DEL MAR, Calif. - When Mutinyonthebounty heads to the post for the second division of the Oceanside Stakes on Wednesday's opening-day card at Del Mar, it will be the culmination of months of unorthodox preparation for a colt who became so recalcitrant after arriving in this country that trainer Beau Greely had to call for help.
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DRF Past Performances
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela will turn 40 in October, but he showed the zest of an eager apprentice when he won the riding title at the Hollywood Park meeting that ended Sunday.
He says that having a chance to ride again after eight suspensions - many for substance-abuse violations - can do that to a person's attitude.
On Wednesday, Valenzuela will continue a seven-month comeback when he rides at Del Mar for the first time since 1997. Although he has not won a Del Mar riding title since 1991, it might not be a good idea to bet against him this year.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It seemed reasonably safe to assume that the winner of Fort Erie's Prince of Wales Stakes would emerge from the Queen's Plate.
The Plate-to-Wales scenario hadn't missed a beat since 1988, when the Prince of Wales was moved from 1 1/2 miles of turf to 1 3/16 miles on the main track.
But, Le Cinquieme Essai put an end to the trend when he captured Sunday's Prince of Wales, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Classic Manner, coming off a disappointing effort in his stakes debut, will try to get back on track in Wednesday's fifth race at Woodbine, a six-furlong entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up.
Because of his lineage, much was probably expected from Classic Manner before he ever ran. A 4-year-old Regal Classic gelding, he is out of Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes winner Moon Mist, the dam of added-money winners Barlee Mist and Bold Mist.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - It may not be Del Mar or Saratoga, but as special as those tracks are to the racing industry, that is what the Sonoma County Fair is to northern California fair racing.
The 12 days of "wine country racing" here beginning Wednesday is the best on the northern California fair circuit. Two Kentucky Derby runners-up, Casual Lies and local hero Cavonnier, won their maiden races here, and the $100,000 Joseph T. Grace Handicap, scheduled for Aug. 3, was the first $100,000 Thoroughbred stakes on the fair circuit.
CHICAGO - Trainer Wally Dollase's "A" team came up just short three weeks ago in the Arlington Classic, but the "B" team was good enough Sunday in the Grade 2, $225,000 . There, the Dollase-trained Mananan McLir wore down Irish invader Jazz Beat to win by three-quarters of a length, avenging Doc Holiday's narrow defeat to Mr. Mellon in the Classic.
VALLEJO, Calif. - Market Garden ($10.80) improved her career record to two wins in two starts with a one-half-length victory over Smokin Tempo in the $53,030 Solano County Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Sunday at the Solano County Fair.
Market Garden got a ground saving trip and angled out in the stretch as she closed gamely to beat Smokin Tempo, who had taken the lead in the stretch. Her winning time for 5.5 furlongs was 1:04.81.
Market Garden earned $29,760 to increase her career earnings to $49,890.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - La Cinquieme Essai, the only locally-based horse in the field of 12, struck a blow for the home team with a three-quarter length score in Sunday's $500,000 .
Becoming a stakes winner in his stakes debut, La Cinquieme Essai also ensured there would be no Canadian Triple Crown winner again this year.
T J's Lucky Moon had captured the first leg, registering an 82-1 upset in Woodbine's June 23 Queen's Plate, but faltered to finish 10th here after dueling into the final turn.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Over the years, the $250,000 at Hollywood Park has been a prep for many important turf stakes. The connections of Grammarian, Sunday's upset winner, are thinking more globally.
After Grammarian won by a head over Continental Red, and survived a claim of foul, owner Lindsey Williams said the Melbourne Cup in Australia is a long-term goal.
A win in the Grade 2 Sunset Handicap was vital since it was Grammarian's stakes debut and first start in a graded stakes, credentials needed to gain access into the Melbourne Cup over two miles on Nov. 5.