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.
Surely trainer Pat Reynolds will be experiencing the feeling of "what could have been" when he watches the freakishly talented Big Brown run May 3 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr.I) at Churchill Downs. Reynolds, 57, trained Big Brown early in his 2-year-old season.
With Indian Blessing resting up for a summer-fall campaign in shorter races, a pair of 3-year-old fillies who have tackled the Eclipse Award winner - Backseat Rhythm and Highest Class - are looking for their chance to shine.
Valid Notebook owns an edge in the $100,000-added Discovery Handicap (gr. III) when Aqueduct opens its 45-day fall meeting Wednesday - if for no other reason than the fact that he won't be facing Discreet Cat.
Rain ruined what looked to be a competitive Jamaica Handicap, a grade II event for 3-year-olds at nine furlongs on the turf. The race was switched to the sloppy main track and all but three of the nine entered were scratched. That worked out well for trainer Patrick Reynolds, whose mud-loving Watchmon posted a 1 3/4-length win.
Jerry Bailey took Zakocity wire-to-wire Saturday to win the $100,000 William D. Schaefer Handicap (gr. III) at Pimlico, the race prior to the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
The CFIDS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Association of America is currently offering a collection of rare black and white photographs of Seabiscuit on eBay, with the proceeds going to the charitable organization.
Frontrunner Zakocity saved ground all the way during his trip around the 1 1/8-mile Aqueduct main track and won the 60th running of the $110,100 Discovery Handicap (gr. III) for 3-year-olds on opening day Wednesday.
The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission has finalized at five the number of applicants seeking the final Thoroughbred racing license in the state. Only four applicants hit an informal Aug. 16 deadline to apply for the last license, but Magna Entertainment Corp. has reiterated its interest in building a track near Pittsburgh International Airport.
Planners of a Thoroughbred racetrack near Erie are weighing two location options pending a Sept. 15 license amendment decision from the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission.
The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission will meet Aug. 24 to map out a timeline for approval of the state's final Thoroughbred racetrack license. But whoever gets the license isn't guaranteed a slot machine license, which has narrowed the field of applicants.
Hope that passage of slot machine legislation in Pennsylvania would result in a new Thoroughbred racetrack near Pittsburgh seems futile. Negotiators with knowledge of the bill signed into law July 5 by Gov. Ed Rendell said a stand-alone slots parlor in downtown Pittsburgh is much more likely.
A field of eight horses, including grade I winners Peeping Tom and Valid Video, has been drawn for the $200,000 James B. Moseley Breeders' Cup Handicap on the MassCap undercard.
Millionaire Peeping Tom put together a furious late rally to win the $100,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap (gr. III) by a half-length over favored Highway Prospector Saturday at Philadelphia Park.
The 7-year-old gelding Peeping Tom heads a field of nine lined up for Saturday's $100,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap (gr. III) as Philadelphia Park kicks off the 2004 stakes season.
Tabasco Cat, who won the 1994 Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) Stakes as a homebred for William T. Young and David Reynolds, died at the Japan Bloodstock Breeders' Association's Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
Flatbird Stable's 7-year-old Peeping Tom got a favorable pace scenario Saturday afternoon, then showed his courage against determined Don Six to score a head victory in the $83,025 Paumonok Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct.
Elliot Walden-trained Brahms finished third in the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) in his most recent start and will race next in a one-mile, grade I race. Walden is considering either the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) on the main track at Belmont Park, or the Shoemaker Mile on the Hollywood Park turf course for Brahm's next start. Others under consideration for the Met Mile include Bobby Hurley's 3-year-old Songandaprayer, the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Trippi and Left Bank, Oaklawn Park Handicap (gr. I) winner Traditionally, and Carter Handicap (gr. I) winner Peeping Tom.
Peeping Tom rated just off the pace set by Hook and Ladder and swept to the lead on the outside to post a 1 1/2-length victory in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (gr. I), Sunday's feature race on closing day of the Aqueduct meet. The winner earned his first grade I win and stopped the timer in 1:21.33 for the seven furlongs run on a fast track.
Peeping Tom captured the $107,300 Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct Saturday, edging Say Florida Sandy by a half-length after a hard-fought stretch duel. It was the second straight win in the race for jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, who last year rode Brutally Frank to victory.