Sun, 09/01/2013 - 20:25

Ruidoso Downs: Feature Hero scores upset in All American Derby

Feature Hero picked the perfect day to run the race of his life at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday.

The 3-year-old gelding ran a flawless 440 yards to win the $2,809,784 All American Derby, the richest race in Quarter Horse history. Ridden by Jimmy Brooks for trainer Eddie Willis, Feature Hero ($49.80) edged the fastest qualifier, Bon Accord, to win by a neck.

Point Break Dash was third in the field of 10, a length behind Feature Hero.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 20:10

Saratoga: Five winning pick-six tickets pay $104,934 apiece

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There were five winning tickets sold for Sunday’s pick six at Saratoga, each worth $104,934.

There was a carryover of $139,854 entering the card, and an additional $675,144 was wagered into the pool Sunday.

The winning sequence of 10-1-2-4-4-4 included Recepta ($6.50), Scat Away ($13.40), Five Iron ($12.80), Sweet Reason ($7), Abraham ($8.60), and Golden Rule ($15.20). The consolation payout (5 of 6) was $787.

Monday is closing day at Saratoga, and the entire pick-six pool must be distributed.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 20:06

Del Mar: CHRB investigating O'Neill for giving horse amino acids on race day

Barbara D. Livingston
Doug O'Neill is considering establishing a stable in the East some day but, he says, "My roots are still in California."

DEL MAR, Calif. – The California Horse Racing Board is conducting an investigation into the race-day administration of an amino-acid solution to a horse trained by Doug O’Neill on Aug. 24, Del Mar stewards said over the weekend.

The incident resulted in the withdrawal of Cinco de Mario in the hours before a starter allowance Aug. 24.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 19:53

Saratoga: Five Iron leads all the way in Saranac Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Five Iron, with Luis Saez aboard, wins the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths at Saratoga on Sunday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Five Iron shipped across the border from Woodbine and ran the locals off their feet, leading from start to finish to register a 2 1/2-length victory over 2-1 favorite Notacatbutallama in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 19:42

Saratoga: Pletcher, Castellano, Ramseys win meet titles

Barbara D. Livingston
Todd Pletcher is pleased with how both Gemologist and El Padrino are coming into this year's Kentucky Derby.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There never was any real suspense in the race for leading owner, trainer, and jockey at the sesquicentennial Saratoga meet. On Sunday, one day before the meet ended, the leaders in those categories were honored in a ceremony in the winner’s circle following the seventh race.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey have won 22 races, setting a single-meet record at Saratoga, 11 more than Darley Stable and Drawing Away. The Ramseys had horses in three of Monday’s 10 races.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 19:23

Monmouth Park: Dunkin Bend takes Sapling; Miss Behaviour romps in Sorority

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Miss Behaviour, ridden by Garry Cruise, wins the Sorority Stakes by 8 1/4 lengths Sunday at Monmouth Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Steve Asmussen won the Grade 3 Sapling Stakes for the fifth time with Dunkin Bend, and Miss Behaviour romped in the Sorority Stakes for fillies, as Monmouth Park presented its premier 2-year-old stakes Sunday.

The $96,000 Sapling and the $104,000 Sorority were the last major stakes of the meet.

Dunkin Bend rallied widest of all to take the four-horse Sapling by 1 1/4 lengths over Yes I’m Lucky. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard as Dunkin Bend, the even-money favorite, improved to 2 for 3 in his stakes debut.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 19:04

Saratoga: Sweet Reason rallies through slop to win Spinaway

Barbara D. Livingston
Sweet Reason and jockey Alex Solis win the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths Sunday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The betting public expressed its confidence in Sweet Reason early and often prior to Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga. Sweet Reason, with a maiden victory in the slop Aug. 9, opened at 8-5 and floated up to be the 5-2 second choice in a race filled with strong pedigrees and high-profile connections.

Leah Gyarmati, the trainer of Sweet Reason, was sure of only one thing.

“I knew she’d come running at the end,” Gyarmati said. “I just didn’t know where that would put us.”

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 18:48

Del Mar: Beholder makes successful return in Torrey Pines Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Beholder and jockey Gary Stevens won the Torrey Pines Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths Sunday at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – For a filly who can make things more difficult than need be, Beholder had an easy time of it in returning to action Sunday at Del Mar, romping in the $100,000 Torrey Pines Stakes for 3-year-old fillies in what was pretty much a paid workout.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 17:45

Thistledown: Caviar N Champagne wires DeBartolo Memorial

Caviar N Champagne led from start to finish to win the $50,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial by 2 3/4 lengths at Thistledown on Sunday.

Ridden by Scott Spieth for trainer Jeff Radosevich, Caviar N Champagne led while under a snug hold to midstretch. Spieth kept the 4-year-old filly off the rail and went to work on his mount at the eighth pole, keeping her mind on business as she stopped the clock for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.20.

Pay the Man, under Ricky Feliciano, chased the winner but finished second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of Startin Something in third.

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 17:32

Del Mar to consider adding races to 2014 summer meeting

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar officials will consider expanding the racing schedule for the track’s 2014 summer meeting after field sizes showed a notable increase at the current meeting, which ends Wednesday.

Track President Joe Harper said Sunday that adding races to the existing 37-day calendar would be a likely option instead of adding racing days. “It certainly is a thought, just seeing how strong the entries have been for most of the meet,” Harper said. “I think it’s something we need to talk about.”