Saturday, November 10 2012

OLDER SPRINTERS COMPETE IN WEDNESDAY’S NYSS

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sportswriter, already a winner of a New York Stallion Stakes on the turf, will try to win his first NYSS on the dirt when he competes in Wednesday’s $100,000 Thunder Rumble at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Thunder Rumble is one of two NYSS races on Wednesday’s card, the other being the Staten Island for fillies and mares. Both races are seven furlongs.

HOME JOURNEY DOMINATES, STAYS PERFECT FOR PUYPE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 9, 2012)—A first out winner last month at Santa Anita, Home Journey was even more impressive in the $49,400 feature for California breds Friday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Facing eight other 2-year-old fillies, the daughter of Good Journey broke on top, relaxed nicely under jockey Aaron Gryder, then kicked away at the top of the stretch to prevail by 8 ¼ lengths.

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES - NOV. 9, 2012

• CASSE COULD HAVE TWO IN GRADE I CLARK HANDICAP
• McKEEVER SEEKS CARDINAL VICTORY WITH DAISY DEVINE
• JULIE’S LOVE TAKES ‘UNCONVENTIONAL’ PATH TO CARDINAL HANDICAP

Friday, November 09 2012

Amerigo Vespucci (2-1) is undefeated in two starts for trainer Tim Tullock. Both wins came at Laurel

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Undefeated Matchmadeinheaven goes for her fourth straight stakes victory Sunday when she takes on six other 2-year-old fillies in the $125,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The six-furlong Fifth Avenue, which will be run as race 7, is the second of two stakes on Sunday restricted to the juvenile sons and daughters of stallions nominated to the series. The $125,000 Great White Way division for 2-year-olds, also contested at six furlongs, will be run as race 3 on the nine-race card.

SIX 2-YEAR-OLDS ENTERED IN SATURDAY’S JAMES LEWIS STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 11-08-12---Tony Dutrow has started Whiskey Romeo only once but the maiden win was so impressive it has earned him the role as favorite in Saturday’s $125,000 James F. Lewis III Stakes for 2-year-olds at Laurel Park.

The Forestry offspring opened a long lead against five others in his debut before cruising home to a 78 Beyer speed figure on Sept. 29 at Parx Racing and is listed as the overwhelming 6-5 program choice in the 6-furlong test. Dutrow has worked Whiskey Romeo three times since the maiden win, including a half-mile bullet drill in 48 seconds on Nov. 4. Stewart Elliott will accompany the bay colt on his trip to Maryland.

FAVORED KETTLE CORN WINS OPENING DAY FEATURE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 8, 2012)—Favored Kettle Corn earned his first victory of 2012 Thursday, outfinishing Akkadian to win the $57,008 opening day feature of Betfair Hollywood Park’s Autumn meet.

Exiting a fourth place finish in the Grade II Arroyo Seco Mile last month at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride saved ground while reserved off the moderate pace set by Oligarch, angled out for room in midstretch and prevailed by a neck as the even-money favorite.

SCARLET STRIKE FACES SIX IN SHARP CAT STAKES

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (November 8, 2012)—Second behind Executiveprivilege in the Grade I Chandelier Stakes Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, Scarlet Strike will have six opponents in the $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Restricted to 2-year-old fillies and run at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track, the Sharp Cat is a prep for the Grade I, $500,000 guaranteed Hollywood Starlet, which will be run Dec. 8. The Sharp Cat is the eighth of nine races Sunday. Post time is 12:30 p.m. Track gates at Betfair Hollywood Park will open at 10 a.m.

STABLE NOTES

JOCKEY COMINGS
AND GOINGS

The local jockey colony will have a new look this meeting, with a mixture of familiar faces infused with established talent arriving from other circuits.

CHURCHILL DOWNS BARN NOTES

• TRAINERS LOOKING FORWARD TO PARADE OF BREEDERS’ CUP CHAMPIONS
• SHACKLEFORD COULD END CAREER IN GRADE I CLARK HANDICAP
• BIZZY CAROLINE BACK ON FAVORITE SURFACE IN SATURDAY’S CARDINAL

Calder Barn Notes

BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT HERO RETURNS HOME TO CALDER

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 8, 2012) – For the third straight year a Breeders’ Cup champion passed through the Calder Casino & Race Course stable gate just days after achieving the ultimate glory on American racing’s biggest stage as Sprint winner Trinniberg returned to his south Florida stall during the early morning hours on Wednesday.

“He was a little tired in the morning and slept until nine,” trainer Shivananda Parbhoo said of his prized colt. “But he bounced right back today and I can tell you that the same way he went into the race is the same way he has come out of it. He’s back to himself.”

Thursday, November 08 2012

LIVE RACING AT AQUEDUCT CANCELED THURSDAY, SIMULCASTING AVAILABLE

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has canceled live racing at Aqueduct Racetrack on Thursday, November 8 following a nor’easter that passed through the region Wednesday and left behind several inches of wet snow.

Aqueduct and the Belmont Café will remain open for simulcasting, and Telebet and Internet wagering will be available through NYRA Rewards.

Live racing at Aqueduct is scheduled to resume Friday, November 9.

GRADE I WINNER DAISY DEVINE TOPS 39TH CARDINAL HANDICAP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012) – James Miller’s Daisy Devine, winner of the Jenny Wiley (Grade I) at Keeneland, will carry the top weight of 122 pounds when she faces eight rivals in Saturday’s 39th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

The Cardinal, which is scheduled to be run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the ninth race on Saturday’s 10-race program with a 4:37 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. Post time for the first race is 12:40 p.m.