Racing News

Steven Coburn and Martin Perry's homebred California Chrome galloped in the $250,000 California Cup Derby atSanta Anita Park Jan. 25, easily outdistancing 9-5 favorite Tamarando as he strode away impressively to win the 1 1/16-mile event in his first try around two turns.

With a 5 1/2-length victory over nine rivals in company restricted to Golden State Series eligible California-bred sophomores, the 3-year-old Lucky Pulpit   runner punched his ticket to the March 8 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), a step on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). 

Big Macher, always traveling well in his stakes debut in the $125,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint, took command nearing the furlong mark and won comfortably Jan. 25 at Santa Anita Park.

On a day of huge upsets during the Sunshine Millions/California Cup stakes, Big Macher was sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the field of nine. The 4-year-old Cal-bred gelding by Beau Genius was helped out when 3-2 favoriteCyclometer broke poorly and weakened in the stretch. 

Scherzinger, given a crafty ride by Mike Smith in her stakes debut, registered a one-length victory in the $200,000 Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 25 at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiz Wonderful  took back along the inside after leading early when 7-5 favorite Teddy's Promiseand second choice Heir Kitty hooked up rounding the turn. Roused in the stretch by Smith, Scherzinger swept past Teddy's Promise in deep stretch and held well over the late-arriving Iotapa in a game effort. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22 flat over a fast track.

Highly touted Top Billing made easy work of a first-level allowance field as the even-money favorite in his second start as a 3-year-old Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden confidently by Joel Rosario for trainer Shug McGaughey, Top Billing defeated 17-10 second choice Surfing U S A by 2 3/4 lengths while running 1 1/16 miles in a sharp 1:42.66 on a fast track.

Last in the field of seven 3-year-olds after half a mile while trailing by eight lengths, Top Billing circled his rivals four wide rounding the final bend. The flashy chestnut colt took control in the homestretch while kept to his task by Rosario.

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Groupie Doll breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park the morning of Jan. 25, preparing for her final career start in the $150,000 Hurricane Bertie (gr. III) Feb. 9.

While KG Dragonator and Ontario Success received the bulk of support from the betting public in the $31,230 final of the Snowshoe Series on Monday (Jan. 27) at Woodbine, it was Littlebitaclass who edged his rivals at 5-1 for driver Scott Zeron.

Zeron guided the son of Santanna Blue Chip into the three hole in the early stages as Zark (Doug McNair) was first to the front well before the opening station in :27.3.

Zark would continue to provide honest fractions throughout the mile as he led past the half in :55.4. Brother John (Sylvain Filion) was in the pocket, but began to fade as Littlebitaclass angled to the outside to march past that rival and was able to slide into the pocket behind Zark past three-quarters in a quick 1:23.3.

The Jockeys' Guild presented awards to three individuals for outstanding achievements and service to the horse industry Jan. 27 during its annual Assembly in Hollywood, Fla.

Javier Castellano was awarded the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award, presented to the Thoroughbred jockey for outstanding achievement during the year. En route to being awarded the 2013 Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey, Castellano set an earnings record of $26,213,507 and led all riders in wins with 362 including 61 stakes wins, 24 of which were graded. A perennial top 10 rider in mounts and earnings, Castellano followed his late father, Abel, and an uncle into racing in 1996 in his native Venezuela and moved his tack to South Florida in 1997.

Monday’s (Jan. 27) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Dover Downs.

Julien Leparoux, Mike Maker, and Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who teamed to win the John B. Connally Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) atSam Houston Race Park Jan. 25, top the standings in the jockey, trainer, and owner categories, respectively, for the Penn Gaming Racing Challenge.

The series inaugurated this year by Penn National Gaming Inc. ties together more than 20 stakes worth $5.5 million atHollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Sam Houston, and Zia Park. The challenge includes tie-ins between groups of races in the series, as well as bonuses and prizes that include free nominations, refund of entry and starter fees, and trips to the PNGI-owned M Resort in Las Vegas.

There’s a saying that the decision of the judges is final and it took the judges to determine the winner of Monticello Raceway’s 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace on Tuesday (Jan. 21).

A racing infraction was the subject of the study and the judges used the powers vested in them to determine that the driver (Dennis Watson) of the first horse under the wire, Lakers Vett, had gone inside a few pylons on the final turn which caused the disqualification.

After a long review Eusebio, driven by Paul Moore, was declared the official winner. JD’s ATM, with George Newell, was moved up to second and Shando Hanover, driven by Jim King Solomon, took home the show dough. Lakers Vett was placed out of the money.

Weewinnin, emerging at the rail in the stretch, ran away from his rivals to win the $250,000 California Cup Turf Classicat 21-1 odds by 2 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Park Jan. 25.

In an earlier race on the turf on the Sunshine Millions/California Cup card for state-breds, Ciao Bella Luna outlastedMarks Mine by half a length in the $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint (VIDEO).

Pin Oak Stud's homebred Cloud Scapesedged ahead of pacesetterWholelottashakin in the stretch and won the $150,000 Endeavour Stakes (gr. IIIT)by a neck in her stakes debut Jan. 25 atTampa Bay Downs.

Trainer Mike Trombetta had a very good afternoon at Laurel Park Jan. 25, winning the $100,000 Miracle Wood Stakes withExtrasexyhippzster then coming right back to take the $100,000 Native Dancer Stakes with Bold Curlin at the Maryland oval.

In the one-mile Miracle Wood, Kirwan Equine Group and Ed Hipps' Extrasexyhippzster waited behind traffic, pounded through an opening when the field straightened for home, and pulled away to an impressive score over five other 3-year-olds, completing the distance in 1:36.75.

Glencrest Farm's Onlyforyou was away alertly at the start and took command of the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II)Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, going wire-to-wire as the 3-10 pick over five 3-year-old fillies to preserve her undefeated record. 

Permitted to go immediately to the lead by jockey Javier Castellano, the bay daughter of Malibu Moon   secured a good rail spot and clipped through early fractions of :22.65 and :45.33 while prompted by Aurelia's Belle, the only runner who seemed poised to provide a challenge about half a length back as the field turned for home.

The $250,000 Ruffian Handicap (gr. II), originally scheduled for April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack, will now be contested May 11 at Belmont Park, the New York Racing Association announced Jan. 24.

The Ruffian, a one-mile test for fillies & mares, will share the spotlight with the Man o' War (gr. IT) and the Westchester (gr. III) as part of "The Jockey Club Tour on Fox" television series on a broadcast that will air from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. ET.

Despite being saddled with the demanding No. 9 post in last week’s opening leg of the Joe O’Brien Series at Cal Expo, Bette Davis Eyes came through with flying colors for trainer George Anthrop and pilot Tyler Smith.

The 4-year-old Moxie offspring was unhurried early as is her custom, made a big move off the final turn and motored by the leaders with a :28 final quarter to seal the deal by two lengths. She also shaved a second and a tick off her lifetime standard with the 1:56 final clocking.

“I bought her last spring from the Desomers,” Anthrop related when asked about the Toman Enterprises colorbearer. “She’s out of a good mare that Bob Johnson used to train that I remembered.”