ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Scott Fairlie has been making all the right moves this year with his talented sprinter Mr. Epperson.
So when it came to choosing between Saturday's Play the King and the Sept. 9 Atto Mile, it was no surprise that Fairlie made a logical call.
"I'd thought about it," said Fairlie, referring to the Grade 1 Atto Mile, a $1 million turf race. "But you can't go in both; it was either one or the other."
DEL MAR, Calif. - With only the experience of a late July maiden win, Habibti rose to the top of the 2-year-old filly division in California on Sunday with a convincing win in the $250,000 Del Mar Debutante.
She easily beat Tempera, the 1-2 favorite who led turning for home but could only finish third, two lengths behind 12-1 runner-up Who Loves Aleyna.
Habibti's win completed a remarkable weekend double for owner Prince Ahmed Salman's Thoroughbred Corp. and trainer Bob Baffert, who on Saturday teamed to win the $1 million Travers Stakes with Point Given at Saratoga.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Hallowed Dreams suffered the second defeat of her 25-race career Sunday at Louisiana Downs when she ran third, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by Midge Too, in the $50,000 Monique Rene Handicap. Her first defeat came a year ago this month when she ran third in the $35,000 Millennium Stakes at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette, La.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On the same soil where he built his reputation as the "Giant Killer," Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens added another chapter to his legacy Sunday by sending out 21-1 shot Shine Again to wins the $250,000, Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap.
Shine Again, a homebred of Allaire duPont's Bohemia Stable, beat a field that included defending Ballerina winner Dream Supreme, the 1-2 favorite, as well as Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Spain, the 4-1 second choice.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Going into the Grade 2, $350,000 Iselin Handicap Sunday at Monmouth, Broken Vow's trainer, Graham Motion, still wasn't convinced his 4-year-old colt belonged with the top horses in the handicap division.
Broken Vow convinced his trainer that he deserves a chance in the Breeders' Cup Classic come fall, as he won his second graded-stakes in impressive fashion before a crowd of 18,880. First Lieutenant was two lengths back in second, and seven lengths clear of Sir Bear in third. North East Bound and Knock Again completed the order of finish.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Timboroa's victory in Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar Handicap led a sweep of the first three positions by horses trained by Bobby Frankel.
Frankel, who started three of the seven starters in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, finished second and third with the entry of Northern Quest and Super Quercus.
Timboroa ($8.80) was always close to pacesetter Kudos, the 8-5 favorite.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - He is owned by a prince, and Point Given proved Saturday that he is the king of the Thoroughbred world.
Before a crowd of 60,486 - the largest ever to witness the Travers Stakes - Point Given blew past E Dubai approaching the furlong marker and rolled to a 3 1/2-length victory. E Dubai, who dueled with Free of Love early, held second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Dollar Bill.
Completing the order of finish were A P Valentine, Free of Love, Scorpion, Volponi, Hadrian's Wall, and Harrisand.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Maypole Dance rushed to the lead under Roberto Alvarado and led every step of the way to win the $50,000 Thomas J. Malley Stakes at five furlongs on the turf for fillies and mares. Maypole Dance ($20.40), a 4-year-old trained by Bessie Gruwell, set rapid fractions of 21.20 seconds and 43.80, and finished in 55.76 over a turf course labeled good. Wilma Lee finished 1 1/2 lengths back in second, while Go Carolina finished third. Maypole Dance improved her career record to 5-1-5 in 12 starts, with a turf record of 4-1-1 in six starts.
Fajardo, allowed to settle in last place early, rolled to his third straight victory Saturday in the $73,750 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., drawing off easily to win the one-mile race by 1 1/2 lengths under Joe Johnson.
Owned by Don Dizney and trained by Bill Mott, Fajardo paid $7.40 after finishing in 1:36.04 over a sloppy track. Dash for Daylight, the 2-1 favorite, was second after dueling throughout with Storm Day, who was another three-quarters of a length back in third.
