EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The fall Thoroughbred racing meet at The Meadowlands has always taken place in the shadow of New York racing. This year, the track is putting up big-city purses in an attempt to emerge from that shadow.
The meet begins Labor Day with a special afternoon program. The feature is the $100,000 Bergen County Stakes, which attracted 3-year-old sprint star City Zip.
CINCINNATI - On most days at this picturesque little track by the Ohio River, Ohio-breds play a significant role.
But when the signature race at River Downs rolls around every Labor Day, Ohio-breds tend to get overlooked in favor of horses from elsewhere, most notably from neighboring Kentucky.
This year, when the $200,000 Cradle is run for the 25th time, the winner again could come from a neighboring state. But instead of Kentucky, the possible favorite for the 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds, Pass Rush, was bred in Indiana.
The process of filling the void in the 3-year-old division left by Point Given's retirement begins Monday at Philadelphia Park, where Macho Uno, last year's 2-year-old champion, squares off against up-and-comer Touch Tone in the $500,000 Pennsylvania Derby.
The Grade 3 Pennsylvania Derby, run at nine furlongs on the main track, highlights a 12-race card, which also includes a trio of ungraded stakes. First post is 12:25 p.m. Eastern with the Pennsylvania Derby scheduled to go at 5:12 p.m.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Point Given, whose retirement was announced on Friday due to a tendon injury, will be paraded between races on Wednesday, the closing day of the meeting.
According to track president Joe Harper, Point Given will be presented in the paddock and on the racetrack, and a video of his career highlights, which includes wins in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, will be shown to the crowd.
Gary Stevens, who rode Point Given, paid tribute to the nation's top 3-year-old, saying the colt will be a hard act to follow.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jerry Bailey established a new record for wins at a Saratoga meeting by a jockey when he won Saturday's sixth race aboard Listen Here, a first-time starter trained by Bill Mott. It was his 51st win, which eclipsed the old mark of 50 set by Bailey last summer.
While favored Golden Antigua was trapped along the rail, Star Queen surged to the lead in midstretch and went on to victory in the $50,000 Dade Turf Classic at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Ridden by James Lopez, Star Queen ($16.40) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.56 over a soft turf course. Fast Delivery was a late-running third in a field of 11 fillies and mares.
In their last meeting, at Arlington, Golden Antigua won at 7-1, with Star Queen second as the 2-1 favorite.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Scioto Bootski kept her lifetime record unblemished as she stepped into the stakes division and posted a 2 3/4-length win over her eight 3-year-old Ohio-bred rivals in the $40,000 Ohio Debutante Handicap at Thistledown.
Eye Slew the City finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Ashwood C C, the 3-2 favorite.
Key Lory ($6.80) has discovered the fountain of youth on turf. A
7-year-old gelding who was winless on dirt for over two years, Key Lory won his second stakes since switching to grass in the $100,600 Sussex Handicap at Delaware Park.
Ridden by Harry Vega and trained by Dennis Manning, Key Lory dueled with Lightning Paces for the first six furlongs of the nine-furlong Sussex, then shook clear on the far turn and drove to a 1 1/2-length victory over runner-up Warrant. His time over a firm course was 1:49.93.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Maiden claiming horses swept the top two spots in the $75,000 Top Flight Stakes at Arlington, as Vicki Vallencourt just got up to beat Don't Ruffle Me by a head. Both 2-year-old fillies had started but once before, each winning a $50,000 maiden-claiming race at Arlington.
In fact, Vicki Vallencourt's trainer, Hugh Robertson, came close to waiting for an easier spot with his horse, but chose to tackle a short field lacking a standout. It was a good call.
CINCINNATI - In a field full of highly regarded shippers, it was a local filly, Joanies Bella, who stole the show in the $100,000 Bassinet Stakes at River Downs.
Ridden by Craig Perret, who was making his first-ever appearance at River in a career of over 30 years, Joanies Bella took command on the turn of the six-furlong Bassinet, then turned back the 6-5 favorite, Lakeside Cup, to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths.