Magical Fantasy had much to do under Alex Solis to win the $250,000 Gamely Stakes (gr. IT), but she proved equal to the task, edging Visit and Diamond Diva in the final couple of jumps in a terrific finish at Hollywood Park May 30.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
In spite of being blocked on the final turn, Magical Fantasy scored an incredibly close victory in the $200,000 Santa Barbara Handicap (gr. IIT) over hard-luck Black Mamba, who lost this race by the barest of margins for the second straight year at Santa Anita April 18.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Favored Bushranger earned his second group I win for trainer David Wachman when he overtook Sayif approaching the final furlong en route to a 2 1/4-length triumph in the Shadwell Middle Park Stakes for 2-year-olds at Newmarket Oct. 3.
Friday, October 03, 2008Favored Bushranger drove to the lead with 150 yards to go and defeated Gallagher by a cozy half-length in the Prix Morny (Fr-I) for 2-year-olds at Deauville Aug. 24.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Magical Fantasy, the longest shot in the $350,000 Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT), registered 42-1 shocker with a big finishing kick for jockey Alex Solis on the turf Aug. 16.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Grade II winner Valbenny, one of the leading turf fillies on the West Coast last season, returns from an absence of more than eight months while making her first start for trainer Michael Matz in the $100,000 Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Pimlico lawn May 17.
Thursday, May 15, 2008Ridden confidently by Alex Solis, even-money favorite Valbenny rallied to win the $154,750 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies by nearly two lengths over Super Freaky on the Hollywood Park lawn Saturday.
Saturday, June 09, 2007Favored Valbenny became a leading contender for the American Oaks (gr. IT) this summer after her impressive late charge to capture the $111,600 Senorita Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday over the Hollywood Park grass course.
Saturday, May 12, 2007Jockey Alex Solis, perhaps inspired by a visit from an old friend, rode Leesider to a thrilling win over gritty pacesetter C.T. Zee in Sunday's $250,000 Cal National Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Sunday, April 29, 2007Swiss Diva extended her unbeaten record to three on Friday when overwhelming her opposition with a 8 1⁄2-length triumph in Santa Anita's $138,750 California Breeders Champion Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.
Friday, December 29, 2006Irish-bred Valbenny, making her first U.S. start, rallied impressively from tenth in the final quarter under jockey Alex Solis to win the Miesque Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the Hollywood Park turf by three-quarters of a length over favorite Mystic Soul Saturday.
Saturday, November 25, 2006A stiff rule mandating the standards that must be met for helmets worn by jockeys riding in Kentucky may have to be waived or altered to accommodate riders, especially those from Europe, participating in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006The Kentucky Horse Racing Authority has dismissed an appeal filed by a trainer whose horse finished second to a winner encouraged to the finish line by a jockey using his goggles rather than a whip.
Monday, August 21, 2006Jockey Kieren Fallon, who has been charged in connection with alleged efforts to defraud a major British online betting service, has applied for a license to ride in Kentucky during the 2006 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.
Monday, August 21, 2006Trainer Jamie Lloyd savored his first victory with Brag, a 4-year-old filly that won a $55,000 allowance race at one mile on turf Sunday.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006Stakes winner Ballado's Devil will enter stud at Liam Gallagher's Galtee Farm near Midway, Ky.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006Irish-bred Three Degrees, one of the West Coast's leading 3-year-old fillies on turf last year, is set to make her main track debut on Sunday in Santa Anita's $150,000 El Encino Stakes (gr. II) at 1 1/16 miles.
Friday, January 13, 2006McCann's Mojave, a 5-year-old whose first race beyond one mile resulted in a game triumph in last month's $250,000 California Cup Classic, will carry co-high weight of 118 pounds among ten entrants in Saturday's $100,000 Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) at Hollywood Park.
Thursday, December 08, 2005The graded stakes winning sprinter McCann's Mojave was able to dictate the pace and hold 6-5 favorite Desert Boom at bay to record a one-length win in the $250,000 California Cup Classic presented by Smith Barney Sunday on the final day of the 2005 Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.
Sunday, November 06, 2005McCann's Mojave will attempt to carry his speed further than ever before when the 5-year-old runs in Sunday's $250,000 California Cup Classic presented by Smith Barney, the closing day feature presented by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) winner Tucked Away, who appeared on the way to recovery following surgery, was euthanized Sunday due to complications developing from the surgery.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005Tucked Away, the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. IIT) winner who was injured while working on the Del Mar grass course Wednesday, underwent successful surgery on her fractured right foreleg Thursday night at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in Bonsall.
Thursday, September 01, 2005Tucked Away, a mare with many more nibbles than bites, surprised the field in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar Sunday when she nipped a surging Hollywood Story by a nose at the wire.
Sunday, August 07, 2005Three Degrees, winner of the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park on June 5, prepared for the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. I) with a six-furlong turf work Sunday.
Sunday, June 26, 2005Favored Three Degrees turned in a stakes record effort to win the $163,125 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) for 3-year-old fillies with an impressive late burst on the Hollywood Park turf.
Sunday, June 05, 2005Making her second start in the U. S., Japanese-bred mare Festival rallied to post a six-length victory in Monday's $150,000 Dahlia Handicap (gr. III), the closing day feature of the Hollywood Park meet.
Monday, December 20, 2004Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute worked five furlongs in 1:01 over the Santa Anita turf course Monday in preparation for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30.
Monday, October 18, 2004Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute will travel to Texas and make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) at Lone Star Park, trainer Paddy Gallager revealed.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004Six-year-old British-bred Needwood Blade, the longest shot on the board at 11-1, won his first American race in seven starts by taking the $112,500 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) in a surprise Saturday on the turf at Bay Meadows.
Sunday, October 03, 2004Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute, getting ready to start next in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park, worked six furlongs in 1:13 over Santa Anita's main track Monday in a move that pleased trainer Paddy Gallagher.
Monday, September 27, 2004A wireless timing system that has been successfully utilized at England's Newmarket racecourse will be tested in the U.S. for the first time during the fall meet at Keeneland Racecourse that begins Oct. 8.
Monday, September 27, 2004Domestic Dispute, who returned from a four-month layoff with a solid second-place finish in the Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) last month, heads a field of seven milers in Sunday's $250,000 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II).
Friday, September 03, 2004The Kentucky Racing Authority appointed Jim Gallagher, a former executive with the New York Racing Association, to the position of executive director effective Sept. 27. Gov. Ernie Fletcher approved the appointment, authority officials said during an Aug. 16 meeting.
Monday, August 16, 2004Given more than a four-month rest since his indifferent effort in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), Domestic Dispute should be able to avoid the so-called "Dubai Bounce" in Sunday's $200,000 Pat O'Brien Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar, trainer Patrick Gallagher believes.
Friday, August 13, 2004Amazing Philly, born in a stall at Philadelphia Park four years ago to the 3-year-old filly Speak Compelling but whose sire was never determined, has been retired from racing after suffering a tendon injury on April 15.
Monday, May 10, 2004Strub Stakes (gr. II) winner Domestic Dispute worked a half-mile in :47 2/5 over Santa Anita's fast main track Wednesday morning and could make his next start in the March 6 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), trainer Paddy Gallagher said.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004The amazing story of Amazing Philly continued Wednesday as she finished third in her first start. Race fans might remember her as the surprise foal of Speak Compelling, produced at Philadelphia Park in 2000.
Wednesday, February 18, 2004Domestic Dispute, who hadn't reached the winner's circle in more than a year, rallied in spite of trouble in the stretch run to defeat During and his former trainer Bob Baffert by a neck in the $300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-olds at Santa Anita Saturday.
Sunday, February 08, 2004Jim Gallagher, executive director of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Racing Integrity and Drug Testing Task Force, will leave the organization March 28 to take the position of vice president of pari-mutuel operations for the New York Racing Association.
Tuesday, March 12, 2002Uniformity among testing procedures and the development of a broad-based funding mechanism to support expanded testing programs and research were among 21 recommendations made by Racehorse Medication Summit report released today.
Friday, January 04, 2002The National Thoroughbred Racing Association Friday announced plans to launch new consumer research to measure attitudes toward horseracing, with a goal of identifying the most effective advertising message that will help turn casual fans into more frequent racegoers.
Friday, November 02, 2001In a letter to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, a group of chemists and veterinarians who form the Testing Integrity Program has warned that "super testing," as it is called, could create a public relations nightmare for the racing industry should the betting public believe use of illegal medications is rampant.
Wednesday, December 06, 2000Walkslikeaduck won the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Derby (gr. IIIT) by two lengths Saturday, establishing a course and stakes record in the process. In his most recent race prior to Saturday, the 3-year-old Patrick Gallagher trainee equaled the Del Mar turf course record for 1 1/8 miles while winning the Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) in stakes-record time.
Saturday, September 30, 2000Walkslikeaduck will makes his first start since equaling the Del Mar turf course record for 1 1/8 miles when he starts as the 122-pound highweight in the $150,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Derby (gr. IIIT) Saturday at Bay Meadows.
Friday, September 29, 2000