Monday, July 21 2008

BREEN’S PACKING HEAT FOR OPENING DAY SCHUYLERVILLE

It is always an edge to have options, and trainer Kelly Breen plans to take full advantage of his situation on Wednesday, July 23, when Saratoga Race Course opens the doors on its 36-day meeting.

Breen has entered George and Lori Hall’s Boom Town Sally in the Opening Day feature, the 90th running of the Grade 3, $100,000-added Schuylerville for two-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

SLY STORM ROLLS TO VICTORY IN THE MONGO QUEEN STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Glen Hill Farm’s Sly Storm kicked clear of her foes to post a 3 ½ length win in the $70,000 Mongo Queen Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by Thomas Proctor, Sly Storm covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09 1/5 and returned $4.40, $2.80 and $2.20 as the favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies. Shining Image completed the $22.60 exacta and returned $3.80 to place and $2.40 to show. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Throbbin’ Heart, who returned $2.20 to show.

MONZANTE RALLIES TO WIN EDDIE READ HANDICAP

Monzante, well-regarded at 3-1 under jockey Rafael Bejarano, unleashed a brilliant burst of speed in the stretch to win today's featured Grade I $400,000 Eddie Read Handicap for older grass horses.

Last in the early stages of the mile and one-eighth race over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course, Monzante was steered to the outside entering the stretch and proceeded to run past his five rivals in winning by a half-length in 1:46.53. According to Trakus, the winner ran his final furlong in a blistering 10.93 seconds.

Del Mar Stable Notes 7/20/8

AT LEAST TWO FROM SAN DIEGO HEADING TO PACIFIC CLASSIC

Winner Well Armed and runner-up Surf Cat are on their way to Del Mar's signature event, the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24, following solid showings in Saturday's Grade II San Diego Handicap.

The winner had not run since finishing third in the Dubai World Cup March 29 but the long layoff obviously didn't create a problem for the front-running 5-year-old son of double Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow. He won in gate-to-wire fashion under perfect handling by Aaron Gryder, who has ridden the horse in all six of his starts in the United States after two seasons in the United Arab Emirates.

Calder Barn Notes: 7-20-08

Smooth Air Back Home and at Work at Calder

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (July 20, 2008) - Mount Joy Stable’s 3-year-old Florida homebred Smooth Air breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 Sunday morning at Calder Race Course for trainer Bennie Stutts, Jr., posting his first workout since romping to a four-length victory in the $300,000 Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown on May 31.

“We got back here about 10 days ago,” said the veteran horsemen, who took Smooth Air and 3-year-old filly stablemate Cubs Fan to Arlington Park to train after the Ohio Derby victory. Mount Joy owner Brian Burns and his family live in Chicago. One original plan for the Smooth Jazz colt’s next start after the Ohio race was the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in late June, but he was forced to miss that spot.

Arlington Park Barn Notes - Sunday, July 20, 2008

SUSPENSE BUILDS FOR SECRETARIAT STAKES FOLLOWING VIRGINIA DERBY

At least two – and possibly three – grass-favoring North American-based sophomores emerged from Saturday’s Grade II Virginia Derby in a position to challenge Arlington’s Grade II American Derby hero Tizdejavu in Arlington’s upcoming Grade I Secretariat Stakes Aug. 9.

Keep in mind that the Colonial Downs trio does not include at least two strong European-based 3-year-olds expected to cross the Atlantic to participate in the Secretariat, one of three Grade I races that will make up Arlington’s one-day International Festival of Racing on the second Saturday of August.

Thursday, July 17 2008

Piper in the Glen upsets Deputy Minister

TORONTO, July 16 - Piper in the Glen tagged 2-5 favorite Stuck in Traffic in the shadow of the wire to capture Wednesday's $125,000 Deputy Minister Stakes at Woodbine.

The son of Trajectory rallied stoutly from the rear of the four-horse field to capture his first career stakes event in a time of 1:24.30 for seven furlongs.

Piper in the Glen, who is owned by Jesse Self, finished a neck in front of Stuck in Traffic, who established fractions of :22.94 and :45.87. Delaforce finished third.

Colin Stakes latest challenge for talented Southern Exchange

TORONTO, July 16 - Southern Exchange attempts his second stakes score in a row in Saturday's $150,000 Colin Stakes at Woodbine.

The gray son of Exchange Rate was an impressive 4 3/4-length winner of the June 15 Victoria Stakes.

Unlike most two-year-olds that draw off to win by a strong margin, Southern Exchange has won both of his career starts from off the pace, both under jockey Jono Jones.

KILDERRY, DIXIE CHATTER WIN BEFORE RECORD OPENING-DAY CROWD

In front of the largest opening-day crowd in Del Mar history -- 43,459, Irish-bred Kilderry, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, and Dixie Chatter, under Richard Migliore, won divisions of the featured Oceanside Stakes.

Kilderry, sent postward at 5-1, barely held off the closing charge of Moral Compass and jockey Garrett Gomez to win by a nose in the opening section of the one- mile race for three-year-olds. Kilderry, who paid $12.60, ran the distance in 1:35.45.

Jungle Wave was third

Wednesday, July 16 2008

SARATOGA SEASON PASSES NOW ON SALE

Saratoga Race Course opens its 140th season one week from today on Wednesday, July 23, and regular race-goers know that the Saratoga Season Pass is the most convenient and economical way to take in all the action of the 36-day Spa racing season. Season passes are on sale now at the Saratoga Race Course Customer Service Office, located in the track’s Administration Building (entrance by ATMs), through Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Del Mar Stable Notes 7/16/8

MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER SURF CAT HEADS SAN DIEGO 'CAP FIELD

Multiple graded stakes winner Surf Cat, looking to surpass the million-dollar earnings mark, heads a field of 10 for Saturday's 67th edition of the San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

A victory in the Grade II, $300,000 race would not only send the son of Sir Cat well beyond $1 million in purse money but would guarantee him a spot in the new Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as a part of the "Win and You're In" series.

SWAY, 11-10 FAVORITE, WINS FEATURE ON MONMOUTH TURF

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Lee Lewis’s Sway charged into command on the stretch turn and then held off a late surge by Zulmin to win Wednesday’s $41,000 allowance feature on the Monmouth Park turf course.

Sway, sent off the 11-10 favorite in the field of six fillies and mares, stepped the mile and a sixteenth over firm turf in 1:42 flat under Eddie Castro and paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board.