Fri, 07/05/2013 - 17:13

Arapahoe: Oneotwo back facing fillies in George Wafer Memorial

Oneotwo crashed the Inaugural at Arapahoe Park back in May when she defeated males at 20-1. She’s back in action for the first time since then on Sunday, and will be a much shorter price when she returns to racing with fillies in the Colorado track’s $40,000 George Wafer Memorial.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 17:13

Hollywood Park: Eddie Read candidates sidetracked

Shigeki Kikkawa
Bright Thought was sidelined through the spring with a splint bone injury.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The 2013 stakes winners Bright Thought and Tale of a Champion have had their summer campaign disrupted by minor injuries.

Bright Thought and Tale of a Champion were considered candidates for the $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 20, but may not start until the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap over 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 24.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 17:07

Belmont Park: Villanesca gets up to win Magnolia Jackson Stakes

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Villanesca, with Joel Rosario riding, is the half-length winner of the Magnolia Jackson.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin had simple instructions for Joel Rosario before his ride on Villanesca in Friday’s $100,000 Magnolia Jackson Stakes at Belmont Park.

“Try to get to the winner’s circle,” McLaughlin said he told Rosario. “You’re winning for everybody else. I’m not going to tell you to lay first or fourth.”

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 16:59

Thistledown: Silver Tongued back at track he likes for Cleveland Gold Cup

Silver Tongued was voted Ohio 2-year-old of the year off his win in the $75,000 J.W.Galbraith at Thistledown last fall and he returns to the Cleveland track seeking his second lifetime win in the $75,0000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds on Sunday.

Trained by Jeff Greenhill, Silver Tongued came from far back early in the 1 1/16-mile Galbraith, part of the Best of Ohio series last Oct. 12, to win by 3 1/2 lengths at 23-1. He is winless in five subsequent starts.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 16:46

Belmont: Zenyatta's half-sister Eblouissante possible for Shuvee

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
West Hills Giant, a winner on turf last weekend in the Spectacular Bid, will switch to the main track for the July 20 New York Derby at Finger Lakes.

Eblouissante, the half-sister to champion Zenyatta who has not raced since January, had her fifth five-furlong workout at Belmont Park on Friday morning, going 1:01.67 in company with Death Star.

“I thought she went really well. I was very happy,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “She galloped out another half-mile.”

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 16:44

Emerald Downs: E Z Kitty and Exclusive Diva go at it again in Boeing

Emerald Downs
Exclusive Diva outruns E Z Kitty in the Washington State Legislators at Emerald Downs June 9.

AUBURN, Wash. – E Z Kitty and Exclusive Diva, the cream of the filly and mare crop in the Pacific Northwest, will meet in Round 4 of their budding rivalry Sunday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap at Emerald Downs. First post for the 10-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 16:18

Calder, Gulfstream competing for entries

MIAMI – The battle for entries on the south Florida circuit began in earnest Thursday, with the racing offices at both Calder and Gulfstream Park struggling to fill eight-race programs for Sunday. The tracks are scheduled to race head to head on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 16:08

Belmont Park: Data Link will freshen up at Fair Hill

Tom Keyser
Data Link, winning the Canadian Turf at Gulfstream, could benefit from an early pace battle in the Grade 3 Poker.

ELMONT, N.Y. – It appears trainer Shug McGaughey is becoming a big fan of the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland.

Just a few hours after Data Link’s fourth-place finish as the 3-5 favorite in Thursday’s Poker Stakes at Belmont Park, McGaughey shipped Data Link to Fair Hill, where he will join stablemates Orb and Imagining.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 16:04

Hollywood Park: Wednesday takes two-turn test in Le Cle

Benoit & Associates
Wednesday is prepping with an eye toward major races this summer at Del Mar.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – A minor stakes on Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park has major implications for 3-year-old fillies whose summer campaigns will be determined after racing one mile on turf in the $70,000 Le Cle Stakes.

The sharp sprint form of Wednesday stamps her as a favorite, even if her two-turn form is a mystery. She lost two maiden routes, but trainer Carla Gaines still believes she can stay two turns and hopes Wednesday can be a candidate this summer for the Grade 2 San Clemente or Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks.

Fri, 07/05/2013 - 15:57

Belmont: Stakes winners Fearless Jacq, Bella Castani meet at midpoint in Diamondrella

Courtney Heeney
Bella Castani will cut back from a mile to seven furlongs for Sunday's Diamondrella.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Fearless Jacq and Bella Castani have both won overnight stakes at Belmont Park this summer, with Fearless Jacq victorious at six furlongs and Bella Castani at a mile.

Sunday, the two 3-year-old fillies will meet in the middle when Fearless Jacq and Bella Castani head a field of seven entered in the $100,000 Diamondrella Stakes going seven furlongs on turf at Belmont Park.