Tuesday, August 05 2008

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/4/8

HENRY MORENO: HE KNOWS MARES AND HE LIKES ZENYATTA

Trainer Henry Moreno has had some very good female runners in his long career as a conditioner in Southern California so he knows of what he speaks when he says of the undefeated 4-year-old filly Zenyatta, "I think she's a very good mare. She could be a champion, and is a champion right now, as far as that goes.

"She could be one of the all-time greats with just a few more wins."

INSPIRATION WITHIN WINS AT DEL MAR

In a race marked by an unusual occurrence involving the starting gate, Inspiration Within and jockey David Flores led from wire-to-wire to win Del Mar's featured race Monday, a six-furlong dash for older California-bred fillies and mares.

Shortly after Inspiration Within crossed the finish line, Del Mar's board of stewards posted the inquiry sign concerning the break from the gate of Filter, who was positioned on the outside, in post number seven, under jockey Corey Naktani.

GARY BRINSON: DEL MAR HAS GIVEN HIM THE RIDE OF HIS LIFE

Some might wonder why Gary Brinson wears a broad beam of a smile that spreads a constant crease across his face.

It's simple. He's in his favorite spot doing his favorite thing. He gets the equine athletes that make Del Mar so delightful off and running for seven weeks each summer.

He's the starter at Del Mar.

Barn Notes: Monday, August 04, 2008

ARLINGTON MILLION’S ARCHIPENKO HAS TURF WORK SLATED TUESDAY

Globetrotting Archipenko, the European-based favorite for Saturday’s Grade I Arlington Million, will get his introduction to Arlington’s world famous turf course Tuesday morning in a dress rehearsal on latest stage of his 2008 world tour.

After capturing the Grade II Al Fahidi Fort Stakes in Dubai last February, the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong last April and the Group II Summer Mile Stakes in Great Britain last month, Archipenko is now attempting to add a victory in the showcase race of Chicago’s racing season to that impressive résumé.

Monday, August 04 2008

Marlang goes wire-to-wire in Breeders’ Stakes win

TORONTO, August 3 - Gus Schickedanz's Marlang led from gate to wire in Sunday's $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, the third and turf jewel of Canada's Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing, at Woodbine.

The bay son of Langfuhr completed the 1 1/2-mile distance over a "firm" E. P. Taylor Turf Course in 2:28.58, besting Sligovitz by 2 3/4 lengths. Mutuel favourite Solitaire, third in the Queen's Plate, was third, a half-length back.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES, Sunday, August 3, 2008

Trainer Bob Baffert was pleased with how Indian Blessing, juvenile filly champion of 2007, came out of her impressive seven-length win in the Grade 1, seven-furlong Test on Saturday.

“She looks great,” said Baffert. “She’s a little tired today. She ran great – her race before [Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Prioress on July 5] was pretty impressive and this race was extremely impressive. Plus, you know, the Test is a very important race so she stamped herself yesterday.”

RED GIANT RALLIES TO TAKE FOURSTARDAVE

There may have been a softer spot for Red Giant to make his first start in 10 months than Sunday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, but the 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway made it look easy.

Under jockey John Velazquez, the chestnut colt was content to save ground behind pacesetter Inca King through the early going, and after moving into contention on the inside on the turn, finally found running room at the top of the stretch and wore down Stalingrad in the final yards for the neck victory, his first since setting a course record in last year’s Grade 2 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs at 37-1.

BIG BROWN, 1-5 FAVORITE, WINS HASKELL INVITATIONAL

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Dual classic winner Big Brown displayed championship form at Monmouth Park on Sunday as he dug down deep to catch a stubborn Coal Play in the final furlong to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (G1) by nearly two lengths.

The 45,132 fans on hand on a perfect summer afternoon were treated to a tremendous horserace as the 1-5 Big Brown was forced to call on all his reserves to gain his fourth Grade 1 victory of the year as jockey Kent Desormeaux kept him in a drive from the quarter-pole to the wire.

BLACK MAMBA WINS JOHN C. MABEE HANDICAP

Trapped along the rail until deep stretch, odds-on favored Black Mamba, under a cool ride by jockey Garrett Gomez, finally found running room nearing the wire to get up and win the featured Grade I $400,000 John C. Mabee Handicap Sunday at Del Mar.

The New Zealand-bred mare, returning to the scene of her first American triumph a year ago, needed a brilliant turn of speed to win by a half-length over a fast-closing longshot, the 24-1 I Can See, with pacemaker Passified hanging on for third, another three-quarters of a length back. Foxysox was fourth in the field of eight older fillies and mares.

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/3/8

TRIPLE CROWN TRAIL GONE, YANKEE BRAVO MAY TACKLE LA JOLLA

Yankee Bravo, third in the Louisiana Derby and fourth in the Santa Anita Derby before finishing 10th in the Preakness Stakes, is on the comeback trail with a start in Saturday's Grade II, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap on trainer Patrick Gallagher's agenda.

"We're looking at the La Jolla," Gallagher said this morning.

Arlington Park International Festival of Racing Barn Notes: Sun. Aug. 3

ARLINGTON MILLION’S ARCHIPENKO ON TRAINING TRACK SUNDAY

World traveler Archipenko, one of three European invaders serving as star attractions for Saturday’s Grade I Arlington Million, arrived at Arlington late Friday night and cleared quarantine in time to stretch his legs over Arlington’s training track mid-morning Sunday.

South African trainer Mike de Kock’s assistant Trevor Brown was aboard for Archipenko’s Sunday morning exercise.

Sunday, August 03 2008

Hypocrite wins Valid Video Stakes at Calder

Hypocrite rallied after the leaders set a rapid pace to win Saturday's $55,000 Valid Video Stakes at Calder Race Course. The victory in the race for 3-year-olds was the first in a stakes race for Hypocrite and his second in three Calder starts this year."