In charge most of the way for jockey Javier Castellano, odds-on choice Criticism scored an authoritative repeat victory in the $150,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIIT) over a yielding turf course at cloudy Aqueduct in her final start for Darley Stable Nov. 1.
6 days ago
Banrock and You Go West Girl tallied victories in a pair of $150,000 turf stakes for New York-bred horses on closing day of Belmont Park's fall meet Oct. 25. Ramon Dominguez and Todd Pletcher win individual titles.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Get Stormy disproved the notion that he was a "need the lead" type when he ran down pacesetter Major Marvel in the lane on his way to victory in the $125,000 Bryan Station Stakes (gr. IIIT) over a yielding Keeneland turf course Oct. 18.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Capt. Candyman Can gained victory in the $300,000 NetJets King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 29 when the original winner Vineyard Haven was disqualified for drifting out into the path of his challenger in deep stretch on a "sloppy" Saratoga main track.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Salve Germania, the longest shot in the $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. IIT), charged down the center of the stretch to tag favored Rutherienne by a head at the wire on a soggy Saratoga Melon Turf Course Aug. 29.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
A day of upsets at Saratoga was punctuated by the most shocking surprise of all in the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT), as the 33-1 longshot Telling took over approaching the top of the stretch and held off Better Talk Now for his first stakes win.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Capt. Candyman Can collected the fourth stakes win of his career when he out-kicked 4-5 favorite Cash Refund by three-quarters of a length in the $106,900 Matt Winn Stakes for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs May 16.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Kent Desormeaux, one of Maryland's all-time leading riders and a two-time winner of the Preakness (gr. I), took home the $14,000 first prize in the inaugural Pimlico Jockey Challenge May 15.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Flashing, passed by 6-5 favorite Saarlight in the lane, fought back in the middle of the track to win the $200,000 Nassau County Stakes (gr. II) by 1 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park May 2.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
After stalking the leaders, favored Wesley seized the lead at the top of the lane and proved a comfortable winner of the $100,000 Miami Mile Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf at Calder Race Course April 25.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Darley Stable's homebred Criticism took advantage of soft early fractions en route to a wire-to-wire one-length victory in the $150,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIT) April 25 on the Calder Race Course turf.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Jockey Javier Castellano was sent to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., complaining of pain in his right shoulder after falling from his mount, Presto Change O, in the third race at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
It took a wild stretch run and the perfect head bob, but Harlequin Ranches' Spice Route earned his first victory on American soil, prevailing by the narrowest of margins over Soldier's Dancer in the $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) Dec. 6 at Calder Race Course.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Darley Stable's homebred Criticism, just missing in her U.S. debut last month, left no doubt about her winning intentions in her second American start, as the 4-year-old filly took over in upper stretch and pulled away for a one-length victory in the $150,000 Long Island Handicap (gr. IIIT) Nov. 1 on the Aqueduct turf.
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Marsh Side emerged from the pack at the midpoint of Woodbine's long homestretch to post a 29-1 upset on the turf in the $2 million Pattison Canadian Invitational (Can-I) for Southern California trainer Neil Drysdale.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Already a graded stakes winner overseas, Godolphin Stable's Tam Lin became a grade II winner on American soil when he wore down Forefathers in upper stretch and sped away to a convincing 4 1/4-length victory Sept. 28 in the $250,000 Kelso Handicap on the Belmont turf.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
With main rival Country Star scratched after throwing her jockey while in the starting gate, Godolphin's Music Note won the $237,500 Gazelle Stakes (gr. I) in little more than a walkover over three rivals at Belmont Park Sept. 13.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Backseat Rhythm showed an appreciation for Saratoga's yielding inner turf course Aug. 15 when she powered home from the back of the pack to dominate the $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes (gr. IIT) for her first stakes victory.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Willmott Stables' Wesley moved from last to first on the final turn before breaking free from a tightly-bunched field in deep stretch to win the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (gr. IIT) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 4.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Godolphin Racing's Music Note put on an awesome display in the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) July 19 Belmont, taking over at the quarter-pole and romping to an 11-length win for her second consecutive grade I score.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Upset-minded Wheels Up At Noon used a perfect stalking trip for Javier Castellano to win the $200,900 Caesar Rodney Stakes, leaving the 7-5 choice Silver Tree behind by 2 1/4 lengths at Delaware Park July 13.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
British invader Red Rocks spoiled American champion Curlin's turf debut in the $500,000 Man o' War Stakes (g. IT) at Belmont Park July 12 and gave owner J. Paul Reddam a grand grade I double on the day.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
After Heros Reward's aggressive front-running win in the $200,000 Scotts Highlander Stakes (Can-III), Maryland-based trainer Dale Capuano must be wondering why he would leave Woodbine, where his 6-year-old gelding has banked more than $460,000 in earnings in three starts on the turf.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
First Defence made his initial effort on grass a winning one for trainer Bobby Frankel and became a graded stakes winner in the process, just holding on by a head to capture the $162,966 Jaipur (gr. III) on Belmont Park's yielding course June 15.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Pays to Dream continued a big weekend for New York-bred horses in Maryland May 17 when he rallied from well off the pace and blew away the competition in the grade II Dixie Stakes on the turf at Pimlico Race Course.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Odds-on choice Sugar Swirl completed an unprecedented sweep of Gulfstream Park's sprint series for fillies and mares with yet another dazzling win for trainer Brian Lynch in the $170,000 Shirley Jones Handicap (gr. II) on March 29.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Stronach Stables' homebred mare Sugar Swirl will try to extend her winning streak to four on March 22 at Gulfstream Park, as she faces six rivals in the $200,000 Shirley Jones Handicap (gr. II), a seven-furlong test for older fillies and mares on the main track.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
The 5-year-old mare pulled away in the stretch to take the Hurricane Bertie (gr. III) Feb. 17 at Gulfstream Park.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Favored Sugar Swirl stormed to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 First Lady Handicap (gr. III) to earn her first graded win for trainer Brian Lynch at sloppy Gulfstream Park Jan. 13.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Lady Marlboro fought her way through a narrow opening on the inside to gain a dead heat for victory with Golden Velvet in an exciting edition of the $98,000 Sabin Handicap (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 6.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Jockey Abel Castellano reached the 1,000 win plateau when he guided Johnny Z. to victory in the fifth race at Laurel Park Wednesday afternoon. The 24-year-old achieved the milestone with his wife Claudia and two-year-old son Andrew in attendance.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Bit of Whimsy had already accomplished her major goal of the year for trainer Barclay Tagg when the 3-year-old filly captured the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland last month. She put an exclamation point on a strong campaign with her hard-fought victory in the $174,900 Mrs. Revere (gr. IIT) on the Churchill Downs lawn Nov. 10.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Sugar Shake proved much the best in the $107,300 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr.III) at Aqueduct Nov. 4, but the winner had an assist when the 9-5 favorite, Altesse, was pulled up after her rein broke early in the race.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Adept at running on soft turf, Fishy Advice proved a handy winner of the $112,900 Knickerbocker Handicap (gr. IIIT) when he collared Thorn Song near the wire for a one-length victory at Aqueduct Oct. 28.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The ultra-consistent Heros Reward took command in the stretch and held on late to record his first graded stakes score in the $500,000 Nearctic (Can-II) on the Woodbine turf course Oct. 21.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Nobiz Like Shobiz, winner of the Jamaica Handicap (gr.IIT) in his last start, worked a half-mile over Belmont Park's inner turf course Oct. 17. He has been pre-entered in the $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile at Monmouth Park Oct. 27.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Nobiz Like Shobiz turned in his most impressive performance on the grass in the Oct. 6 Jamaica Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park. The $300,000 race for 3-year-olds was Nobiz Like Shobiz's toughest assignment so far on the turf.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Lawyer Ron, winner of the Whitney (gr. I) and Woodward (gr. I) in his last two starts at Saratoga, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds over Belmont Park's main track Sept. 17.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Two horses were euthanized and two riders were transported to the hospital after a spill in the fifth race at Belmont Park Sept. 13. They were Unrestricted, ridden by Javier Castellano, and Gruffles, under John Velazquez.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
A patient ride from Javier Castellano helped Miss Shop to her first grade I victory with an impressive upset in the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 24.
Friday, August 24, 2007
See the twisted figure standing near the Oklahoma track? Yes, that's Javier Castellano, and it looks like he's attempting to master some absurd Yoga pose as he bends over backward with hands clasped above his head.
Thursday, August 09, 2007
In honor of (and caused by) an 8:00 a.m. deadline, Hall of Fame inductions, an upcoming afternoon of racing coverage, and an evening of sales assignments, we defer to a smattering of quotes and scenes witnessed by your faithful correspondent, who peruses the backside of Saratoga (almost) every morning.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Juddmonte Farms' First Defence punched his ticket for the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Saturday, leading every step to win the $150,000 Long Branch Breeders' Cup for 3-year-olds by 2 1/4 lengths at Monmouth Park.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
First Defence will tackle the field when six horses go postward in Saturday's Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Juddmonte Farms' favored Indian Flare found a little bit extra when she needed it most Sunday to beat Oprah Winney by a half-length in the 150,000 Vagrancy Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Belmont Park.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Joseph Allen's homebred Ecclesiastic ended a two-year graded stakes drought when he swept to a 24-1 shocker for trainer H. Allen Jerkens in Sunday's $113,800 Jaipur (gr. IIIT) at six furlongs on the Belmont Park inner turf course.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
William Sorokolit's Sky Conqueror caught Brilliant in the final jumps of the May 5 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs to take the $500,000-added turf contest for 3-year-olds and up by head.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Jockey Javier Castellano notched his 2,000th North American victory at Calder Race Course on Saturday in the fourth race aboard Sarah Lyn Stables' Brazilian bred Nombre de Dios for trainer Mark Hennig.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Gulfstream Park closes its 2007 racing season Sunday with Eclipse-winning trainer Todd Pletcher capturing his fourth consecutive title at the South Florida track. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez has sealed his first riding title.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Four Roses Thoroughbreds' Silver Wagon became the beneficiary of a wicked speed duel and won the $300,000 Carter Handicap (gr. I) by 1 1/4 lengths with a late rally on the far outside Saturday.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
