Sun, 08/04/2013 - 22:40

Emerald Downs: Chu and You impresses in Angie C. Stakes

AUBURN, Wash. – Chu and You raced to an impressive, front-running victory Sunday in the $45,000 Angie C. Stakes at Emerald Downs, running her career record to 2 for 2 in the meeting’s first stakes race for 2-year-old fillies. The second choice in a field of six, Chu and You ran six furlongs in 1:09.88 and paid $5.40.

Chu and You’s assignment was made easier Sunday morning when Tinkerbelle Tops, expected to vie with Chu and You for the early lead, came down with a fever and was withdrawn by trainer Charles Essex.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 21:50

Del Mar: Pick-six carryover of $265,129 for Wednesday

DEL MAR, Calif. – For the third time in four days, no one hit the pick six at Del Mar on Sunday, leading to a carryover to Wednesday's races of $265,129.

Del Mar is dark Monday and Tuesday.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 21:30

Del Mar: Alberts Hope delivers as favorite in Best Pal Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Alberts Hope, with Alonso Quinonez up, wins the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes by a half-length over Celtic Moon on Sunday at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Mike Puype celebrated his 47th birthday in style Sunday at Del Mar by sending out two winners, including Alberts Hope, who tenaciously fought off a spirited bid from Celtic Moon to capture the Grade 2, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Alberts Hope ($7), the favorite in a field of six, settled comfortably behind the contested pace of Alpine Luck and Guns Loaded, advanced toward the leaders on the turn, took the lead a furlong out, then had to hold off 11-1 shot Celtic Moon, who sneaked through along the rail and made Alberts Hope earn it.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 21:22

Santa Rosa: Fire With Fire dominates Grace Handicap

William G. Vassar
Fire With Fire, under jockey Juan J. Hernandez, wins the Joseph T. Grace Handicap by 2 1/4 lengths Sunday.

Meeting easier company and cutting back in distance paid dividends for Fire With Fire ($5), who scored his first stakes win Sunday while recording his first victory since August 2011, romping to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $52,400 Joseph T. Grace Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif.

The 5-year-old Distorted Humor gelding, coming out of a fifth-place finish in the 1 3/4-mile, Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano and a third in the 1 1/2-mile, Grade 2 San Luis Rey, broke sharply, taking the lead and cruising to victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf race in 1:40.67.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 18:57

Saratoga: Dominguez trying to adjust to life without racing

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Ramon Dominguez is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his riding career is over, and he has not given much thought about what he will do in the future.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 18:10

Saratoga: Justin Phillip rallies to win Vanderbilt

Michael Amoruso
Justin Phillip and jockey John Velazquez win the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap by two lengths Saturday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Justin Phillip became a Grade 1 winner while further muddling the already wide-open picture in the sprint division when rallying for a decisive two-length victory over Bahamian Squall in Sunday’s $400,000 Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga.

Delaunay, the 8-5 favorite in a compact field of five, finished fourth after vying for the lead throughout.    

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 17:43

Woodbine: Smartyfly wins Wonder Where Stakes; Nipissing put down

Michael Burns
Smartyfly, under Eurico Rosa da Silva, wins the Wonder Where Stakes by three lengths Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Smartyfly ($13.40) led virtually all the way in Sunday’s $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, which was marred by the fatal breakdown of Woodbine Oaks winner Nipissing.

Smartyfly was hounded by the favored Spring in the Air throughout the 1 1/4-mile turf route while setting moderate fractions of 25.90 seconds, 50, and 1:14.07 over firm ground. Spring in the Air drew alongside her in the stretch, but Smartyfly repelled her bid in the final furlong and draw clear to score by three lengths in 2:03.27.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 16:16

Del Mar notes: Proctor has options for Marketing Mix

Benoit & Associates
Marketing Mix beat males in the Sunset Handicap on turf at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 14. She likely will run next at either Arlington Park or Del Mar.

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DEL MAR, Calif. – Marketing Mix remains on schedule for the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 17, but there is a chance she could remain in California and face males later this month.

After watching Marketing Mix work five furlongs in 1:00.20 on Sunday, trainer Tom Proctor said the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap on turf Aug. 24 or the Pacific Classic the following day are possibilities.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 15:59

Del Mar: Lady of Fifty, More Chocolate likely for Zenyatta Stakes

Benoit & Associates
Lady of Fifty, under Corey Nakatani, connects at 10-1 in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch.

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DEL MAR, Calif. – Lady of Fifty won her first Grade 1 race in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, earning a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita in November and proving her status among California’s top older females.

The flipside is what awaits her this fall.

“Looks like we get to run into Royal Delta,” trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 15:35

Saratoga: Royal Delta, Princess of Sylmar breeze

Tom Keyser
Royal Delta, with exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset up, breezed a half-mile in 48.08 seconds at Saratoga on Sunday in preparation for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 25.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Royal Delta, the reigning older female champion, and Princess of Sylmar, the leader of this year’s 3-year-old filly division, topped a busy work tab Sunday at Saratoga.

In her first work since winning the Delaware Handicap by 10 3/4 lengths July 20, Royal Delta breezed four furlongs in 48.08 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. Royal Delta is pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign here Aug. 25.