Mon, 09/30/2013 - 16:11

Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Reneesgotzip to face the boys

Benoit & Associates
Reneesgotzip, setting a Del Mar record for 6 1/2 furlongs in the Rancho Bernardo, could go in the BC Turf Sprint, Filly and Mare Sprint, or Sprint.

Trainer Peter Miller said Monday that Reneesgotzip, arguably the top female sprinter on the West Coast, will not be pre-entered in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and will go against male rivals in the Sprint or Turf Sprint.

Also from California, trainer Bob Baffert said he likely will run both Book Review and Executiveprivilege on Saturday in the ungraded L.A. Woman Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong race that also is expected to get another Filly-Mare Sprint hopeful, Teddy’s Promise.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 16:08

Northlands Park: Deputy Lass seeks better trip from inside post

Saving ground going around three turns is imperative at Northlands Park, and Deputy Lass has a good chance of making amends for flopping as the favorite when she breaks from the rail in a $12,500 claiming race that will serve as Wednesday’s feature.

The one-mile race for fillies and mares drew six horses and goes as race four on an eight-race card that begins at 6 p.m. Mountain.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 16:04

Woodbine Entertainment Group cancels profit-sharing programs

Woodbine Entertainment Group canceled a profit-sharing program for its 2,000 employees and cut the pay of its top executives earlier this year in response to a demand from the provincial government, the chairman of the company’s compensation committee and its chief executive said Monday.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 14:53

Churchill Downs: Romans ties for training title on final day

Barbara D. Livingston
Dale Romans (above) tied Steve Asmussen for the Churchill Downs training title. Romans has now won the Churchill title 11 times, and Asmussen 13.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As if his weekend hadn’t been great enough after being in New York to see Little Mike win the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Saturday at Belmont Park, Dale Romans got off an airplane Sunday in Louisville just in time to be on hand to tie for the Churchill Downs training title.

Going into the closing-day Sunday program, Romans trailed Steve Asmussen by two winners (8-6) at the 12-day September meet.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 14:16

Breeders' Cup Classic: Five-way rematch in offing

Barbara D. Livingston
Ron the Greek, winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, will try to improve on his fourth-place finish from last year in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

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ARCADIA, Calif. – The first four finishers from last year's Breeders’ Cup Classic plus the beaten favorite in that race all appear headed to a rematch in this year’s $5 million Classic on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita following victories by Fort Larned, Mucho Macho Man, and Ron the Greek in their final preps Saturday.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 14:03

Woodbine notes: Moonlit Beauty proves doubters wrong in Classy ’n Smart repeat

Michael Burns
Moonlit Beauty won her 10th career race, and fifth stakes, in the Classy ’n Smart while boosting her career bankroll to $665,154.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – One could have been forgiven for thinking that Moonlit Beauty was past her “best before” date heading into last Sunday’s Classy ’n Smart Stakes.

After all, Moonlit Beauty had finished no better than fourth in her four previous starts this season and had been beaten by double-digit lengths in her two most recent stakes appearances.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 13:26

Los Alamitos: Check N Fetch scores in Mildred Vessels Handicap

Check N Fetch won the most prestigious race of her career in Sunday’s $150,000 Mildred Vessels Handicap for Quarter Horse fillies and mares, giving owner Lorena Velazquez Rodriguez of Arizona her second automatic qualifier for the $750,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 14.

Sent off favored, Check N Fetch ($8.60) ran 400 yards in 19.55 seconds under jockey Ramon Sanchez, finishing a nose in front of 30-1 Zoomdasher. Shes Jess Toxic was a head behind Zoomdasher in the field of 10.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 12:51

Woodbine: Goldstryke Glory meets Youcan'tcatchme in Apelia Stakes

Michael Burns
Goldstryke Glory will take on older rivals for the first time in Wednesday's $100,000 Apelia Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Quality speed will be on display in the $100,000 Apelia Stakes at Woodbine on Wednesday, when the hotshot 3-year-old Goldstryke Glory meets the aptly named Youcan’tcatchme in the six-furlong dash. Both are contenders for a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion female sprinter of 2013.

Goldstryke Glory was one of the better 2-year-old fillies here in 2012. Following a winter layoff, she resurfaced in the spring at Hastings, where she finished second and third in a pair of dirt stakes. She subsequently joined trainer Kelly Callaghan’s Woodbine string.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 12:34

Breeders' Cup Turf: Indy Point joins field with John Henry Turf Championship score

Michael Amoruso
Little Mike (No. 7), with Mike Smith aboard, wins the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic by a nose over Big Blue Kitten on Saturday.

Indy Point joined the list of leading contenders for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with his comprehensive win in Sunday’s $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship at the same track.

The win gave Indy Point’s backers a reason to forget his last-place finish as the favorite in the Arlington Million in August.

Mon, 09/30/2013 - 11:35

Breeders' Cup Distaff: Royal Delta 'might have a better one in her'

Barbara D. Livingston
Princess of Sylmar and Javier Castellano go past two-time champion Royal Delta en route to victory in the Grade 1 Beldame on Saturday at Belmont Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Royal Delta maintained her role as Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite, though her position is less secure than before a pair of Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont Park and Santa Anita.

In the Beldame at Belmont, Park, Royal Delta finished second to 3-year-old filly Princess of Sylmar. However, Princess of Sylmar is likely finished for the year and not expected to run in the Distaff.

In the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita, 3-year-old filly Beholder scored a decisive win over Authenticity and Joyful Victory to emerge as second choice for the Distaff.