Gary and Mary West's Casino Host got first run on 6-5 favorite Dhaamer in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/dmrcap12.pdf">Del Mar Handicap</a>, and that prompt move by jockey Joe Talamo made the crucial difference. Pouncing to the front in the stretch, the 7-2 chance withstood Dhaamer's furious late rally by a neck and returned $9.60, $4.20 and $3.40.
Casino Host, a recent addition to the Southern California male turf division, conquered the 1 3/8-mile distance in his first try with a late-running victory in the $200,000 Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) Aug. 25.
Favored Zagora found firm going much to her liking in capturing the $250,000 Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT), presented by Jose Cuervo, in record time on the inner turf course Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course.
Southview Ag's Toccetive quietly made history of his own at Northlands Park Aug. 25, taking the 83rd running of the $200,000 Canadian Derby (Can-III) by half a length.
The conclusion of Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/travers12.pdf">Travers Stakes </a>was so tight that a photo was needed to determine the winner, and it turned out that Alpha and Golden Ticket had reached the finish line together, resulting in the first dead-heat victory in the 143-year history of the "Midsummer Derby."
For the first time since 2007, neither division of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course will be swept as D'nied Permission won the Affirmed and Putyourdreamsaway took the Susan's Girl.
Martin S. Schwartz's Zagora bounced right back to her very best in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/ballstonspa12.pdf"> Ballston Spa Stakes</a> at Saratoga, smashing the course record in the process. By sizzling 1 1/16 miles on the firm inner turf in 1:39.07, the Chad Brown mare eclipsed the old mark of 1:39.92 established by turf champ Leroidesanimaux here in 2005.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon that featured a historic dead-heat in the 143rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers, attendance and handle, both on-track and all-sources, were up substantially from 2011 figures.
Natalie J. Baffert's Contested propped at the break of Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/test12.pdf"> Test</a> at Saratoga and found herself in the unusual spot of running off the pace, but that didn't stop the bay miss from a rallying two-length win on the wire. With jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard, the Bob Baffert-trained sophomore finished seven furlongs in 1:22 2/5 to return $4, $3.60 and $2.60 as the even-money favorite.
Jockey Joe Rocco Jr., making his first visit to Woodbine Aug. 25, guided favorite Colonial Flag to a one-length victory in the $162,559 Ontario Colleen Stakes (gr. IIIT) on the turf.
D'nied Permission was sent off the 21-1 third longest shot on the board in Saturday's $125,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/fssaffirmed12.pdf"> Affirmed division</a> of the Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder, but that didn't stop the D'wildcat gelding from gutting out a neck victory over fellow 25-1 longshot Joshua's Comprise on the wire of the seven-furlong contest.
Attendance and handle, both ontrack and all-sources, were up substantially from 2011 figures for the Aug. 25 running of the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Firing for a second time this season on very short rest, Willy Beamin rallied from off the pace to upset Saturday's Grade 1 $500,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/kingsbishop12.pdf"> King's Bishop</a> at Saratoga at odds of 11-1 for owner James Riccio and trainer Rick Dutrow. The New York-bred son of Suave returned $24.80, $11.80 and $6.90 as race favorites Currency Swap and Trinniberg both finished out of the money.
Golden Ticket, a 33-1 shot, and 2-1 favorite Alpha made history with the first dead heat in the modern history of the $1 million Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Bouncing right back from a restricted stakes romp just three days earlier, Willy Beamin closed with a rush to capture the $500,000 Foxwoods King's Bishop (gr. I) in his graded stakes debut Aug. 25 at Saratoga Race Course.
Contested overcame a flat-footed start and closed from slightly off the pace to win the $500,000 Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 25, nabbing her second grade I victory in New York this year.
Due to the impending approach of Tropical Storm Isaac, Calder has canceled its live Thoroughbred horse racing program scheduled for Sunday.
C. DeMizio and Mary Biamonte's Its the Rush rallied to a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/harlington1st.pdf">4TH</a> race at Woodbine, becoming the first winner sired by the royally-bred Grade 2 hero Harlington.
The Aug. 27 Fasig-Tipton Texas yearling sale, to start at 4 p.m., offers a 170-lot catalog that includes 47 Texas-breds, 27 Oklahoma-breds, and 65 Louisiana-breds.
Travers is the time for guys to go wild.
