trainer Alec Stewart, which boosted his bankroll to $1,383,454.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Perfect timing put Senure and jockey Alex Solis in the winner's circle on Sunday.
Using a remarkable turn of foot, Senure passed pacesetter Penamacor in midstretch and caught White Heart in the final sixteenth to win the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship at Santa Anita.
The Hirsch was California's last major prep to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park on Oct. 27 and a race that trainer Bobby Frankel said Senure had to win to be considered for the $2 million race.
For awhile, it appeared that the Hirsch would end in an upset.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mr. Epperson mowed down Olympian in the stretch en route to a daylight score in Sunday's $164,850 Highlander Handicap at Woodbine.
The Grade 3 event was the third stakes win of the year for Mr. Epperson, who stalked the pace while four wide under James McKnight. Swamp Line and Olympian hooked up through an opening quarter in :22.60, with the latter taking control after a half in :45.35.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - French-trained fillies added a new chapter to their history of success in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes as Choc Ice, let go at 31-1, led a 1-2-3 sweep for the Parisian raiders in Sunday's $500,000 supporting feature at Woodbine.
Choc Ice, owned by Micheline Vidal and trained by Robert Collet, burst to the lead in midstretch under jockey Johnny Murtagh and held safe a rallying Volga by a neck, with Spring Oak another 1 1/2 lengths back in third place.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Watching his filly trail in last-place on the backstretch of Saturday's $500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, trainer Darrell Vienna feared the worst.
"I thought she wouldn't run at all," Vienna said. "I thought, this is going to be a disaster."
Vienna was never more delighted to be wrong. With a convincing rally on the final turn, Janet pulled an upset in the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon, outfinishing Tranquility Lake, the 6-5 favorite and defending champion.
ARCADIA, Calif. - When Essence of Dubai finished last of three in the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 15, it seemed improbable that he would win a major stakes this fall.
But on Saturday, after Came Home, the winner of the Hopeful Stakes, was scratched with a possible ankle injury, Essence of Dubai won the $250,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita.
Essence of Dubai ($4) finished a mile in 1:37.16, benefiting from a perfect ride from jockey Alex Solis.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Western Pride led all the way Saturday to win his second Derby in the Iron Belt, outlasting longshot Woodmoon and heavily favored Macho Uno in the 67th running of the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.
Ridden by Dana Whitney and based locally with trainer Richie Estvanko, Western Pride prevailed by a half-length over
22-1 shot Woodmoon, with Macho Uno another neck back in third. Seven weeks before, Western Pride used front-running tactics to win the $500,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.
BELMONT, N.Y. - Timboroa continued Bobby Frankel's magical year Saturday in a gate-to-wire, three-length victory over odds-on favorite King Cugat in the $750,000, Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational before 7,732 at Belmont Park.
Cetewayo rallied to be third, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Blazing Fury. With the Flow and Mutafaweq completed the order of finish. Slew Valley and Honor Glide scratched.
ELMONT, N.Y. - European sensation Lailani proved she is as capable on this side of the Atlantic as she is on her home turf by winning Saturday's $750,000 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park.
Lailani, the slight second choice, ran down even-money favorite England's Legend in deep stretch for a three-quarter-length win. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Starine, the third choice, in third.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Queenie Belle, who spent seven months sidelined with an injury earlier this year, won her first graded stakes in more than a year in Saturday's $209,400, Grade 2 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Queenie Belle ($7.20) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.64, scoring a 1 1/4-length win over 19-1 Letter of Intent.
The victory left owner Gary Seidler and trainer Ben Cecil planning for a start in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff at Belmont Park on Oct. 27 instead of the California Cup Matron at Santa Anita on Nov. 3, a race Queenie Belle won in 2000.