Sun, 05/26/2013 - 19:09

Monmouth Park: Zucchini Flower, Ruthenia get stakes wins

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Ruthenia, with Joe Bravo aboard, wins the $75,000 Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Zucchini Flower and Ruthenia won the $75,000 distaff stakes Sunday before a crowd of 23,317 at Monmouth Park.

Zucchini Flower pulled away to a 3 3/4-length victory in the Monmouth Beach Stakes for fillies and mares on the main track. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Graham Motion, had a golden trip, sitting third as Daydreamin Gracie and Winiliscious dueled for the lead.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 17:15

Woodbine: Something Extra repeats in Connaught Cup

Michael Burns
Something Extra wins the Grade 2 Connaught Cup for the second consecutive year Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Something Extra won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup for the second year in a row, giving jockey Eurico Da Silva a sweep of Sunday’s two stakes at Woodbine.

Something Extra ($4.20) went straight to the lead and set quick fractions of 22.64 seconds and 45.09 in the seven-furlong turf sprint. Several rivals took a run at him in the stretch, but he held on to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Riding the River, last year’s Canadian champion male turf horse.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 17:04

Hollywood Park: Sprague River eyes stakes after impressive debut

Benoit & Associates
Sprague River wins her debut by 7 3/4 lengths at Hollywood Park on Saturday.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Sprague River won a $50,000 claiming race for maiden 2-year-old fillies in Saturday’s first race, but it is doubtful that owner and breeder Carl Asadurian and trainer Scott Hansen will start the filly in another claimer in the near future.

Sprague River won her debut by 7 3/4 lengths, finishing 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.55 seconds.

After the race, Hansen was debating which summertime stakes will best suit Sprague River, a California-bred by Tribal Rule.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 16:57

Hollywood Park notes: Obviously has Breeders' Cup Mile as long-term goal

Benoit & Associates
Obviously, with Joe Talamo riding, wins the American Handicap.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Obviously finished third behind 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita last fall, losing by two lengths. Mike Mitchell, who trains Obviously, wants a rematch.

After watching Obviously win his first stakes of 2013 in Saturday’s $150,250 American Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park, Mitchell said the BC Mile is a long-term goal.

“We’ll take our time with him and aim for the Breeders’ Cup again,” he said.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 15:24

Woodbine: Up With the Birds delivers as favorite in Marine Stakes

Michael Burns
Up With the Birds wins the Marine Stakes by 4 3/4 lengths Sunday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Up With the Birds became the probable favorite for the July 7 Queen’s Plate with a decisive score Sunday at Woodbine in the $168,900 Marine Stakes, which was won last year by eventual Plate winner Strait of Dover.

The favored Up With the Birds ($4.40) trailed in the field of five 3-year-olds early, then mounted a wide rally on the far turn before drawing away for a 4 3/4-length triumph. His time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.82.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 09:45

Evangeline Downs: Silent Legacy by a neck in Opelousas Stakes

OPELOUSAS, La. – Silent Legacy outdueled the favored Little Polka Dot in a spirited battle to capture the $50,000 Opelousas Stakes by a neck Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

It was a length farther back to Queenie Vic in third and another length back to fourth-place finisher Paoli in the stakes for fillies and mares over about a mile on turf. Miss Addison, Osi Posse and Patty’s Pride were all late scratches.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 09:23

Prairie Meadows: Maude S wins Wild Rose Stakes

ALTOONA, Iowa – Aboard even-money favorite Maude S, jockey Israel Ocampo bided his time behind dawdling fractions set by Lava Girl in Saturday's featured $60,000 Wild Rose, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for fillies and mares. On the far turn, a surge along the rail carried the James DiVito-trained mare from last to first for a 2 3/4-length win.

Sun, 05/26/2013 - 09:06

Charles Town: Down Town Allen repeats in Fancy Buckles

Coady Photography
Down Town Allen, with Matt McGowan aboard, wins the Fancy Buckles Stakes for the second straight year.

Down Town Allen remains the queen of Charles Town after running down the 3-year-old filly Jax and Jill in deep stretch of Saturday night’s $51,050 Fancy Buckles Stakes for West Virginia-bred fillies and mares.

The 6-year-old Down Town Allen ($4.20) extended her winning streak over two seasons to six races by stalking and pouncing on the speedy Jax and Jill, who opened up a two-length lead in the 4 1/2-furlong race by running the first quarter-mile in 21.97 seconds.

Sat, 05/25/2013 - 20:30

Hollywood Park has Sunday pick-six carryover of $113K

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There is a pick-six carryover at Betfair Hollywood Park of $113,928 for Sunday’s nine-race program.

The carryover was clinched when Warren’s Parolee (22-1) beat 3-2 favorite Brown Boss in Saturday’s ninth race. Brown Boss was covered on a pick-six ticket.

The pick six on Sunday covers the fourth through ninth races. The pool could exceed $600,000 in new money.

There is a carryover of $22,294 on Sunday’s Super High Five, which is conducted on the day’s final race.

Sat, 05/25/2013 - 20:08

Arlington: General Election survives claims of foul to take Classic in turf debut

Four-Footed Fotos
Joe Rocco, riding at Arlington Park for the first time, guides General Election to victory in the Arlington Classic.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jockey Joe Rocco Jr.’s first day at Arlington Park nearly turned ugly. Rocco gave General Election a fine ride in the Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Classic, saving ground the entire trip, and coming up the fence to finish first, but before celebrations could commence, Rocco had to wait out a stewards’ inquiry and multiple objections for deep-stretch interference against fourth-place Gefest. In the end, Rocco’s number stayed up, and General Election had won the first grass start of his career.