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August 27, 2014 4:04 PM
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Is Shared Belief on the threshold of greatness? From a visual standpoint, he is an anomaly. From the side, his action appears smooth, powerful, and flawless. From the front, he paddles his left front and has done it in all his races, but it has had absolutely no effect on his performance.
If Shared Belief indeed is headed for greatness, is there a key aspect to his pedigree that is taking him there?
His sire, Candy Ride certainly had greatness in him, but he did not stick around long enough to solidify it. Candy Ride traces to Fappiano through Cryptoclearance, but there are so many top-class horses who trace to Fappiano on the sire’s side, there is nothing unique about that.
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August 27, 2014 4:03 PM
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Trainer Nifty Norman might not be expecting his star mare Bee A Magician to beat the sport's top male trotters in Friday's $236,000 Crawford Farms Open at Vernon Downs, but he's not shying from the challenge, either. Bee A Magician, the 2013 Horse of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada, will face nine male rivals in the Crawford. The field includes world champion Sebastian K, who was Sweden's Horse of the Year in 2012 and is harness racing's No. 1-ranked horse this season, plus major stakes-winners Archangel, Intimidate, Market Share, Mister Herbie, and Spider Blue Chip. "I'm not intimidated,” Norman said. "We've got to do it at some point, anyway, and I think she seems really good right now. I don't expect to win, but I expect her to be good. She looks fantastic, nice and sound.”
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August 27, 2014 4:02 PM
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Trainer Nifty Norman might not be expecting his star mare Bee A Magician to beat the sport’s top male trotters in Friday’s $236,000 Crawford Farms Open at Vernon Downs, but he’s not shying from the challenge, either.
Bee A Magician, the 2013 Horse of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada, will face nine male rivals in the Crawford. The field includes world champion Sebastian K, who was Sweden’s Horse of the Year in 2012 and is harness racing’s No. 1-ranked horse this season, plus major stakes-winners Archangel, Intimidate, Market Share, Mister Herbie, and Spider Blue Chip.
“I’m not intimidated,” Norman said. “We’ve got to do it at some point, anyway, and I think she seems really good right now. I don’t expect to win, but I expect her to be good. She looks fantastic, nice and sound.”
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August 27, 2014 2:59 PM
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The Candy Ride gelding reserved himself a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) with his 2 3/4-length victory in the Pacific Classic, which is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race to the Classic. He joins Bayern as the first two 3-year-olds to win Challenge races to the Classic this season.
Suddenly Shared Belief’s storyline is one of the most interesting going into this year’s Classic where he will try to become the first champion 2-year-old male to win the 1 1/4-mile race.
A top run in the Classic this season by Shared Belief would be special. The only previous 2-year-old champion to place in the Classic at age 3 was Easy Goer, who finished second by a neck to rival Sunday Silence in the 1989 Classic.
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August 27, 2014 2:58 PM
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As the owner of a breeding farm, Mike Gulotta would seem an unlikely candidate to buy a horse that was gelded.
But when longtime horse agent Gerry Bloch called Gulotta about gelded 3-year-old pacer Somewhere In L A, Gulotta knew he had to listen.
After all, it was Bloch who directed Gulotta to a 4-year-old pacer named Lis Mara in 2006. Lis Mara, who had earned $180,536 entering that season, banked $1.96 million the rest of his career and was the Dan Patch Award winner for best older male pacer in 2006.
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August 22, 2014 11:43 AM
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The intermittent rain showers on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 21) didn’t deter Market Rally and Avalicious from their main objectives as each won their respective $60,200 divisions of 3-year-old trotting fillies in New York Sire Stakes at Monticello Raceway. Both fillies, from the powerful Ron Burke stable, were driven to victory by Jimmy Morrill Jr.
The two trotting events were the last of the NYSS preliminary legs prior to the top point earners in the summer-long series convening at Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 13 to compete in their $225,000 division final.
With her victory in a time of 1:57.3, Market Rally finished with 325 points, which will undoubtedly make her the favorite in her rich NYSS finale. Avalicious, on the other hand, was victorious in 1:57.4 and finished with 175 points as second best.
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August 22, 2014 11:42 AM
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Band Of Angels had a lot to learn about winning.
Fortunately for trainer Ron Burke, driver Yannick Gingras and owner Bill Donovan, she won enough that she finally got the hang of things.
Band Of Angels has won her first five career starts and earned $133,583 heading into Saturday’s (Aug. 23) She’s A Great Lady eliminations for 2-year-old pacing fillies at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. All five wins were in New York Sire Stakes races, but during the first three she wanted nothing to do with the celebratory photo session.
“She won the Sire Stakes up in Saratoga a few weeks ago, and up to that point we couldn’t get her to go to the winner’s circle, she would always try to rear up,” Donovan said. “Yannick finally got her to slow down going past the winner’s circle, and me and my friends were kind of walking sideways to get our picture taken. It was kind of comical.”
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August 22, 2014 11:41 AM
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Horse Racing Radio Network will provide live on-site coverage ofSaratoga Race Course's signature weekend beginning Friday, Aug. 22, with the Personal Ensign (gr. I) followed by the 145th Travers Stakes (gr. I) Saturday and then the New York Showcase Day Sunday. In addition, HRRN will broadcast the TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) from Del Mar Sunday evening.
Friday's coverage begins with the network's "HRRNLive!" show at 3 p.m. ET which will include a special 30-minute segment dedicated to the Personal Ensign from 5-5:30 p.m. ET. The broadcast will precede the "Xpressbet Weekend Stakes Preview Show" from 6-7 p.m. ET which provides handicapping insight into the weekend's major stakes races.
On Saturday, HRRN returns with a special Travers day edition of the "Equine Forum," hosted live from Saratoga beginning at 8 a.m. ET followed by live coverage of the Travers, Ketel One King's Bishop and Ballerina, all grade I, from 4-6 p.m. ET.
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August 22, 2014 11:39 AM
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If one could have placed bets on the inaugural New York Racing Under Saddle Fair Series Final, most probably would not have had their money on the No. 4 horse John-Michael.
His trainer, Michael Miller, had no intentions on racing the 6-year-old gelding under saddle and the horse has proven he has a mind of his own when it comes to racing. His rider, Tara Hynes, had only ridden him twice before taking the title at Tompkins County Fair in Trumansburg on Tuesday (Aug. 19).
“Winning the final of course felt amazing as any win does,” said the 24-year-old rider after the race. “This one was particularly special since John-Michael can be a handful.”
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August 22, 2014 11:38 AM
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Winner of the past two editions of the Del Mar Mile (gr. IIT), the speedster Obviously goes for a three-peat on the turf as part of the TVG Pacific Classic undercard Aug. 24 at the seaside track.
The Irish-bred 6-year-old son of Choisir owns the Del Mar one-mile turf mark, which he established in winning the 2012 renewal of the Del Mar Mile in 1:32.10. He draws the rail in the field of eight for Sunday's race, from where he'll likely be able to control the pace under jockey Joe Talamo. The Del Mar Mile is race 5 on the card with a 3 p.m. PDT tentative post.
Obviously comes off a gate-to-wire score by 1 1/2 lengths in the Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) in 1:32.66 at Santa Anita Park June 14, and is 8-for-11 at the mile distance in his career.
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August 22, 2014 11:35 AM
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There were four divisions of Pennsylvania Stallion Series races for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers, each going for a purse of $20,000, on Thursday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia. In the first division, Phil Peavyhouse's PV Dragon (Dragon Again-Jin Millie) living up to his favorite status. At the start, longshot Rock Springs (Well Said-Dolphins Can Talk) sprinted away for the lead, arriving at the quarter in :27. Shortly after, driver George Napolitano Jr. sent PV Dragon out of third, forcing the lead change just before the half. He received mild first-over pressure from May I Cruise West (Yankee Cruiser-Maewest Hanover), but kicked away in the stretch, stopping the clock in 1:53.4. Sambestmckee (McCardle-Jackie's Cammie) came charging hard up for second, while Pennyforurthoughts (Western Terror-Find A Penny) finished third. PV Dragon is trained by Amber Buter. In division two, Kevin Switzer's Letsmakeawish (Western Terror-Dynamite Donna) made it three straight with an easy victory, stopping the timer in 1:54.1. He brushed to the lead just past the quarter, which went in 27.2. He was unchallenged until three-quarters, when eventual third place finisher Redneckyachtclub (Real Artist-Fast Ruffles) attacked first-over. In the stretch, Letsmakeawish drew clear, holding off a late rally from B Well (Well Said-Ms Amanda B) who went on to finish second. Letsmakeawish is trained by Ron Burke, and was driven by Yannick Gingras.
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August 22, 2014 11:30 AM
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Game On Dude has been dominating the ranks of older horses in Southern California for so long it's tempting to believe he's lost a step every time he throws in a bad one.
Even trainer Bob Baffert has, at times, had his doubts about the 7-year-old gelding who finished a distant fourth last time out in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (gr. I) June 28 as the 4-5 favorite. But Game On Dude keeps fooling him as he prepares to defend his title in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic (gr. I) Aug. 24 at Del Mar.
"I really think he's training like he was prepping for it last year," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "He likes the surface here. He gets over it really well. He had a great work. His last two works were really great. He's really getting over the track well, and so it's exciting.
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August 22, 2014 11:30 AM
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Shared Belief has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the TVG Pacific Classic as the undefeated 3-year-old seeks to prevent older horse Game On Dude from a repeat victory in the $1 million race Aug. 24 at Del Mar.
The Pacific Classic will be the 10th of 11 races on the Sunday Del Mar card and is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" race that earns the winner an automatic spot in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. The NBC Sports Network will broadcast the Pacific Classic live from 5-6 p.m. (PDT) with post time scheduled for 5:46 p.m.
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August 27, 2014 4:03 PM
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Bettor's Delight is certainly a proud poppa. And why shouldn't he be, after all, two of his sons each won a division of the $117,000 New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) in 1:52.2 or faster at Monticello Raceway on Tuesday afternoon. For A Bettor Time established a new track record for sophomore pacers with a 1:52 victory for Jimmy Morrill Jr. and All Bets Off literally made a laugher out of his division when Matt Kakaley drove him to a eased-up nine-length triumph in 1:52.2. And in a $12,800 Excelsior Series event Murder He Wrote won an Excelsior Stakes in 1:52.2 for Morrill, which was a track record for 3 year-old pacing geldings until the following race when the altered (sophomore pacer) For A Bettor Time went two-fifths of a second faster.
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August 27, 2014 4:03 PM
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Some of Standardbred racing's biggest stakes races, the $667,000 Metro Pace, $634,000 Canadian Pacing Derby and the $480,000 She's A Great Lady Stakes, take a rich center stage this Saturday evening at Mohawk. North America's finest 2-year-old pacers will be showcased in the Metro (colts & geldings) and the Shes A Great Lady (fillies) while the best older pacers on the continent will do battle in the historic Canadian Pacing Derby. Also on the card are two Simcoe Stakes - for 3-year-old filly pacers and 3-year-old trotters. Those stakes are part of a 12-race card which will offer purses of $2.4 million. In addition, the Jackpot Hi-5 (correctly predicting the top five finishers in order) will have a mandatory payout on the final race of the night, regardless of the number of winning tickets.
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August 27, 2014 2:59 PM
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In the sixth of eight New York Sire Stakes visits for 2014 to Batavia Downs, three divisions of first-year female pacers go postward on Wednesday night (Aug. 27) in pursuit of $106,901 in purses. Races one, four and eight will feature the best distaff side-wheelers bred in the state.
The track record of 1:54.4 set by Barefoot Beauty in 2013 definitely has a target on it as many of the entrants are more than capable of a similar mile and will be taking a big shot.
In the first race, Mosquito Blue Chip (Bettor's Delight-Sandfly Hanover) is coming off three sharp efforts, and most recently got her first lifetime win in 1:55 at Yonkers last week. She hasn’t missed a purse check all year and that has made her the top money winner in the race with $83,718. The Paul Jessop trained filly will be driven by Jim Morrill Jr.
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August 27, 2014 2:58 PM
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The very finest trotters in the land will converge on Vernon Downs the evening of Friday (Aug. 29) for Grand Circuit racing. The Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial drew full fields for both colt and filly divisions and the Crawford Farms Free For All looks to be the race of the season thus far for the veteran trotting set.
The Crawford Farms offers a powerful field of ten to compete for a purse of $236,000. Current Top Ten Poll leader and multiple world record setting trotter Sebastian K will bring his impressive arsenal to Central New York for owners Knutsson Trotting and trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. He will find plenty of competition here including 2013 Horse of the Year Bee A Magician, last year’s winner of this race and the only horse to vanquish Sebastian K in North American thus far, Intimidate, and the always formidable Market Share to name but a few.
The $340,000 Zweig Memorial main event has landed both Father Patrick and Nuncio from the Jimmy Takter stable. Father Patrick will seek to reestablish his position at the top of the sophomore crop and Nuncio will be coming in on short rest, being entered in a PASS event on Tuesday afternoon. There is also a $60,000 Zweig colt consolation on the Friday card.
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August 27, 2014 2:57 PM
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Goldencents avenged his loss in last year's $250,000 Pat O'Brien Stakes (gr. II) (VIDEO) with a dominating wire-to-wire track record performance in this year's edition at Del Mar Aug. 24.
Sent right to the front by jockey Rafael Bejarano, Goldencents never looked back, prevailing by 4 1/4 lengths overFed Biz, with Silentio 1 1/2 length farther back in third. Goldencents' time of 1:20.99 for the seven furlongs over the Polytrack lowered the mark of 1:21.12 set by Fed Biz when he beat Goldencents by a length in last year's Pat O'Brien.
It was the sixth win from 16 starts for the 4-year-old colt by Into Mischief , who is owned by W. C. Racing. After finishing second in both of his starts this year—the June 7 Metropolitan Handicap and the July 27 Bing Crosby (both gr. I)—Goldencents found the winner's circle for the first time since capturing last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
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August 22, 2014 11:42 AM
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Jim and Mona Hour's Stryker Phd, a 5-year-old Washington-bred gelding byBertrando, is the 121-pound high weight and 5-2 morning-line favorite for the Aug. 24 Longacres Mile (gr. III) at Emerald Downs. This will be the 79th running of the Longacres Mile that was first run in 1935 at the old Longacres Racetrack in Renton, Wash. That track closed in 1992.
Stryker Phd rallied from 11th to finish second in last year's running when trained by Margo Lloyd but comes to this year's renewal with a stronger foundation under him. A year ago he had three consecutive runner-up stakes efforts leading to the Pacific Northwest's top race and this year, under the tutelage of Larry Ross, he's a perfect 2-for-2 off a long layoff, setting stakes records in both efforts.
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August 22, 2014 11:42 AM
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Highlighted by six stakes worth $1.15 million, nearly 100 New York-breds are slated to compete on a special 11-race card for the inaugural "Saratoga Showcase Day" Aug. 24 at Saratoga Race Course.
Captain Serious and Empire Dreams, the winners of the first two legs of the Big Apple Triple, will meet in the $250,000 Albany for 3-year-olds. The 1 1/8-mile Albany completes the series, which also is contested at Belmont Park (Mike Lee) and Finger Lakes Racetrack (New York Derby). Captain Serious, a homebred owned by Barry Schwartz, won his first three starts, all against New York-breds, before placing a pair of graded stakes.
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August 22, 2014 11:39 AM
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Multiple grade II winner Justenuffhumor was represented by his first winner Aug. 21 when Janet Reeder's homebred Humoresque won the third race at Belterra Park. Also trained by Reeder, the Ohio-bred 2-year-old filly making her second start led all the way to win the maiden special weight by 1 1/2 lengths.
A homebred raced by Darley's Godolphin Racing, Justenuffhumor won the Fourstardave and Bernard Baruch, both grade II grass stakes, atSaratoga Race Course in 2009.
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August 22, 2014 11:38 AM
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"He impreses me every time I sit behind him, I can't ask any more than what he does. He's very efficient. I love this horse; he's very easy to drive and that makes my job a lot easier.” That was driver Sylvain Filion praising Harper Blue Chip moments after their victory in the second of three $70,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for three-year-old trotting colts on Thursday night at Rideau Carleton Raceway, the home track for Harper's ownership group and trainer Mark Steacy. In fact it was at Rideau where Harper Blue Chip made his first start in June of last year. The colt earned his victory this night, over a track rated sloppy from heavy rains during the afternoon at the Ottawa oval. He was parked until after the opening quarter, reached in :27.4 by Ole Jack Magic, and took over command before the :58 half. Down the backside Muscle Matters came up to challenge and that pair reached the three-quarters in 1:26.3. Harper Blue Chip repelled that challenger and opened up down the lane to win by more than four lengths in 1:56.1. Muscle Matters took second while Sheer Flex was third.
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August 22, 2014 11:35 AM
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Homen Dry had the Define The World series title fall into his lap Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
A field of nine lined up Thursday night to contest the $46,600 series finale for two-year-old trotters. Jetpedia, the leg one winner, sprinted off the gate to grab the lead, while Homen Dry, the leg two winner, got away in third.
Jetpedia and driver Mike Saftic trotted by the quarter pole in :29.2 and then slowed the tempo down considerably to reach the half way point in 1:00.4. In the third quarter, Homen Dry and driver Chris Christoforou advanced from third into second, while Saftic picked up the speed with Jetpedia to reach the three-quarter pole in 1:29.4.
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August 22, 2014 11:31 AM
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When Shannon DePinto saw the colt in the ring at last year’s Lexington Selected Sale that her husband surmised would be too far out of their price range, she gave him a nudge.Shannon wanted her husband to know the bidding had stalled at a mere $5,000.
“I really thought he would bring $50,000 or $60,000,” said Sam 'Cosmo' DePinto, the conditioner of 2-year-old pacing colt Lone Survivor. “We checked on him several times while he was a baby and he was a small horse. “When my wife brought that to my attention when were at the sale, I told her to go ahead and bid on him. She had never bid on a horse in her life, so I told her to just go out and put her hand up. All I could see was her arm and I never told her when to stop bidding. She ended up getting him for $14,000 and she had $14,000 in one of her own separate accounts.”
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August 22, 2014 11:30 AM
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A well-balanced field of 10 fillies and mares, including 2013 winnerYoucan'tcatchme, are set to contest the $150,000 Seaway Stakes (Can-III) Aug. 24 at Woodbine.
The seven-furlong Seaway over Woodbine's synthetic Polytrack surface is the eighth race on the card at the Toronto oval.
The co-highweights at 119 pounds areSpring in the Air and Northern Passion, both graded stakes winners trained by Mark Casse for owner John C. Oxley.
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