Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:14

Saratoga: Ballerina win for Judy the Beauty would be a Grade 1 first for Ward

Barbara D. Livingston
Judy the Beauty has 4 wins and 6 seconds from 10 career starts but has never won on dirt.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When No Nay Never won the Prix Morny at Deauville in France last Sunday, it gave trainer Wesley Ward the first Group 1 victory of his 22-year training career.

He hopes it’s the start of a trend.

Ward will seek his first North American Grade 1 victory Friday at Saratoga when Judy the Beauty, a three-time runner-up in Grade 1 races, starts in the $500,000 Ballerina Stakes at seven furlongs.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 15:07

Woodbine: Seawatch rested for Friday starter allowance

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Seawatch, who went on a tear during the spring and early summer, returns from a short layoff in the first race Friday at Woodbine. The 1 1/8-mile starter allowance is limited to horses who competed with a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2012-13.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 14:52

Woodbine notes: Something Extra sidelined by bone bruising

Michael Burns
Something Extra won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup for the second year in a row May 26.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Something Extra, who had been pointing to Sunday’s Play the King Stakes, will miss the balance of the meeting.

“He has bone bruising,” said Gail Cox, who trains Something Extra and owns the Kentucky-bred 5-year-old gelding in partnership with John Menary. “He went very well in his last breeze; I was on him. But for the next couple of weeks, he just didn’t seem to be himself. He was perfectly sound and training well, but his attitude was different.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 14:27

Timonium: Longer meet offers higher purses

Tiny, old Timonium, the last bastion of Thoroughbred racing at any fair east of the Mississippi River, got a big boost from Maryland horsemen that will enable the half-mile track that operates in conjunction with the Maryland State Fair to expand to 10 days and offer higher purses.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 14:23

Northlands Park: Desert Train poised for repeat on Friday

Desert Train has a good chance of winning his second straight race when he runs in a $17,500 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as Friday’s feature at Northlands Park. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses, and there is an abundance of speed to set up Desert Train, who can stalk the pace.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 13:55

Santa Rosa business strong in first independent meet

In its first meet independent from the California Authority of Racing Fairs, average daily all-sources handle and total and average ontrack handle at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif., increased over last year.

Ontrack betting increased despite two fewer days of racing. Ontrack wagering for the 13-day 2013 meet totaled $3,703,664, a 3 percent increase over the $3,580,241 bet ontrack at the 15-day 2012 meet. The daily average ontrack handle was $284,897 this year compared with $238,682 in 2012, a 19 percent increase.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 13:47

Saratoga: Spa Babies 2-year-old picks and analysis for Aug. 22

RACE 2
5 1/2 Furlongs
Maiden Claiming ($50,000)
2-year-old fillies
Purse $50,000

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 13:33

Assiniboia Downs: Regal Silver back with fillies for Debutante

Regal Silver, third when facing males last time out in the 5 1/2-furlong Graduation, will be back with fillies Friday in the $30,000 Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs.

The 5 1/2-furlong Debutante, for 2-year-old fillies, attracted a field of eight.

Regal Silver, bred in Manitoba by her owner, Phil Kives, was a maiden winner first crack out at 4 1/2 furlongs and then was beaten 7 1/4 lengths as the third-place finisher in the Graduation.

Wed, 08/21/2013 - 13:27

Louisiana Downs: Whited, trainer, hospitalized with brain trauma

Trainer David Whited was in a Shreveport, La., hospital on Wednesday with brain trauma, according to family members. He had brought a horse into Louisiana Downs on Tuesday night, and he may have been kicked in the head while unloading the animal, they said, but added that was not yet confirmed. The family on Wednesday was still learning details of what happened.