Monday, August 27 2012

Obviously Wins Del Mar Mile In Course Record Time

Irish-bred Obviously, the even-money favorite under hot riding Joe Talamo, held on – barely – in a desperate finish to nose out rallying Mr. Commons to win the Grade II $200,000 Del Mar Mile in course record time of 1:32.10 Sunday.

Obviously was comfortably in front from the start of the once-around event over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course, but was all out to ward off the flying finish of Mr. Commons, who charged from last place under Brice Blanc to just miss. It marked the second straight year that an unlucky Mr. Commons was beaten a nose in the Del Mar Mile. Last year, it was Caracortado who defeated him.

Capital Account Wins Pat O’Brien Stakes

Rallying from off the pace under a well-timed ride by jockey David Flores, Capital Account wore down stablemate Coil in the final furlong to win the Grade II

$250,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes Sunday, the day of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic.

Del Mar Stable Notes—August 26, 2012

A TENDER MORSEL SAMPLER FROM THE PACIFIC CLASSIC MENU

We read through the press kit for today’s 22nd running of the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (to save PC logoyou the time and bother, no thanks necessary) and came up with the following. In post position order.

If Rail Trip wins: It would be the crowning moment in an excellent meeting for trainer Ron Ellis who has already won the San Diego Handicap with Rail Trip, Clement L. Hirsch with Include Me Out and Saturday’s Del Mar Handicap with Casino Host … Would put jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr., and owner Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess Stable in the Pacific Classic winner’s circle for the first time in four, and two, tries respectively … Would make Rail Trip, 7, the oldest Classic champion, surpassing Pleasantly Perfect, who won it at six in 2004.

Fair Grounds Declares Mandatory Evacuation of Barn Area Due to Isaac; This Week’s Live Racing Cancel

NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, August 26, 2012) – Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots officials have declared a mandatory evacuation of its barn area in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac, which is expected to become a hurricane as it moves into the northern Gulf of Mexico.

The evacuation applies to about 700 horses currently stabled at Fair Grounds for its Summer Quarter Horse Meet, as well as all backside workers.

Arlington Park Barn Notes: Sunday, Aug. 26

MISTER MARTI GRAS WORKS FOR SATURDAY’S WASHINGTON PARK ‘CAP

Lothenbach Stables’ Mister Marti Gras, hero of last summer’s Grade III Washington Park Handicap, breezed Sunday at Arlington in advance of Saturday’s 78th renewal of the $150,000 Washington Park ‘Cap, Arlington’s richest race for older horses over its Polytrack course each year.

Sunday’s five-furlong tune-up was accomplished in 1:04 over Arlington’s grass course with the “dogs” well out from the rail. The turf was rated “firm” at the time, hours before showers hit the Chicago oval later in the morning.

HOLLENDORFER HAS TRAINING TRIPLE AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS

ALBANY -- Jerry Hollendorfer increased his lead in the Golden Gate Fields trainer standings by sending out three winners Sunday.

Hollendorfer won the second race with Rosemount Lad ($4.80), the seventh with Lovely Daughter ($5.20), and the eighth with Gotnaceupersleeve ($15.20). “The Dorf” leads his colleagues with nine victories through six days of racing at the 17-day summer meeting.

CLOSING RANGE SPARKLES IN TWIN LIGHTS STAKES

Oceanport, N.J. – St. George Farm Racing’s Closing Range dug in through the lane and prevailed in a stretch duel with Zucchini Flower to capture the $60,000 Twin Lights Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park by a nose.

Trained by Phil Oliver, Closing Range set the pace with Zucchini Flower close behind as she covered the mile and one eighth over firm turf in 1:49.84. The winner returned $11.40, $5.40 and $2.60 and topped the $55.40 exacta. Zucchini Flower paid $5.40 and $2.20 and finished one-half length in front of Dancing Solo, the 1-2 favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, who paid $2.10 to show.

Big Band Sound makes noise in Play the King

TORONTO, August 26 - Kendel Standlee’s Big Band Sound, with Tyler Pizarro aboard, took over in mid-stretch and drew off to a two and one-half length tally in the featured $202,400 Play the King Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

It was only the second win in seven starts this year for the five-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bernstein, but he’d been knocking at the door, with four consecutive runner-up finishes in added money events at Woodbine, before being freshened by trainer Danny Vella after a neck loss to Riding the River in the King Edward on June 24.

Thursday, August 23 2012

CURRENCY SWAP, TRINNIBERG TOP FOXWOODS KING’S BISHOP

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The connections might try to play down a budding rivalry, but there is little question Trinniberg vs. Currency Swap is one of the best confrontations in racing.

The two colts will meet for a third time Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Foxwoods King’s Bishop, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, and if the grudge match is anything like their first two meetings, the race should be a highlight of the Travers Day card.

TURF TALENT ABOUNDS IN GRADE 2 BALLSTON SPA PRESENTED BY JOSE CUERVO

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A deep field of eight fillies and mares, three Grade 1 winners among them, will square off Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course for the 24th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Ballston Spa presented by Jose Cuervo at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Zagora, who finished third in an attempt to defend her title in the Grade 1 Diana on July 28, will attempt to regain the winning thread in the Ballston Spa. A 5-year-old French-bred daughter of Green Tune, Zagora is 3-0-1 in five starts this year, including victories in the Grade 3 Endeavour and Grade 3 Hillsborough, both at Tampa Bay Downs, as well the Grade 3 Gallorette Handicap at Pimlico Race Course on May 19, the mare’s most recent start before the Diana.

CONTESTED CONTESTING TEST

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Contested, a Grade 1 winner who was last in her most recent start, will attempt to regain winning form and earn her most lucrative victory to date when she competes in the 87th renewal of the Grade 1, $500,000 Test on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

The Test, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, is part of a card also featuring the Grade 1 Travers, Grade 1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop, and the Grade 2 Ballston Spa presented by Jose Cuervo. NBC will provide live coverage from 4 – 6 p.m.

Romantic Wish, Gomez Win Del Mar Feature

Arnold Zetcher’s English-bred Romantic Wish, second in her last three races, ended her losing streak in style Wednesday with a hard-fought victory in Del Mar’s feature, a mile and one-sixteenth event over the main track for older fillies and mares.

Prominent from the start, Romantic Wish rallied from between horses entering the stretch under the expert guidance of jockey Garrett Gomez and outfinished 6-5 favored Maker Or Breaker by a head, with 10-1 longshot Jaredella another nose back in third place. Hoosier Honey was fourth in the field of six.