Fri, 07/26/2013 - 16:25

Monmouth Park: Hudson Steele well-spotted in Oceanport Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Hudson Steele trains on July 15. He won his last start following a long layoff.

When he’s not running in Grade 1 company, Hudson Steele is tough to beat. Going back to the summer of 2010, Hudson Steele has five wins and a neck loss in six starts outside of Grade 1 competition.

Sunday, Hudson Steele is scheduled to meet 10 rivals in the Grade 3, $150,000 Oceanport Stakes run at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Monmouth Park.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 16:03

Emerald Downs: Lucarelli sends out two in Express

AUBURN, Wash. – Frank Lucarelli began the week with his customary lead in the Emerald Downs trainer standings, but the veteran conditioner has yet to win a stakes race at the meeting. He’ll have two chances Sunday when he sends out Mebossman and Mizzo’s Gold in the season’s first stakes race for 2-year-olds, the $50,000 Emerald Express at six furlongs. First post for the 10-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 16:03

Delaware Park rules off trainer Roberson

Donald Roberson, a trainer at Delaware Park, has been ruled off the grounds of the track after a search of his barn turned up “injectable medications, syringes, and needles,” according to a ruling posted on the website of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.

Roberson, who has 3 wins from 24 starters at the current Delaware meet, was ejected from the track as of July 17, according to the ruling, and will be denied access to the grounds until a hearing in front of the stewards.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 15:55

Saratoga: Top two from Stephens go at it again in Amsterdam

Barbara D. Livingston
Forty Tales (far left) beats Declan's Warrior (right) in the Woody Stephens.

This content is part of a free preview of DRF Plus. Click to learn more.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Declan’s Warrior and Forty Tales rallied as a team into and through the stretch of the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes when crossing paths for the first time last month at Belmont Park. But while Declan’s Warrior was forced to check briefly and alter course inside the sixteenth pole, Forty Tales had a clear run to the wire, making the most of his opportunity to win the Grade 2 dash under jockey Joel Rosario.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 15:45

Monmouth Park: Minakshi needs right trip in Matchmaker

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Julie's Love win the Owsley Stakes at Belmont Park. She finished second in the Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine in her last start.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Minakshi has run competitively in three U.S. starts for trainer Michael Matz.

Her breakthrough win could come Sunday at Monmouth Park in the Grade 3, $150,000 Matchmaker Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 15:45

Monmouth: Haskell provides Verrazano with shot to rejoin division's top tier

Barbara D. Livingston
Micromanage (left) breezes a half-mile in 47.57 seconds Monday with Grade 1-winning stablemate Verrazano.

Entering the weekend, the leadership in the 3-year-old division is a three-way battle among classic winners Orb, Oxbow, and Palace Malice.

On Sunday, Verrazano would like to crash that party when he faces Preakness winner Oxbow and five others in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The early leader of the 3-year-old division, Verrazano – winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby – didn’t handle the sloppy conditions at Churchill Downs nor have the best of trips when finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 15:32

Del Mar: Comma to the Top at best distance in Bing Crosby

Benoit & Associates
Comma to the Top will try to carry his speed seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap.

This content is part of a free preview of DRF Plus. Click to learn more.

DEL MAR, Calif. – In the last year, Comma to the Top has won six stakes at four distances on synthetic tracks and dirt tracks in California and New York. During that span, he has thrived over six furlongs, winning three stakes at the distance.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 15:31

Hastings: Stormin for Becka ready to go long in Stellar's Jay

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Stormin for Becka is finally developing into the horse trainer Craig MacPherson thought he could be when he won his 2-year-old debut in impressive style last August. He is coming off back-to-back wins in allowance sprints and will be stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time when he runs in the $50,000 Stellar’s Jay Stakes for 3-year-olds on B.C. Cup Day.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 14:22

Kentucky notes: 'Cowboy' Jones still looking for win in seventh decade

When R.A. “Cowboy” Jones climbed aboard the favorite in the second race Tuesday at Fairmount Park in southern Illinois, he sent certain folks scurrying to see if he was on the threshold of becoming the oldest Thoroughbred jockey ever to win a race in the United States.

Fri, 07/26/2013 - 14:09

Monmouth Park: Funny Proposition, Joyful Victory square off in Molly Pitcher

Shigeki Kikkawa
Joyful Victory, the winner of the Grade 1 Santa Margarita in March, will run May 27 in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.

Funny Proposition will try to continue her ascension in the older filly and mare division, while Joyful Victory will try to regain her status as an early season division leader when the two meet in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Molly Pitcher, run at 1 1/16 miles, drew a field of six, including the local hopeful Lady Samuri, who has gone from $10,000 claimer to listed stakes winner.