Wait a While will seek to defend her Ballston Spa title when she meets four rivals in the 20th renewal of that race Thursday. The Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa Handicap is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Wait a While, the 3-year-old filly champion of 2006, is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Diana, her first start since January. Wait a While drew the rail and is the starting co-highweight at 119 pounds along with Rutherienne.

Others entered include Valbenny, Sharp Susan, and Carriage Trail.

One filly not entered was Genuine Devotion, who has won her last four starts, including the Grade 3 Locust Grove Handicap on July 6. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Genuine Devotion was “not quite right.”
(Source: NTRA)

Trainer Linda Rice swept the top four places in the $83,250 Mechanicville Stakes on Monday at Saratoga Race Course as Ahvee’s Destiny reeled in pacesetting stablemate Canadian Ballet to prevail by a head.

Rice said the Mechanicville was the first race in which she saddled four contenders. She saddled the top three finishers—Canadian Ballet, Sweet Bama Breeze, and Noble Fire—in the New York Stallion Fifth Avenue Stakes on November 11, 2007, at Aqueduct.

Rice trainees Silver Timber and Karakorum Elektra finished third and fourth, respectively, in 5 1/2-furlong Mechanicville.

“People kind of joked about it, but I thought it was more wishful thinking,” Rice said of sweeping the top four spots. “It sure feels good.

“Actually, I thought Ahvee’s Destiny had a good chance. I know she was coming back on short rest after her win at Monmouth, but I just felt she was really on top of her game.”

Ahvee’s Destiny entered off a 2 3/4-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on the turf at Monmouth Park on August 8.

Sent off at 9.30-to-1 odds, the four-year-old Rizzi filly stalked Canadian Ballet, challenged for the lead near the sixteenth pole, and nipped her determined stablemate in the final strides to prevail in 1:02.72 on firm turf. She improved to six wins from 16 career starts and earned her first stakes victory for owner Everything Cricket Racing..

Canadian Ballet, sent off at 12.50-to-1 finished a half-length in front of 7-to-2 second choice Silver Timber. Karakorum Elektra was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth.

“I’m surprised at the prices on these horses,” Rice said. “I thought they’d be a little better-regarded, but they were all training well and I thought they all had a chance to win.”
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Mount Joy Stables’ Smooth Air, who has been sidelined with foot problems since his impressive victory in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) May 31, is being pointed toward the $1-million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) Sept. 1, said trainer Bennie Stutts.

Smooth Air won the Ohio Derby by four lengths, defeating Cherokee Artist and Z Fortune. Previously, he had scored in the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) and was second to Big Brown in the Florida Derby (gr. I).

The Florida-bred son of Smooth Jazz has been working steadily at his home base at Calder, and most recently drilled six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 on Aug. 17. This followed works at seven furlongs and a mile.

“He’s back on the track he loves,” Stutts said. “We had been stabled at Arlington Park and were preparing to run in the Iowa Derby (gr. III), but he came down with a very sore heel quarter and we had to put glue-on shoes on him.

“He’s scheduled to fly Fed Ex to Philadelphia on Aug. 27 and we’ll get him ready for the Pennsylvania Derby.”

Three others who likely are headed to Philly Park for the nine-furlong race are Court Vision, beaten a nose in the $750,000 Virginia Derby (gr. IIIT) in his last start; Tiz Now Tiz Then, winner of the Iowa Derby and third in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) in his most recent start, and either Long Branch winner Truth Rules or Haskell runner-up Coal Play from the Nick Zito stable.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

An attempt by Philadelphia Park Racetrack & Casino to lure Big Brown to the PTHA President’s Cup Sept. 13, is a no go, according to the colt’s minority owner, Paul Pompa Jr.

On Aug. 18, Pompa confirmed that an offer was made by the Pennsylvania racetrack to double the purse of the $250,000 PTHA President’s Cup, a nine-furlong grass race, should Big Brown participate.

“The money was there, but the last time I talked to Michael (Iavarone), he said we weren’t going because the turf course there would not be to our liking,” Pompa said.

A phone call to Iavarone of IEAH Stables, the majority owner Big Brown, was not immediately returned Aug. 18. Philadelphia Park officials were also unavailable for comment the morning of Aug. 18.

The PTHA had the conditions and timing that Iavarone desired for Big Brown, who won the Haskell (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Aug. 3. Iavarone has indicated that he would like for the Rick Dutrow Jr.-trained Big Brown to run in a grass race during the middle of September as a prep for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. Oct. 25.

The Haskell was the first race that Big Brown ran in following his stunning flop in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), where he was pulled up by jockey Kent Desormeaux. Big Brown, a son of Boundary, entered the Belmont Stakes undefeated, and with a Triple Crown on the line, following brilliant races in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

On Aug. 13, Jess Jackson, the majority owner of reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, said he would donate $50,000 to the Anna House, a Belmont Park daycare center, should Big Brown’s connections meet his colt in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 30.

Upon hearing the offer, Iavarone told The Blood-Horse: “I have a better offer. We’ll donate $250,000 to various charities if Curlin meets us in the Breeders’ Cup. These are the things we do anyway. We strongly feel that championships should be decided at the Breeders’ Cup and that in order to give both horses the proper time to prepare for each other, we believe the race we meet in should be on racing’s biggest stage. It also would allow horses from Europe an opportunity to race against us and prove who the best horse in the world is. You’re not going to prove it in a four-horse field in the Woodward. You’re going to prove it in a full field in the Breeders’ Cup. That’s where the champions have been decided almost every year.”

A meeting between Curlin and Big Brown seems unlikely since Jackson said the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race won by Curlin las t year, is not in the plans.
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

With the newly risen sun as a backdrop and a nearly full moon still prominent overhead, Horse of the Year Curlin introduced himself on Monday to the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

Putting in one final significant move prior to his next scheduled start in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) on August 30, Curlin sailed through a seven-furlong breeze in 1:24.80 under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas.

The pair stepped on to the track at 6:05 a.m. EDT following a six-minute walk from trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn adjacent to the Oklahoma training track, which is located across Union Avenue.

Curlin and new workmate Hawaii Calls went off together through splits of :24.60, :36.80, :48.80 and 1:00 before Rosas asked Curlin for more at the quarter pole.

The four-year-old Smart Strike colt responded emphatically, pulling away easily and cruising down the stretch clear of jockey Shaun Bridgmohan and Hawaii Calls, who was clocked in 1:25.60.

Curlin galloped out one mile in 1:37.80 under wraps while Hawaii Calls was “all out.”

“He handled the track beautiful,” Rosas said. “I didn’t see anything wrong. I turned him loose a little bit today, and you see what happened. I tell Shaun this morning, ‘You better wear your goggles because at the quarter pole, you’re going to need it.’ That’s just what we did.”

The work was the fifth for Curlin since arriving at Saratoga in mid-July and the only one he will have on the main track. Asmussen had hoped to get that accomplished last week but was stymied by rain.

“The weather was nice, and we got a nice, fast track,” he said. “I thought it very important to get him over there one time before he ran over it.

“I think he handled it well. If he’d have struggled with the racetrack, it would have shown in one form or another, especially cooling out. It definitely seemed like something he could handle, and he did it really well. He galloped out real strong, and came back nice.”

By design, Curlin worked on the inside of Hawaii Calls on Monday, unlike last week’s six-furlong breeze at the Oklahoma.

“It was his tempo, his work. Everything was about him today,” Asmussen said. “Other times, you’re at different stages. I just wanted him to have a serious work and do what Carlos felt like he wanted to do.

“The first time by before he broke off, you could tell he was looking around a little bit, but I think that’s only natural. Once he was into his work, he was very serious and steady and impressive.”

Rosas said he felt Curlin had no trouble adjusting to his new surroundings and the different footing.

“He’s such a professional horse. Nothing bothers him,” he said. “Anywhere you take him, he’ll give you everything he has. He just waits for you to ask him. I thought he was a little aggressive, which is what Steve wanted. I thought he went beautiful.”

Barbara Banke, wife of majority owner Jess Jackson, was on hand for the move along with about a dozen reporters and photographers, who followed Curlin to and from the barn. Another crowd of cameras waited for Curlin at the main track.

“He’s been feeling pretty well,” Asmussen said. “The cooler temperatures in the morning, that’s why we like him up here so much. He’s been feeling very good about himself.”

Asmussen said Curlin’s final move on August 25 will be on the training track, and that he would likely school in the paddock between races this week, possibly on Thursday.

“All his serious preparation is in for the Woodward, and we feel very good about it,” Asmussen said.

Also breezing for Asmussen on Monday were multiple graded stakes winning three-year-olds Pyro and J Be K, who both will be running on Saturday; Pyro in the $1-million Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles, and J Be K in the $250,000 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs.

Pyro was second to Macho Again in his Travers prep, the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on July 27.

“He came off a pretty strong race,” Asmussen said. “Trying to get two good races out of a horse here is sometimes pretty tricky. I think the trip’s going to be the key to the Travers this year, especially for him.”

Pyro was clocked in :52.28 for a half-mile on the training track, with Rosas up.

“He handles this track beautiful,” Rosas said. “To me, he’s training better than he was before the last race. I think he’s going to run big.”

Rosas also breezed J Be K, who went in :50.67 for four furlongs at the Oklahoma track.

“He’s trained really well,” Asmussen said. “I think the King’s Bishop is a good spot for him. He set a track record here last year, and he’s definitely a very nice three-year-old.”
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Racing resumes at the Curragh next Saturday, August 23rd with an eight race programme which includes the Group 2 Futurity Stakes and the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes.

The Group 2 contest is dominated by horses from the all-conquering Aidan O’Brien yard and included among his 14 entries are Masterofthehorse, Rip Van Winkle, Westphalia and Born To Be King. O’Brien has won five of the last 10 runnings of this seven furlong juvenile contest and he will be keen land the €125,000 event after missing out in 2006 and 2007. Jim Bolger has won the last two runnings with Teofilio and Epsom Derby hero New Approach and the Coolcullen-based trainer now has a chance to land the hat-trick with his probable runner Gan Amhras.

Arazan, which carries the colours of His Highness the Aga Khan, Dermot Weld’s very promising Broad Meaning and the two British-trained challengers Shaweel and Lord Shanakill are other notable horses among the 25 entries in what promises to be a fascinating and informative contest.

Trainer Tom Dascombe has had a dream start to his training career in Great Britain and he has Group 2 winner Classic Blade lined up for a tilt at the Tattersalls Ireland Stakes. Dascombe indicated last week that Classic Blade was a likely contender provided there was cut in the ground and his charge certainly has the credentials to land the €150,000 to the winner prize. Other notable horses among the 24 entries include Whats Up Pussycat, Choose Me, Carito and the Jim Bolger-trained pair of Roshina and Duaisbhanna.

Saturday’s programme also includes the Listed Ballycullen Stakes, which has attracted an entry of 17 including five from the Aidan O’Brien stable in Gentle On My Mind, Hold Me Love Me, Honoria, Sweet Sixteen and Perihelion. Racing commences at 2pm and the ground is currently described as Heavy. Weather conditions remain unsettled for the early part of the week, but there will be a general improvement from Wednesday onwards.
www.curragh.ie

Raven’s Pass could atone for a string of narrow defeats at the highest level in Saturday’s totesport.com Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

John Gosden’s three-year-old began the year as one of the leading 2000 Guineas contenders but he had to give best to the all-conquering Henrythenavigator when fourth at Newmarket.

The Elusive Quality colt made up a couple of places when second in the St James’s Palace before filling the same position again behind Tamayuz in the Prix Jean Prat.

Raven’s Pass then came within a head of topping Henrythenavigator in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and could return to the venue as he drops to Group Two level.

Paco Boy could make a quick reappearance for Richard Hannon following his Hungerford Stakes romp on Saturday, while Luca Cumani’s Bankable also stands his ground.

Godolphin have the choice of Third Set and Calming Influence, with one-time 1000 Guineas favourite Muthabara a possible for local trainer John Dunlop.

Sir Michael Stoute won the race with Echelon last year but he has just one contender in Rob Roy, who is also declared for Tuesday’s Juddmonte International at York.

Docofthebay, Dubai’s Touch and Betfair Cup third Dunelight complete the 10-strong field at the five-day stage.
(Source: Sporting Life)

Connections of Duke Of Marmalade have decided to run the brilliant colt in the Juddmonte International at York despite fears over testing ground.

Aidan O’Brien issued a warning about his participation on Sunday because of heavy going on the Knavesmire.

But the trainer told the Racing Post website: “Conditions will be far from ideal for him, but the owners are prepared to let him take his chance.”

Sir Michael Stoute will rely on Rob Roy after recent Munich Group One winner Linngari was declared a non-runner due to the ground.

Henry Cecil’s Multidimensional gets another chance to prove himself at the highest level after failing in three attempts in Group One company, the latest when he was unplaced in the Eclipse at Sandown last month.

However, that race was on fast ground, while conditions will be much different on the Knavesmire and Multidimensional showed he can act on heavy going when winning the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock earlier this month.

“Mr Cecil is very pleased how he’s taken the Haydock race and he’s given him the green light, but it’s a very strong contest,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family.

“Hopefully he’ll acquit himself well. Haydock was very heavy - he wasn’t at his best on the ground, but he got through it. Conditions won’t be a disadvantage.”
(Source: At The Races)

Luca Cumani will be represented solely by Mad Rush in Wednesday’s totesport Ebor at York after Sanbuch and Bauer were scratched due to the ground.

The fancied duo did not appear amongst the 20 horses declared for the 1m6f contest on the Knavesmire will very soft conditions set to greet the runners.

“They’re both fine but they just won’t like the ground as testing as it will be on Wednesday. They’re not soft-ground horses,” admitted the Newmarket handler, who nevertheless is happy to let top weight Mad Rush take his chance.

“He’s a big, strong horse and he’s won on soft ground before, so let’s hope he can handle it on Wednesday,” he added.

“It is a big ask (from top weight) and he does have to give quite a bit of weight to Young Mick but everything is a worry when you’re taking on 19 others horses.”

Ajaan drops back to a handicap and a more suitable distance after struggling in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and a Listed two-mile race at

Sandown.

Henry Cecil’s four-year-old had been in good form earlier in the season, winning two handicaps at Newmarket, and connections expect a better show on Wednesday.

“The distance should suit him, as should the ground conditions,” said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos Family.

“Obviously it’s one of the most competitive races of its type of the year and we’ll just have to see how much luck we get.

“We went a bit too far in trip with him at Ascot and things don’t go quite right the next time at Sandown, but conditions look right for a good run - although this is one of the toughest handicaps.”

Sir Mark Prescott’s Wicked Daze and George Margarson’s Young Mick, who finished third two years ago, also feature in the final field.

Other leading fancies to stand their ground include Jeremy Noseda’s Milne Graden, the Paul Cole-trained Pippa Greene and Aidan O’Brien’s Hindu Kush - although the latter is also declared to run in the Great Voltigeur on Tuesday.

James Bethell’s Kasthari is the last horse to make the cut, with 2006 winner Mudawin and La Vecchia Scuola named as the two reserves.
(Source: Sky Sports)

Septimus will bid for back-to-back victories in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York on Wednesday.

The five-year-old was a one-length winner of the Group Two last term and is viewed as a likely successor to Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer Yeats following a subsequent five-length romp in last year’s Doncaster Cup.

Septimus has had just one start this campaign, winning the Curragh Cup at the end of June. Soft-ground lover Royal And Regal is due to return following a mid-season break for Michael Jarvis, while O’Brien also runs three-year-old William Hogarth.

Recent Ascot winner Metaphoric, Chester Cup scorer Bulwark and Petara Bay are other interesting contenders, with Carte Diamond, Yellowstone and Godolphin’s Sagara completing the line-up.
(Source: RTÉ Racing)

Marine Boy will bid to keep trainer Tom Dascombe’s bandwagon rolling when he lines up in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack at York.

Dascombe claimed Pattern-race victories with Classic Blade and Firth Of Fifth at Newmarket’s July meeting and believes Marine Boy could be just as good following a facile success on his racecourse bow.

The One Cool Cat gelding will not have things all his own way, though, with eight rivals also lining up on the Knavesmire.

Aidan O’Brien relies upon Peter Tchaikovsky, while Mark Johnston runs supplementary entry Weatherstaff.

Dabbers Chief, Deposer, Jobe, Saxford, Spinners End and Tagula Breeze complete the line up for the six-furlong event.
(Source: Sporting Life)

SIXTIES ICON could be set for a trip to America after continuing his renaissance with victory in the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

The 2006 St Leger winner had looked a shadow of his former self at the start of the season, but, after a confidence-boosting victory at Goodwood, he was riding high in Berkshire.

Johnny Murtagh jetted over to renew acquaintances and, although the pair had to fight tooth and nail with Henry Cecil’s grey Tempelstern, the 2-1 favourite got the verdict in a photo.

“Any horses who have breathing problems lose at least 7lb of ability, but he gave us a great day in the St Leger and now he’s won a Listed race and two Group Threes this season,” said trainer Jeremy Noseda.

“A lot of things haven’t gone right for him, but he has hardly put a foot wrong – his defeat at Royal Ascot came because my stable was out of sorts at the time.

“He’s a brave, tough horse. He got quite far back, but when Johnny asked for an effort he pulled it out.

“We might have a tilt at the Canadian International before looking at the new mile-and-a-half all-weather race, the Marathon, at the Breeders’ Cup.”

More visually impressive was Paco Boy, who bolted up by four and a half lengths in the CGA Hungerford Stakes.

Richard Hannon’s colt, the 6-5 favourite, appears destined for the very top as he and Ryan Moore settled the race in a matter of strides.

“Ryan was really pleased – he was much better than at Goodwood last time,” said Hannon’s son and assistant Richard junior.

“He can go anywhere now – the Prix de la Foret or step up to a mile for the QEII.”
(Source: Wales OnLine)

Nathan Tinkler’s Patinack Farm, who purchased the top lot on the first day of the Arqana sale, is to have horses in training in France.

Roger Langley, Tinkler’s manager, contacted Chantilly-based Englishman Richard Gibson at the beginning of the week asking if he would be interested in taking some yearlings.

Gibson now becomes the second of Tinkler’s trainers after Nicolas Clément was nominated earlier in the week.

Gibson could add little to this information and was unaware of how many yearlings he would receive. Understandably pleased by the choice, Gibson said, “it is a privilege to be chosen for this new owner.”

The choice of trainer for the €770,000 Galileo colt purchased on Friday has not been announced.

As for Clément, his contact with Patinack Farm began after he sold Mary d’Or, an own-sister to Gr.1 winner, now stallion, Stormy River, to Bertrand Le Metayer on behalf of Patinack Farm.

Clément commented, “Roger Langley and Bertrand Le Metayer came to see me and I have known since then that I would be receiving some yearlings. But I don’t know anything more.”
(Courtesy Jour de Galop)

Associated since the Cagnes-sur-Mer meeting with Rafale Bere, when trained by Didier Prod’homme, Anthony Cardine made a strong impression on his first ride in Switzerland by winning the Prix de Diane yesterday at Zurich-Dielsdorf, providing the daughter of Verglas with a 1,000 Guineas – Oaks double.

“I knew her well, in particular her courage, and I had no worries about making the running,” commented the tweny-two year-old Frenchman.

Coming around the final bend the German filly Vaccaria took off with Rafale Bere, turning the classic into a two-horse race. However halfway up the stretch Vaccaria had little more to give and the French filly went on to win by two lengths.

Floriana, under Jean-Baptiste Hamel, and Trigger Shot, ridden by Matthias Sautjeau, took the minor placings a half-length apart.
(Courtesy Jour de Galop)

Quality filly Samantha Miss will start a spring campaign aimed at enhancing her Group One record when she resumes at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

The Champagne Stakes heroine will line up in the Group Three Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) for three-year-old fillies.

Samantha Miss hasn’t raced since ending the Sydney triple crown hopes of glamour colt Sebring when she defeated the Golden Slipper winner in the Group One Champagne Stakes at Randwick on May 3.

“Obviously she has a long way to go (this preparation) but she seems to have come back well,” trainer Kris Lees said.

The Silver Shadow is the first leg of the four-race Princess Series which also encompasses the Tea Rose Stakes, the Furious Stakes and the Group One Flight Stakes.

The only filly to complete a clean sweep of the series was Angst in 1993 while champion mare Sunline did not contest the Silver Shadow but won the last three legs.

“If she comes through the series as well as I would expect her to then she’ll head to Melbourne,” Lees said.

Hugh Bowman, who rode Samantha Miss in the Champagne Stakes, will be re-united with the filly on Saturday.

Bowman will also ride the Lees-trained Prince Vilhelm, a former Queensland galloper entered for a minor race at the Warwick Stakes meeting.

Prince Vilhelm producing an eye-catching Sydney midweek run when having his first start for Lees at Canterbury on July 26.

The four-year-old confirmed Saturday plans after working stylishly with Samantha Miss last week.

“There wasn’t a lot between them in the gallop,” Lees said.

Lees, meanwhile, will keep Missile Stakes winner Captain Bax in cotton wool until later in the spring.

“There’s a race for him at Caulfield on Caulfield Cup day and he won’t race again before then,” Lees said.

Captain Bax just failed in his bid to complete an early season weight-for-age double when beaten into second place by Triple Honour in the Premiere Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
(Source: AAP)

First, the deluge; now, the doubts. The likely effect of more than an inch of rain on the Knavesmire at York is that the value of the cracking first-day feature, the Juddmonte International Stakes, will almost certainly be under suspicion because of heavy ground.

William Derby, York’s clerk of the course, was hoping that the worst was over, saying: “It looks brighter for later in the week and we could do with some summer.”

The International attracted 11 entries at the declaration stage, including two of this season’s star performers Duke of Marmalade and New Approach. However, the change in ground has prompted trainer Aidan O’Brien to warn that there are doubts over the participation of Duke Of Marmalade. A decision is likely today once the Ballydoyle trainer has discussed the situation with owners John Magnier and Michael Tabor.

“The ground is heavy and very deep. He’s in now, but he has to be a doubt,” said O’Brien. “It’s far from ideal and will be totally against him, but knowing the horse he is, the lads might let him run.”

It is fact that nine of Duke Of Marmalade’s 13 starts have been on either ‘Good’ or a ‘Good to Firm’ surface, but this versatile colt also won the Group One Prix Ganay at Longchamp earlier this campaign on going termed ‘Soft.’

New Approach, who received the green light to run from trainer Jim Bolger on Saturday, will be having his first run since his dramatic and brilliant victory in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom in June. He has apparently thrown off the effects of the leg and muscle problems that prevented his participation in the Irish Derby.

The Bolger-trained three-year-old won his maiden on ‘Heavy,’ over seven furlongs at The Curragh on his first outing on a racecourse. He also coped admirably with difficult underfoot conditions when winning the Futurity at The Curragh in ‘Soft’ ground.

York is notorious for producing shock results when the rain gets into the ground – and the ‘mire’ part of the track’s name becomes more appropriate, with its application being more along the lines of quagmire. If the rains continue, the ground will be desperate come Friday and the final race, over two miles and four furlongs, will truly be a marathon.
(Source: Telegraph)

You Will Love Me fought back in the final stages to take the $125,000 Victoriana Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

The four-year-old Earl Barnett trainee was a half-length winner of the turf event, defeating 7-5 Executive Flight, who also finished in last year’s Victoriana and third-place finisher, 14-1 Bold Corky.

In tallying her sixth career win, the Ontario-bred filly returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since August 29, when she took the Eternal Search Stakes, over 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine Polytrack.

You Will Love Me, under regular rider Eurico Rosa da Silva, sat just off pacesetter Galipette through early splits of :24.01 and :47.90.

In the stretch, it appeared Executive Flight was well on her way to victory, but You Will Love Me dug in along the rail and wouldn’t be denied.

da Silva said the bay, bred and owned by Bill Jones, wasn’t willing to concede defeat, in covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.02 over the ‘firm’ turf.

“She was relaxed, but I just didn’t want to press her too early,” said da Silva, who leads the Woodbine riding colony with nine stakes wins on the season. “I knew she would kick on. I know that horse (Executive Flight) came quickly on me and passed by, but my horse is a fighter. She likes to win.”

You Will Love Me now has 10 top-three finishes from 14 career starts. Last year, she won four races from eight starts, along with two seconds and two thirds.

“I had butterflies at the beginning of the race and my heart is still pounding very hard,” said Jones. “We were the underdog in this race.”

You Will Love Me paid $14.30, $6.60 and $4.60, combining with Executive Flight ($3.10, $2.40) for a $46.20 exactor. Bold Corky ($7.30) rounded out a $344.90 triactor.
(Source: Woodbine Entertainment)

Emerald Downs-based Wasserman bested two game foes, including Canada’s reigning champion older male True Metropolitan, on Sunday when he launched a powerful late rally to win the $272,500 Longacres Mile (G3), the track’s marquee event.

The six-year-old Cahill Road gelding, owned, bred, and trained by Howard Belvoir, wore down Tropic Storm late and caught True Metropolitan in the dying strides to win by a neck in 1:35 on a track rated as fast. Gritty 1.30-to-1 favorite Tropic Storm held on for third, another neck back in the 12-horse field.

The victory assures Wasserman a starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on October 25 at Santa Anita Park as the Longacres Mile is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

Wasserman’s jockey, Jennifer Whitaker, became the first woman to win the Longacres Mile in the race’s 73-year history.

“I still can’t believe we won,” Whitaker said. “I will have to watch it about ten times on the replay to really believe it. It is an unbelievable feeling.”

True Metropolitan and Wasserman rated well off the early pace as 2006 Longacres Mile winner Flamethrowintexan, who was making his first start in more than a year, laid down blistering fractions through six furlongs. Tropic Storm pressured from second before challenging on the far turn and seizing the lead entering the stretch.

Waserman began his advance from the outside nearing the lane as Tropic Storm opened a 2½-length in early stretch. True Metropolitan launched a strong bid from fifth, took aim at Tropic Storm, and caught him inside the final sixteenth, but Wasserman was full of run on the outside and reeled in Tropic Storm late before collaring True Metropolitan in the shadow of the post to prevail.

Washington-bred Wasserman, out of stakes-placed winner Share the Knight, by Knights Choice, earned his first graded stakes victory and improved his overall record to eight wins in 38 career starts.

Wasserman entered the Longacres Mile off a close second-place finish in the Mt. Rainier Handicap on July 27 at the Auburn, Washington, track, after winning the Governor’s Handicap there for the second straight year on July 6.

The $137,500 winner’s share of purse boosted his lifetime bankroll to $415,971.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Melbourne Cup winner Efficient will have just two runs leading into this year’s famous Flemington race.

The Lloyd Williams owned grey, prepared by John Sadler, was one of more than 20 horses from the Williams team in jump-outs at Flemington on Friday.

Efficient will resume in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at his home track next month and then go through the Turnbull Stakes before the Melbourne Cup on November 4.

“He had a jump-out on Friday morning and went quite well,” Williams told Sport 927.

“He’ll run in the Makybe Diva then he’ll run in the Turnbull. They will be the two runs he’ll have. We already known he can run two miles so we don’t have to prove it to ourselves.

“He’s a stronger horse and certainly hasn’t been overraced. He’s in good order.”

New acquisition to the Williams team, New Zealand Derby winner Cest La Guerre, is likely to run in the Memsie Stakes but according to Williams may not be seasoned enough for this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Bought by son Nick, Cest La Guerre has won five of his nine starts, including the New Zealand Derby by four lengths. The form from the race was then franked in Sydney during the autumn when Nom Du Jeu and Red Ruler, the fourth and eighth placegetters, went on to quinella the AJC Australian Derby at Randwick.

“Cest La Guerre is a lean mean New Zealander,” Williams said. “He doesn’t carry any condition and probably needs to build up. He looks as if he’s a horse that probably needs another 12 months but I hope I’m wrong.

Williams said a run in the Memsie would probably be followed by an Underwood start before assessing how he’s going.

He added Zipping wouldn’t be running in another Melbourne Cup and would instead be aimed at the shorter Caulfield Cup.

In early Cups betting Sportingbet has Efficient an $11.00 favourite, while Cest La Guerre is on the third line of betting at $17.00.
(Source: Racing & Sports)

With Curlin all but ruled out as a potential starter for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) by majority owner Jess Jackson due to the synthetic surface, it looks as though another division leader, Proud Spell, also will bypass the Breeders’ Cup, according to trainer Larry Jones.

Proud Spell, with wins in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), and Delaware Oaks (gr. II), needed a victory over grade I Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks winner Music Note in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) to regain her place atop the 3-year-old filly division.

By defeating Music Note by a head after a stirring stretch duel, Proud Spell now can earn an Eclipse Award without having to go the Breeders’ Cup, which is what Jones had been hoping to achieve.

“Hopefully, that will settle the Eclipse Award,” Jones said. “I just can’t see them settling it on an artificial surface and using that as the one-race measure. That’s why they have dirt horses and they have turf horses. And now you need a third kind of horse. I know we’re not looking to go to the Breeders’ Cup with Proud Spell.

“She wasn’t comfortable on the Polytrack at Keeneland (in which she finished a dull third in the grade I Ashland Stakes). We work over the Tapeta synthetic surface here at Fair Hill, and while it’s good for her to train on it, she still works slow, and had a slow work over it for the Alabama, considering the effort she put into it. And they’re running it out there the next two years.”

Jones said he has not set any schedule yet for Proud Spell, who has now won seven of her 11 career starts for earnings of over $1.9 million.

Jones also said his Philip H. Iselin (gr. III) winner Honest Man may point for the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. III) Sept. 27. Jones said the son of Unbridled’s Song has worked extremely well over the synthetic surface at Fair Hill. Solar Flare, runner-up in the Suburban Handicap (gr. I), likely will run next in the Massachusetts Handicap Sept. 20.

The next Breeders’ Cup question mark could come in the Travers Stakes (gr. I), as three of the leading contenders – multiple stakes winner Pyro, Withers (gr. II) and Prince of Wales winner Harlem Rocker, and Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner and Preakness (gr. I) runner-up Macho Again – have all run uncharacteristically bad races on synthetic surfaces. Pyro never picked his feet up on Keeneland’s Polytrack in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I); Macho Again has tried Polytrack twice – at Keeneland and Turfway Park — and finished up the track both times; and Harlem Rocker suffered his only career defeat on Woodbine’s Polytrack, where he finished a dull fourth as the 1-5 favorite in the Queen’s Plate Trial.

Also, Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Cool Coal Man’s only venture on Polytrack in the Blue Grass resulted in a ninth-place finish. There are a couple of promising colts in the field – Mambo in Seattle and You and I Forever — whose last start on a synthetic surface also produced poor performances.

What makes the situation even more unusual is that Harlem Rocker’s owner, Frank Stronach, also owns Santa Anita and is the person who decided to install another synthetic surface this spring after the initial Cushion Track surface proved to be a disaster during Santa Anita’s winter meet. Would he then keep his star 3-year-old out of the Classic because of the track?

Trainer Steve Amussen has already stated he will never run Pyro on a synthetic surface again, and it’s hard to imagine West Point Stable running Macho Again on it after his two dismal performances, but they have not addressed the matter. Harlem Rocker obviously would be the most likely to try again on a different type of synthetic surface, despite his apparent disdain for the Woodbine Polytrack.

If Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Colonel John or Swaps Stakes (gr. II) winner Tres Borrachos – two proven synthetic track horses — should win the Travers then the race’s significance in regard to the Classic would change dramatically. Other likely Travers starters include Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Da’ Tara and Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Tale of Ekati, who have never been on a synthetic surface, and they could very well make the trip with a Travers victory.

Harlem Rocker turned in a sharp work for the Travers Sunday, drilling five furlongs in :59 3/5 in company with Understatement on the Saratoga main track.

“I thought he went really well this morning and he’s coming into the Travers in good order,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We were shooting between 1:00 and 1:01. It was a tick quicker than we wanted to go, but he did it the right way. He did it well and galloped out strongly. He seemed to cool out quickly. I always work him in company. He has become a very good work horse, which hasn’t always been the case. He’s gotten better as he has been going along.”
(Source: The Blood-Horse)