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.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Honor Glide turned back a stretch bid from another American shipper, Royal Strand, to capture Saturday's
Grade 2 $335,100 Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap at Woodbine.
Robbie Davis rode Honor Glide, who assumed command from front-runners Wolvspa and Strike Smartly heading into the far turn of the 1 1/2-mile turf race. Favored Royal Strand tracked Honor Glide on the far turn and drew even with him in midstretch, but Honor Glide repelled the challenge and drew off for a three-length win in 2:26.52. Strike Smartly re-rallied to miss second by a nose.
Carey's Gold kept his hopes alive of becoming the second straight horse to sweep all three legs of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series, rallying to a 2 1/4-length victory over Mountain Forum in the second division of Saturday's $125,000 Affirmed Stakes.
Bog Hunter won the opening split of the Affirmed, by a convincing three-length margin over the 44-1 Thiscannonsloaded.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Forest Heiress stayed undefeated in three starts with an easy score in the Grade 3, $150,000 Sorority Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park Saturday.
A daughter of Forest Wildcat, Forest Heiress went wire to wire under Dale Beckner and gave trainer Ben Perkins Jr. and owner New Farm a second stakes win on the day. They also won the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga with Delaware Township.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Fla. - Delaware Township parlayed a lightning-fast pace and the hot hand of leading rider Jerry Bailey into a 1 1/4-quarter length victory over an unlucky Left Bank in Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Forego Handicap. The win was the first of two major victories on the afternoon for trainer Ben Perkins Jr. and his principal owner, the New Farm, who minutes later won Monmouth Park's Grade 3 Sorority Stakes with Forest Heiress.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - He may be the second-best juvenile colt in the West, but Came Home proved tops in the East Saturday, whipping six rivals to win the Grade 1, $200,000 Hopeful by two lengths before 19,532 at Saratoga.
Mayakovsky, who established a track record for 5 1/2 furlongs here opening day, finished second, 6 3/4 lengths ahead of longshot Thunder Days. Completing the order of finish were Roman Dancer, Jump Start, Proud Citizen, and Deputy Connor. Sent off the favorite, Came Home returned $4.30 to win.
FORT ERIE, Ont. - Two runners who are winless this year will likely be the favorites in the Puss N Boots, one of two stakes on Fort Erie's Labor Day program.
A field of 12, plus two also eligibles, is entered for the $50,000 Puss N Boots, which will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Northernprospector who has lifetime earnings of $533,411 has come up a neck short in two of his three starts this year, the latest being the 1 1/16-mile Cool Reception Stakes on Aug. 13. He started the year with a sixth-place finish in a sprint.
