Saturday, August 09 2008

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.

ADGER GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE IN MONMOUTH SPRINT VICTORY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Mike Rutherford’s Adger made an impressive debut at Monmouth Park on Friday as he jumped into the lead from the gate and never looked back, scoring by two and a half lengths in the $37,000 maiden special event.

The winner, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joe Bravo, stopped the timer in 1:05 2/5 for the five and a half furlongs over a fast main track. He paid $14.60, $7 and $4.60 across the board and topped an $84 exacta.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, August 8, 2008

A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT ACOMA IN MONMOUTH OAKS SATURDAY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * The well-bred Acoma drops back from a Grade 1 stakes try to contest Saturday’s $150,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3) * Rough Road Ahead returns to sprinting on the dirt in the $70,000 Select Stakes Saturday.

Acoma has a lot going for her in Saturday’s $150,000 Monmouth Oaks (G3). First, the 3-year-old filly is one of the best bred horses in America. Second, she comes into the mile and a sixteenth Oaks off a try against Grade 1 rivals in the CCA Oaks at Belmont. And third, she arrived at Monmouth on Thursday back at the peak of her powers.

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/8/8

SON OF SIPHON SOLID PROSPECT FOR $1-MILLION PACIFIC CLASSIC

A 5-year-old gelded son of Siphon, Delosvientos, has been flying under the radar at Del Mar on his way to being a starter in the track’s signature event, the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24.

The horse, on a three-race win streak, has been bedded down in Barn BB since mid-July in his quest for Del Mar’s biggest annual prize.

Barn Notes: Friday, August 08, 2008

SUDAN SCRATCHED FROM SATURDAY’S ARLINGTON MILLION

Gary Tanaka’s Sudan, projected as the probable pace setter in Saturday’s Grade I Arlington Million, was withdrawn early Friday morning from the 25th renewal of the showcase race of the Chicago Thoroughbred racing season.

“He was fine when he galloped (at Arlington) yesterday,” Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel told Tanaka advisor Franϧois Dupuis by cell phone Friday morning as the horsewoman stood on the Arlington Park apron during training hours. “But when we scanned him this morning we discovered that the horse had bowed a tendon.”

RAFFIE’S TREASURE STANDS ALONE IN STATUE OF LIBERTY

In the paddock before the 6th running of Thursday’s $147,000 New York Stallion Series, Statue of Liberty Division, trainer Dominic Galluscio called an audible before giving a leg up to jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard Raffie’s Treasure.

“He said, `Let’s try something today and tell the starter to leave her alone, to let her break by herself,’” said Desormeaux. “She actually turned her head still when the doors opened, but she broke running. So, we were able to engage and she enjoyed the going.”