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Vic Zast's Saratoga Diary: Feel Good Game

Everything that makes Saratoga incomparable was available -- from inspirational horse racing to irrational pleasures such as faux diamond rings.

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Brass Hat Back For More in Louisville 'Cap

On May 23 at Churchill Downs, Buff Bradley will saddle his remarkable gelding Brass Hat in the $100,000 Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT), where he will take on eight rivals in the 1 1/2-mile turf event.

Elkhorn: Champs Elysees Tries Keeneland

Two-time grade I winner Champs Elysees, who just missed in last month's Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), will make his Keeneland debut on April 24 in the $200,000 Fifth Third Elkhorn (gr. IIT), the spring meeting's closing day feature.

Presious Passion Game in Mac Diarmida

Presious Passion proved he might just be in the top form of his career as a 6-year-old, scoring his second graded stakes victory in a nine-week span when taking the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) by a half length Feb. 21 on the turf at Gulfstream Park.

Mac Diarmida Should Fit Presious Passion

Grade I winner Presious Passion should get the firm ground he likes for his return to Gulfstream Park Feb. 21 in the $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) following a narrow miss in the Sunshine Millions Turf last month.

McKnight: Presious Passion Does It Again

Just as he did when taking the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) in wire-to-wire fashion this summer at Monmouth Park, Patricia Generazio's Presious Passion sprinted to an early lead and never looked back, as the 5-year-old gelding took them all 12 furlongs to win the W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) for the second consecutive year Dec. 13 on the Calder Race Course grass.

Presious Passion Seeks McKnight Repeat

Grade I winner Presious Passion has not been in the best of form lately, but the 5-year-old gelding will try to get back to his winning ways in an event he scored in last year, the $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT). The 1 1/2-mile turf event is one of four graded stakes on Calder Race Course's $500,000 Grand Slam program Dec. 13 in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Strike a Deal Gets Elusive Victory in NY

Jayeff B Stables' Strike a Deal, who had been winless for nearly 18 months, finally tasted victory Nov. 8, as the 4-year-old colt stayed close to the pace, struck the front in upper stretch, and pulled away for a resounding seven-length victory in the $150,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIT) on a rainy afternoon at Aqueduct.

Euros May Have Edge in Red Smith 'Cap

German-bred Lauro, fresh off a victory in the Sky Classic (Can-IIT) at Woodbine, looks to make his American debut a winning one Nov. 8 when he takes on eight rivals in the $150,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Aqueduct turf.

Always First Charges to Sycamore Victory

Merriefield Farm's Always First made a thrilling last-to-first move along the hedge under Rene Douglas to steal the $150,000 Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 18 at Keeneland.

Silverfoot Favored in Kentucky Cup Turf

Eight-year-old gelding Silverfoot headlines a field of 10 in the $200,000 Kentucky Cup Turf (gr. IIIT), the highlight of Kentucky Downs' six-day turf meet which begins Sept. 13.

English Channel Now Heavy Favorite in Sword Dancer

With the news that Better Talk Now has been scratched from the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT), English Channel is expected to be the heavy favorite Aug. 11.

Always First Nails Stars and Stripes in Final Stride

Merriefield Farm's favored Always First, second in his last two starts, fought pacesetter Cloudy's Knight in a long drive to the wire, prevailing in the final stride by a nose in the $200,000 Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT), the traditional Fourth of July headliner at Arlington Park.

Competitive Field On Tap for Stars and Stripes

Always First and Ramazutti, the second and third-place finishers in the Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT) May 26 at Churchill Downs, top a competitive field of nine grass course specialists entered in Wednesday's $200,000 Stars and Stripes Turf Handicap (gr. IIT).

Desormeaux Hits Pay Dirt With Drilling for Oil

Drilling for Oil turned back a challenge from Ramazutti mid-stretch and pulled away late to win the $170,400 Louisville Handicap (gr.IIIT) at 12 furlongs on the Churchill Downs turf Saturday.

Dozen Turf Specialists Contest Louisville Handicap

An even dozen older grass specialists will line up to run 12 furlongs on Churchill Downs' Matt Winn Turf Course in Saturday's 70th -- and longest and richest -- renewal of the $150,000-added Louisville Handicap (gr. IIIT).

Ascertain Finds Answer in Closing Day Elkhorn Win

Ascertain outlasted fast-closing Always First by a diminishing neck to win the $200,000 Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (gr. IIIT) Friday as Keeneland closed its 15-day spring meeting.

Jazil Draws Outside Post in Elkhorn

Last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Jazil is scheduled to make his turf debut against several accomplished grass runners in the April 27 Fifth Third Elkhorn (gr. IIIT) stakes on closing day of the Keeneland spring meet. Other top contenders in the $200,000 race are Ramazutti and last year's Elkhorn winner Pellegrino.

Full McKnight Field Tops Grand Slam II Card

The veteran campaigners Dreadnaught - winner the 2004 edition of Calder's $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) - and Revved Up, second by a neck in last year's running, return to the scene Saturday in one of four graded stakes worth a total $600,000.

Grand Couturier One to Watch in Red Smith H.

Marc Keller's Grand Couturier, a 3-year-old who was only beaten 2 ¼ lengths in Longchamp's Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I), is one to watch in the overflow field entered for Saturday's $150,000 Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Aqueduct turf course.

Whilly Seeks San Marcos Repeat; 14 Entered

Irish-bred Whilly, who provided 40-year-old journeyman jockey Felipe Martinez with his first graded stakes victory in last year's San Marcos (gr. IIT), will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the 1 1/4-mile event over Santa Anita's turf course on Sunday.

Many Can Make Case In Del Mar Handicap

Laura's Lucky Boy and Sarafan, the first two finishers in the Escondido Handicap earlier this month, renew their rivalry in the $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) at 1 3/8 miles on the turf Sunday.

Always First Wins Sunset in U.S. Stakes Debut

British-bred Always First made a successful American stakes debut when he closed impressively along the inside to capture the $165,300 Sunset Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) on Sunday, the final day of the Hollywood Park spring/summer meeting.

Sunset 'Cap Brings Down Hollywood Curtain

Runaway Dancer, who swept from last to win the May 14 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap (gr. IIIT), will attempt to repeat that dramatic effort in Sunday's $150,000 Sunset Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT), closing day feature of Hollywood Park's 64-day spring/summer meet.