Sunday, August 10 2008

SPIRIT ONE FLIES HOME FIRST FOR FRANCE IN ARLINGTON MILLION XXVI

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (August 9, 2008) –Air France flew first, but European runners also finished second and third when Kamel Chehboub’s French-bred Spirit One stole Chicago’s biggest racing show with an unexpected wire-to-wire win in Arlington Million XXVI.

Taking command just after the break with a cleverly rated run under Basque-born jockey Ioritz Mendizabal, Spirit One, second in France’s Group III La Coupe Stakes June 14 in his last start, beat all the road rage traffic just behind and held on willingly to post a three quarter-length courageous score for his French connections, quarterbacked by trainer Philippe Demercastel.

MAURALAKANA POWERS HOME IN GRADE I BEVERLY D. STAKES

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Aug. 9, 2008) – Robert Scarborough’s Mauralakana sat comfortably in fourth place throughout the early stages, then swung out with a powerful three-wide move turning for home to capture the Grade I, $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes by a decisive length and one quarter on Saturday at Arlington Park before an international racing crown of 31,463.

Mauralakana is trained by Christophe Clement, who today became the first to saddle three Beverly D. winners. He won the event last year with Royal Highness and in 2001 with England’s Legend. Patrick Biancone, Bobby Frankel, and Charlie Whittingham are the trainers with two Beverly D. winners to their credit.

Secretariat Stakes recap

WINCHESTER, PLAN 1-2 SECRETARIAT FINISH KICKS OFF BIG DAY FOR FOREIGN HORSES AT ARLINGTON’S INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Aug. 9, 2008) – A dominating 7¼-length victory by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s Winchester – with a second-place run by IEAH Stables and Michael Tabor’s Plan – in the Grade I $400,000 Secretariat Stakes Saturday before 31,463 at Arlington Park set up a windfall for horses shipping from overseas for Arlington’s one-day International Festival of Racing.

Less than ninety minutes later, Spirit One, Archipenko and Mount Nelson became the first 1-2-3 finishers under the wire in the Grade I Arlington Million. Between those two races, the English-bred but French-raced filly Toque de Queda finished third in the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes.

Barn Notes: Saturday, August 09, 2008

THREE RIDERS WITH CHANCE TO SWEEP ILLINOIS’ THREE GRADE I STAKES

Eight years ago, retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey put his personal stamp on the International Festival of Racing at Arlington Park when he became the first and only jockey in history to win the Grade I Arlington Million and the Grade I Beverly D. in the same year.

Since then, of course, the ultimate afternoon for a jockey during the one-day International Festival of Racing at Arlington Park would be to sweep the Million, the Beverly D. and the Grade I Secretariat Stakes on the second Saturday in August. Together, they are the only three Grade I events offered in Illinois on an annual basis and there are four jockeys with a chance to accomplish that sweep in 2008.

Saturday, August 09 2008

JOSEAN RAMIREZ WINS ABOARD FIRST MOUNT

LAUREL, MD. 08-08-08---Josean Ramirez, riding his first official race aboard Sir Classic Chris for legendary trainer King Leatherbury, won a close finish over What’s What and Jason Nguyen, who was also riding in his first official race, the second race on opening day of Laurel Park’s summer mini-meeting. Live racing returned to Maryland this afternoon after an eight-week hiatus in the form of a twilight racing.

“This was everything I could have hoped for,” Ramirez said. “I was a little nervous when we went to the gate but once we went in, I put the game face on and it was time to work.”

TURF COURSE SITE OF UPSETS AT FAIR

SAN MATEO -- There were two turf races contested at the San Mateo County Fair Friday and both were won by outsiders.

Eight horses competed in the fifth race, a 5 1/2-furlong dash on the Longden Turf Course. The winner was Advance Ticket, who paid $14.20 after going off as the fourth choice in the betting at odds of 6-to-1.

FILLY LETHAL HEAT WINS REAL GOOD DEAL STAKES

Hard-hitting Lethal Heat, the only filly in a field of eight California-bred three-year-olds, came on strongly in the stretch under jockey Garrett Gomez to win Friday's featured $108,900 Real Good Stakes at seven furlongs.

The daughter of Unusual Heat outgamed a tenacious rival, 13-1 longshot Young Joe, to score by a half-length, with 8-5 favored Dancing in Silks third and Waafi fourth.

Friday, August 08 2008

WEST POINT FEATURES REMATCH OF STATE-BRED TURF SPECIALISTS

Sunday’s 29th running of the $100,000 West Point Handicap for older New York-bred males on the turf at nine furlongs will feature a rematch between the 1-2-3 finishers in last month’s Thunder Puddles Stakes, with an additional seven horses looking to crash the party.

Nyala Farm’s Banrock heads the Thunder Puddles contingent following his fast-closing 1 ¾-length score on good turf in July over Gimme Credit and Classic Pack. Three races back, Banrock took Kingston Handicap in similar style on yielding turf.

SARATOGA NOTES, August 8, 2008

Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Macho Again breezed four furlongs on Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track this morning, covering the half-mile in 50.12 on ground rated “fast.”

“He worked well,” said trainer Dallas Stewart. “We’re happy with him. So far, so good. ”

The move was a maintenance work in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm here on Saturday, August 23.

REWRITE KEEPS FAMILY STORY ALIVE IN YADDO HANDICAP

It’s amazing how a horse can hold a family together through a difficult time.

For Kathy and Karen Johnson, owners of Amherst Stable, Rewrite helped them through the saddest time of their lives – the loss of both their father, Hall of Fame trainer Phil “P.G” Johnson, and their mother, Mary Kay, four years ago.

On Sunday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course, the sisters will cheer on 5-year-old Rewrite in the 29th running of the $100,000 Yaddo Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares going nine furlongs miles on the turf. The race as originally scheduled for Saturday, August 9.

STORM SCRAPS 8 SPA RACES

A severe summer thunderstorm, complete with heavy rain, hail and lightning, washed out part of the main track at Saratoga Race Course, forcing the cancellation of racing after this afternoon’s second race.

Eight races were cancelled, including the $80,000 Waya for older fillies and mares at a mile and a half on the turf.

Patrons were given a two-part rain check for admission and program upon exiting the facility. Exchange of reserved seats will be granted for future dates, based on availability.

The track remained open for simulcasting.

EIGHT RETIRED HALL OF FAME RIDERS IN UNIQUE ‘LIVING LEGENDS RACE,’

ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2008) – Termed the most extraordinary “Old-Timers’ Day” in the history of sport, eight Hall of Fame jockeys – with combined earnings of over $1.5 billion from 49,163 victories -- will compete in a pari-mutuel wagering event, The Living Legends Race, on Oct. 18 during the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet as a prelude to the following weekend’s Breeders’ Cup.

Held in conjunction with racing’s new Legends on Tour as well as the Breeders’ Cup, Hall of Fame jockeys set to compete in Santa Anita’s unprecedented race are, in descending order of age: Angel Cordero Jr., 65; Jacinto Vasquez, 64; Sandy Hawley, 59; Pat Day, 55; Chris McCarron, 53; Jerry Bailey, 51; Gary Stevens, 45, and Julie Krone, 45. Their average age is 55.