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August 15, 2014 4:05 PM
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Getting back into a regular work pattern,California Chrome put in a maintenance drill at Los Alamitos Racecourse the morning of Aug. 15, covering a half mile handily in :50 2/5.
The dual classic winner had his first work since the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) a week earlier at Los Al when he clocked three furlongs in :37 3/5.
"I thought the work was good. A good maintenance work," trainer Art Sherman said after observing Chrome's latest effort. "Coming back he galloped out really strong. That's just his style of working. As he gets to working a little bit more, he'll get faster and faster. We're right on schedule. I'm happy with the way he's going."
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August 15, 2014 3:50 PM
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A daily purse structure of more than $200,000 and a 35-race stakes program worth $3.5 million have horsemen arriving from all over the country to Oklahoma City for the Remington Parkfall Thoroughbred season that begins Aug. 15.
The meet will stretch 67 dates through Dec. 14 with the Sept. 28 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) the headliner.
The usual powerhouse stables such as those run by trainers Steve Asmussen, Donnie Von Hemel, and Bret Calhoun will be joined by Robertino Diodoro, who has been a fixture in Canada, Arizona, and Southern California. Diodoro won the 2013 Oklahoma Derby withBroadway Empire.
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August 15, 2014 3:48 PM
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Rookie colts, trotters and pacers, will star in Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action over the next two nights at Mohawk Racetrack and Georgian Downs. On Friday night (Aug. 15) Mohawk will host the pacing colts and the following night the action shifts to Georgian for the trotting rookies.
A total of seven C$18,000 divisions for the freshman pacers are slated for Friday night. This is the third Grassroots of the season for this group and two of the starters are looking to remain undefeated in this division as they come in riding two race winning streaks.
Single White Sock has been victorious in both previous Grassroots tests, at Mohawk and Grand River, winning his first lifetime OSS outing by more than six lengths in 1:56.2 early last month. He followed that up with a 1:56, two length score in the next event and will attempt the hat trick from post nine in race nine, the sixth OSS test of the night.
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August 15, 2014 3:45 PM
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It was a good week to be a 2-year-old on the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes trail but it was not a good week to be a 3-year-old.
Sophomores got in only two of their 12 scheduled races at Washington this past Monday before the rain came and then had all 10 heats at Dayton washed out Wednesday, whereas the freshmen had full cards at Washington Tuesday and (the focus of this report) Thursday at Dayton.
Probably the most impressive mile of Thursday’s racing was turned in by the SJ’s Caviar trotting filly HS Pearl, who won the lone divisional PA Fair Sire Stakes event in 2:05.1. The clocking might not seem like much to “jaded” pari-mutuel ears, but HS Pearl went faster than one of the 2-year-old pacing colt divisions, the Quaker State freshman pace, and the one 2-year-old pacing filly division, in addition to missing the local divisional record by a single tick. Wayne Long trains and drove the promising miss, and he co-owns her with Joyce Lineweaver.
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August 15, 2014 3:44 PM
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The 3-year-old Maryland Standardbred Fund stakes started Thursday evening (Aug. 14) at Ocean Downs with the non-wagering filly trotters going for a purse of $28,900.
Explosive Attitude (Explosive Matter-My Foolish Dream) and Kelsey’s Commando (CR Commando-Anastasia J A) renewed their rivalry from July, only this time Kelsey’s Commando was able to catch Explosive Attitude coming down the stretch, stopping the clock in 2:00.2, last quarter in :29.2.
Victor Kirby drove and trained the filly for new owners George and Rose Bonomo.
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August 15, 2014 3:44 PM
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Yonkers Raceway Thursday night hosted the $194,800 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for 2-year-old fillies. A total of 11 lasses entered a pair of divisions.
The first ($96,400) grouping proved—again—why you race ‘em, as 1-20 “death and taxes” lass Sassa Hanover (Rock N Roll Heaven-Sayo Hanover)driven byYannick Gingras was snapped on the money by 17-1 outsider Mosquito Blue Chip (Bettor's Delight-Sandfly Hanover) and Jim Morrill Jr., paying $36.60.
The former, looped out of the gate by My Little Delight (Bettor's Delight-My Little Dragon) with Mark MacDonald in the bike, eventually made the lead after a 28-second opening quarter-mile. From there, a :57.1 intermission before One Hot Majorette (Art Major-She's So Hot) and Brian Sears took out of third. She tried to engage “Sassa” by the 1:26.1 three-quarters, but the fave gradually turned away her advances.
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August 15, 2014 3:43 PM
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Jockey Tyler Baze earned his 2,000th career victory Aug. 14 at Del Mar, snapping an 0-for-46 skid as he attempted to reach the milestone.
He rode 2-1 favorite Kate's Event to a 2 1/4-length win in the third race, a $50,000 claiming event at one mile on the Polytrack. Ted West trained the 7-year-old son of Event of the Year for Gulliver Racing. Kate's Event was claimed out of the race by Jerry Hollendorfer.
Baze, a 31-year-old native of Seattle, comes from a racing family in Washington state that includes his second cousin, Russell Baze, who is the all-time winningest jockey. Tyler Baze won an Eclipse Award as the nation's top apprentice jockey in 2000.
Baze came back to win the feature race, too, aboard Fable in a starter allowance for his 2,001st victory.
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August 15, 2014 3:42 PM
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Jockey Russell Baze, who capitalized on a slew of live mounts to run away with the riding title at the Sonoma County Fair meeting in Santa Rosa, hopes to keep on rolling Aug. 15 when Golden Gate Fields opens its brief summer meeting.
Baze rode two winners on closing-day program at Santa Rosa Aug. 10 to finish the 13-day stand with 23 victories. Thirty-five of Baze’s 71 mounts at Santa Rosa were favored in the wagering, and Baze won with 17 of those favorites.
Golden Gate Fields kicks off its 19-day meeting with an eight-race card Friday. Post time is 3:45 p.m. PDT and Baze is scheduled to ride seven horses, including four morning-line favorites: Blue Blizzard (6-5) in the first race, Hevenhelpher (7-5) in the second, Babe's Journey (9-5) in the third, and Top Tizzy (7-5) in the fifth.
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August 15, 2014 3:41 PM
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Four divisions of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for freshman trotters were contested at Harrah's Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (Aug.14), each going for a purse of over $65,000. In the first division, the wagering public backed Tick Tok Tag (Broadway Hall-Tags Schooner), who was coming off two narrow defeats against similar foes at The Meadows. Off the gate, it was the Erv Miller trainee Ralph R (Muscle Massive-Aiken For Clay) going for the lead, but he quickly yielded to the favorite at the quarter, which went in :29 flat. There was no change in position until the top of the stretch when Ralph R emerged out of the pocket and was able to out-duel Tick Tok Tag in the late stages, winning by a nose, in 1:57.2. Divisionist (Andover Hall-Only Lonely) finished third. Ralph R is owned by the Ervin Miller Stables and Paymaq Racing, trained by Erv Miller, and was driven by Marcus Miller. In division two, undefeated Piercewave Hanover (Donato Hanover-Passionate Glide) was the one to beat, sent off as the public choice. As the wings closed the favorite sprinted right out for the lead, with the Ake Svanstedt charge Colbert (Cantab Hall-Domestic Diva) securing the pocket spot, by the quarter in :28. After rating a :31 second quarter, Piercewave Hanover felt pressure from a first-over Honor And Serve (Donato Hanover-Honorable Daughter). As they turned for home, the two were on even terms, with Honor And Serve grinding to victory, stopping the clock in 1:57. Piercewave Hanover finished second, while Explosive Drama (Explosive Matter-Phillycityhall) rallied for third.
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August 15, 2014 3:31 PM
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Istanford, a game front-running winner of the San Clemente Handicap when shipped to Del Mar one month ago from Arlington International Racecourse, heads the field for the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 16.
Ten 3-year-old fillies, each carrying 122 pounds, were entered in Saturday's 1 ⅛-mile grass test, including three who faced Istanford in the San Clemente. It's no sure bet, though, that the daughter of Istan will start. Trainer Mike Stidham, concerned about the Oaks' distance, has also entered Istanford in Del Mar's Sandy Blue Handicap at one mile Friday.
In her only prior try at nine furlongs on turf, Istanford faded to seventh after setting the pace in the Regret Stakes June 14 at Churchill Downs. Prior to the Regret, the dark bay filly captured the Arlington Classic over males May 24.
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August 15, 2014 2:06 PM
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The New York Racing Association will provide racing fans with the opportunity to vote for the Mike Venezia Memorial Award online at www.nyra.com/veneziaaward through Saturday, August 30.
Created in 1989, the Mike Venezia Memorial Award is given to jockeys who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship. It is named in honor of Mike Venezia, who died as the result of injuries he suffered in a spill in 1988 at Belmont Park.
Representatives from the Jockey's Guild and the New York Racing Association have nominated a trio of exemplary individuals to be considered for this year's award. Each is an accomplished athlete whose aptitude on the track is rivaled only by the respect they garner off it.
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August 15, 2014 2:06 PM
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Prominent owner Frank Calabrese, who earlier this year dismissed Kirk Ziadie as his South Florida trainer, has retained Michael Petro to oversee his 40-horse stable in the Sunshine State.
Petro, who recently took over the Calabrese horses at Gulfstream Park, will saddle his first horse for Calabrese with Dreaming of Neno in the third race Aug. 15.
"It's exciting. Mr. Calabrese has a lot of nice horses," said the 49-year-old Petro, who has saddled nearly 1.500 winners during his career.
Petro, who previously was based in South Florida during the winter, has been training year-round in the Mid-Atlantic region in recent years.
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August 15, 2014 2:06 PM
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The third time’s a charm for The Art Museum.
At least that’s how it’s shaping up for the pacing broodmare. Her third foal is Artspeak, who has started his career with three consecutive wins, including the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship.
Artspeak, a son of stallion Western Ideal, races in the third of three Nassagaweya Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacers Saturday (Aug. 16) at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. He heads to Canada off a 2-1/2 length win in 1:50.4 in a conditioned race Aug. 1 at the Meadowlands. No 2-year-old pacer has gone faster this season.
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August 15, 2014 3:51 PM
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Trainer John Gosden has declared 3-year-old Kingman in peak fitness ahead of his bid for a fourth consecutive top-level win in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (Fr-I) Aug. 17 at Deauville. The 1,600-meter (about one mile) contest drew six entrants, including recent group I winner Olympic Glory and standout fillies Rizeena and Esoterique, and offers the winner an automatic starting berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) later this year at Santa Anita Park. Kingman takes on older runners for the second straight time following his one-length triumph over Toronado in the July 30 QIPCO Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood. He was a half-length second to Night of Thunder in QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), but came back and won the Irish equivalent at the Curragh by five lengths. The success was the start of a three-race win streak that saw him come back and avenge his loss to Night of Thunder with a 2 1/4-length over that rival in the St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot and prior to the Sussex.
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August 15, 2014 3:49 PM
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Brussel Sprout (Glidemaster) continued his recent hot streak on Thursday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. The 5-year-old trotter moved into the $15,000 claimers a few weeks ago and is now three-for-three in that class following a front-stepping victory in 1:58.2 on a chilly summer night in the Spa City. The Allan Johnson-trained trotter set a lifetime mark last week when he overcame a tough trip to prevail in 1:56.3 and extended his win streak on Thursday night. Pop My Buttons (Phil Fluet) sat the pocket to the favored winner and finished second to complete a chalky $4.40 exacta while Holy Smokes (Stephane Bouchard) completed the triple. Brussel Sprout was driven to victory by Austin Siegelman.
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August 15, 2014 3:45 PM
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Thursday's (Aug. 14) edition of Racing Roundup features a results story from Saratoga Casino and Raceway.
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August 15, 2014 3:45 PM
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Four divisions of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for freshman male trotters were contested at Harrah's Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 14), each going for a purse of more than $65,000.
In the first division, the wagering public backed Tick Tok Tag (Broadway Hall-Tags Schooner) who was coming off two narrow defeats against similar at The Meadows.
Off the gate, it was the Erv Miller trainee Ralph R (Muscle Massive-Aiken For Clay) going for the lead, but he quickly yielded to the favorite at the quarter, which went in :29. There was no change in position until the top of the stretch, when Ralph R emerged out of the pocket and was able to outduel Tick Tok Tag in the late stages, winning by a nose in a time of 1:57.2. Divisionist (Andover Hall-Only Lonely) finished third.
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August 15, 2014 3:44 PM
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Harper Blue Chip made a triumphant return to the Ontario Sires Stakes Thursday night (Aug. 14) at Mohawk as he won the first of three $64,400 Gold divisions handily for Sylvain Filion.
It marked the 3-year-old trotting colt’s first 2014 appearance in the OSS and his first start since finishing third in the prestigious Hambletonian on Aug. 2.
In that race Moonlight Espoir hit the opening quarter first in :28.1 but was covered up by heavy favorite Harper Blue Chip, who was parked from the start, well before the :57 half. Up to challenge at the 1:26.4 three-quarters was Keystone Trevor but that colt couldn’t catch the leader who cruised to the finish line in 1:56.1. Ole Jack Magic, last in the early going, closed well to edge out Keystone Trevor for second.
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August 15, 2014 3:43 PM
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Yonkers Raceway hosted the $194,800 New York Sire Stakes Frank Becerra Pace for 2-year-old fillies on Thursday night (Aug. 14). A total of 11 lasses entered a pair of divisions. The first ($96,400) grouping proved—again—why you race ‘em, as 1-20 "death and taxes” lass Sassa Hanover (Yannick Gingras) was snapped on the money by 17-1 outsider Mosquito Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr., $36.60). The former, looped out of the gate by My Little Delight (Mark MacDonald), eventually made the lead after a 28-second opening quarter-mile. From there, a :57.1 intermission before One Hot Majorette (Brian Sears) took out of third. She tried to engage "Sassa” by the 1:26.1 three-quarters, but the fave gradually turned away her advances. Meanwhile, an unhurried Mosquito Blue Chip, last among the quintet from post position No. 4, worked out a second-over trip. She angled wide and was just fast enough, sticking her tongue out at the (1:55) wire for a maiden-breaker. Sassa Hanover held second, with My Little Delight third—beaten just a head.
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August 15, 2014 3:43 PM
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Love You Bye (McArdle-Cam's Genious) made it four wins in the last five starts at Vernon Downs in the $10,000 feature pace Thursday night. Ugly Betty (John Macdonald) led the way through an opening quarter of :27.3 after taking over early on. Upfront Secret (Chris Lems) was moved aggressively to the outside and surged to the front once the field moved past the half in :56.1. Love You Bye (Jimmy Whittemore) made the next attack as the field was on the far turn and rolled up alongside Upfront Secret to take the leadas field approached the top of the stretch. From there, she withstood strong challenges from Ugly Betty, who re-rallied up the inside, and Asset Management (Fern Paquet Jr.), who had charged up from the back of the pack, to win by nearly two lengths in the final time of 1:53.1. The complete order of finish was: Love You Bye, Ugly Betty, Asset Management, Artic Byrd, Upfront Secret, and My Drag Queen. Love You Bye is owned by D. Jimmy Whittemore of Norway, Maine and trained by Dennis Whittemore.
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August 15, 2014 3:42 PM
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Brilliant Reneesgotzip returns to Del MarAug. 17 to defend her title in the$150,000 Rancho Bernardo Stakes (gr. II), but the racing office might have been kinder to the speedster in her first start since the 2013 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Sprint (gr. I).
Though only five fillies and mares are signed on to face Reneesgotzip in the 6 1/2-furlong Polytrack test, two of them,Judy the Beauty and Fashion Plate are grade I winners this season. A third filly,Amaranth, nearly stole the Great Lady M Stakes (gr. II) in her most recent try and figures to be winging on the front end on the outside of Reneesgotzip.
But Reneesgotzip has faced that kind of pressure before for trainer Peter Miller while compiling a career mark of 7-4-1 in 13 races with earnings of $795,460. There aren't many that can run with her. And the 5-year-old City Zip mare, owned by Lanni Family Trust, loves Del Mar, where she is 3-for-3 on the main track and has been working in fine style for her first appearance in 9 1/2 months.
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August 15, 2014 3:40 PM
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The third time's a charm for The Art Museum.At least that's how it's shaping up for the pacing broodmare. Her third foal is Artspeak, who has started his career with three consecutive wins, including the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship. Artspeak, a son of stallion Western Ideal, races in the third of three Nassagaweya Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacers Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. He heads to Canada off a 2-1/2 length win in 1:50.4 in a conditioned race Aug. 1 at the Meadowlands. No 2-year-old pacer has gone faster this season. "The mare's been knocking on the door and maybe this is the one that's going to make her a little more prolific,” said Tony Alagna, who trains Artspeak. "It's too early to tell, but he's done everything we asked him to do so far. Now he'll go from the Jersey breds to open company, but he was very good in his last start at the Meadowlands. Saturday night we'll know more.”
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August 15, 2014 2:07 PM
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California's State Capitol went all Chrome on Thursday, Aug. 14.
Both the State Senate and Assembly unanimously approved a resolution saluting 2014 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness (both gr. I) winner California Chrome, along with his human connections and the state's racing industry.
It's believed to be the first time the California legislature passed such a resolution for a racehorse, said Doug Burge, of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
"It's not only honoring the owners and breeders, but it's important to remind people of the importance of racing," Burge said.
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August 15, 2014 2:06 PM
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With only four American-trained horses entered in the Arlington Million (gr. IT) Aug. 16 and a seven-horse field set for the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course the following day, one has to wonder where all the leading turf horses are.
The Sword Dancer did draw a competitive, classy field, with all seven boasting enough credentials to win the 1 1/2-mile inner course race without causing much of a shock. But consistency is another matter, and it's rare this year to see a big-name turf horse put two victories together.
While the Phipps Stable's Imagining and Flaxman Holdings' 2012 Epsom Derby (Eng-I) runner-up Main Sequence have scored big wins in grade I stakes this year, taking the Man o' War Stakes and United Nations Stakes, respectively, it looks as if West Point Thoroughbreds'Twilight Eclipse is rounding into peak form at the right time.
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August 15, 2014 2:06 PM
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After his in-the-money efforts in both earlier jewels of the Canadian Triple Crown series for 3-year-olds, Ami's Holiday is set to make his turf debut in the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes Aug. 17 at Woodbine.
With Queen's Plate winner Lexie Lou and Prince of Wales Stakes victor Coltimus Prime both sitting out Sunday's 1 1/2-mile grass event, Ivan Dalos' Ami's Holiday would be the only horse to contest all three legs of the 2014 Triple Crown. Pegged as the top pick at 2-1 on the morning line, he is also the only graded stakes winner in a Breeders' Stakes field of mostly untested sophomores, including three maidens.
A dozen Ontario-bred colts and geldings have been entered in the wide open affair. The Breeders' is race 9 on the Woodbine card with a scheduled post time of 5:12 p.m. EDT.
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