VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Brass and Gold saved ground the whole way and made a strong move when the rail opened up at the top of the stretch on his way to a $41.50 upset in Monday’s $75,000 B.C. Cup Classic at Hastings.
Brass and Gold broke sharply under Scott Williams who kept the 4-year-old gelding within striking range of Similkameen Joey and The Gov who were carving out fast fractions in the 1 1/8-mile feature for British Columbia-breds.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Go for Guinness took a big step toward the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby with a strong performance in Monday’s $50,000 Stellar’s Jay at Hastings. Go for Guinness paid $11.50 as the third choice in the 11-horse field of 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles.
The race was one of six stakes for British Columbia-breds on the B.C. Cup Day card.
Assembly Hall, moving into contention on the far turn, rallied strongly through the stretch to earn a 2 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs on Monday.
Trained by Bryan Porter, who also is the co-owner of the Kentucky-bred in partnership with Dennis Goettsch, Assembly Hall was making his fifth career start and stakes debut in the 1 1/8-mile Manitoba Derby, an open race for 3-year-olds.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Benefitting from a patient ride by Edgar Prado, Qushchi rallied strongly in the stretch to win Monday’s $100,000 Waya Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Saratoga.
Anjaz, who was boxed in along the inside in the stretch, managed to find room and get up for second by one length over Mystical Star. Angel Terrace was fourth, followed by Beijoca, Kissable, and Team.
The win was the first for Qushchi since Sept. 17, 2011. She had lost 16 straight starts, including all four since coming to the United States and trainer Graham Motion.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Holiday Soiree returned quick dividends to her new connections when she rallied from off the pace to an impressive 3 3/4-length victory over Delightful Quality in Monday’s $100,000 Shine Again Stakes at Saratoga.
Wise Dan, the reigning Horse of the Year, was assigned 129 pounds for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, the race he won last year to start his current seven-race winning streak.
Four years ago, trainer Al Stall Jr. sent out Blame to win the Curlin Stakes with a career-best performance, after which he skipped the temptation to run his rising star in the Travers.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Strut the Course ($6.70) notched her first stakes win with ease Monday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Eternal Search.
Strut the Course won from off the pace by 6 1/2 lengths over Seeking Toussaud. Dancing Bay wound up third, and the favored front-runner, Laughing Falcon, faded to fourth.
Todd Kabel rode the Barb Minshall-trained Strut the Course, who completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.67.
“I expected a big race from her today, and she showed up,” Minshall said.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Paso Doble ($4.90) danced his way into the winner’s circle as the 124-pound highweight in the $125,400 Shepperton Stakes on holiday Monday at Woodbine.
The pace was slow in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, and second choice Phil’s Dream assumed command into the stretch after tracking the early leader, Executive Five. Paso Doble rallied wide from midpack to hit the front at the sixteenth pole en route to a 1 1/2-length score in 1:16.39.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Evidently, Steve Asmussen didn’t empty out his chamber when he won 35 races at the Churchill Downs spring meet, including 11 with his 2-year-old crop.
