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Zenyatta Back in Action
Third Time a Charm in Hirsch?
This Saturday, racing fans in Southern California get a chance to see equine beauty as undefeated champion Zenyatta looks for her 18th consecutive victory in the Grade I – $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.
Zenyatta is also looking to hit the winners circle for what would be her third Hirsch Stakes victory. She won in by a length in 2008 and then took a thrilling victory by a head last year over little-known Anabaa’s Creation in the closest call ever to her unblemished record. Zenyatta’s only Del Mar appearances have been in the 2008 and 2008 Clement Hirsch stakes.
In winning the Vanity Handicap in her last start on June 13th she surpassed the consecutive win mark of 16 held by Cigar and Citation and others. In 2009 Zenyatta capped off a five-for-five championship season with a powerful one-length tally in the Classic, beating 11 of the best male horses in the world with her crowd-stirring late run.
An 11-time grade I winner, she is closing in on the female earnings record for horses that have raced in North America of $6,334,296 established by the great Ouija Board, who retired in 2006. Zenyatta has banked $6,074,580.
The 6-year-old daughter of Street Cry will take to Del Mar’s Polytrack with regular rider, Mike Smith in the irons. Zenyatta drew post 5 in the six-horse field and is weighted favorably with 123 pounds under the conditions of the race.
Her five rivals have a combined 21 wins from 135 starts. Just one, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Dance to My Tune, has faced Zenyatta before, running second to her by 1 1/4 lengths in Santa Anita’s Santa Margarita Handicap at 51-1 odds. David Flores takes the mount on Olympia Star’s 6-year-old Stravinsky mare.
Made for Magic won the Milady Handicap by a half-length at Hollywood May 16, a race Zenyatta won the prior two years, but the A.C. Avila-trained mare was unimpressive in two starts since. Her belated run in a fourth-place effort in the seven-furlong A Gleam Handicap could set her up nicely for this added distance, however. And the 5-year-old daughter of Cape Canaveral won her only prior start at Del Mar.
Rinterval ships in from Keeneland for a crack at Zenyatta. The 5-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Desert Prince just missed by a head to top mare Informed Decision in a front-running effort in the seven-furlong Chicago Handicap at Arlington Park on July 4th. Rinterval has won just three of 22 races lifetime but has earned $522,742. Rafael Bejarano is aboard.
Princess Taylor also comes off a runner-up showing, missing by a length in the Beverly Hills Handicap in a game try over Hollywood’s turf course in late June. That was just the second U.S. start for the British-bred daughter of Singspiel who failed to win in eight races on synthetic tracks in England.
Spring Style has done most of her running on turf for trainer Ben Cecil but broke her maiden on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface in October 2008. She comes off a seventh in the Osunitas Stakes on Del Mar’s grass course on July 24th.
West Virginia Derby and More
Saturday Stakes a Plenty!
This Saturday, there is a whole lot going on at Mountaineer Racetrack…nine stakes races on the race card highlighted by the Grade II – $750,000 West Virginia Derby. There will be a special 2:00 p.m. first post time and the West Virginia Derby will have a post time of 5:45 p.m. EDT.
With at least six graded-stakes winners expected to run in the 41st edition of the 1 1/8-mile event, this year’s Derby could help answer some important questions for the connections of the three-year-olds who have the Grade I Travers Stakes on August 28th at Saratoga.
The question for Concord Point is distance, as the colt tries 1 1/8 miles for the first time after successfully navigating dirt and two turns for the first time when winning the 1 1/16-mile Iowa Derby on June 26 at Prairie Meadows Racetrack.
For Coolmore Lexington Stakes winner Exhi, the primary question is can he win on dirt? The Maria’s Mon colt is undefeated in four starts on a synthetic Polytrack surface but is winless in three starts on dirt. He won the Victoria Park Stakes at Woodbine and is slated to carry co-high weight of 120 pounds under the race’s allowance conditions.
Skipshot, who won the Swaps Stakes following four failed stakes tries, ships east for Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains the Skip Away ridgling. Hollendorfer saddled Bwana Bull to a second-place finish in the 2007 West Virginia Derby.
The field’s other graded stakes winner is Thiskyhasnolimit, winner of the Iroquois Stakes last year at Churchill Downs. The colt won the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill for trainer Steve Asmussen before finishing second to Concord Point in the Iowa Derby. Asmussen has won the West Virginia Derby three times, including in 2007 when Zanjero defeated Bwana Bull by a nose.
The following 3-year-olds will also race; Gleam of Hope, winner of the Grade III Jefferson Cup, a turf event; and Hurricane Ike, winner of the Grade III Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial.
The Derby field is below:
| PP | Horse | A/S | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer |
| 1 | Nacho Friend (KY) | 3/C | J Bravo | 112 | K J Breen |
| 2 | Thiskyhasnolimit (KY) | 3/C | S Bridgmohan | 112 | S M Asmussen |
| 3 | Skipshot (KY) | 3/R | J Rosario | 120 | J Hollendorfer |
| 4 | Not Abroad (MD) | 3/C | B J Hernandez, Jr. | 112 | M P Petro |
| 5 | Exhi (KY) | 3/C | R Albarado | 120 | T A Pletcher |
| 6 | Gunfighter (PA) | 3/R | F Pennington | 114 | A W Dutrow |
| 7 | Concord Point (KY) | 3/C | M Garcia | 118 | B Baffert |
| 8 | Shookstown Road (MD) | 3/G | G Whitacre | 112 | V J Allinson |
| 9 | Toh’s Grey Cat (FL) | 3/C | R Feliciano | 112 | G S Bennett |
Big M and the Hambletonian
Stakes a Plenty for the Harness Crowd
This Saturday, the Big M in New Jersey will be the center of the Harness Racing World as the $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old trotters takes place, the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for the fillies and eight other great harness races.
Leading the way into the Hambletonian is Lucky Chucky. He will start from post No. 2 as the 5-2 morning line favorite.
The connections of Lucky Chucky, trained by Chuck Sylvester and driven by John Campbell, got to select their starting spot by virtue of winning one of the three Hambletonian elimination races last weekend. The other elim winners were Cassis, who will start from post one, and Pilgrims Taj, who begins from post three.
Campbell announced the choice for Lucky Chucky after trainer Ray Schnittker picked first for Cassis. Lucky Chucky won his Hambletonian elimination race by three-quarters of a length over Mystery Photo and Holiday Road in 1:53.1.
Sylvester has won the Hambletonian four times — one shy of the training record shared by Bill Haughton, Stanley Dancer and Ben White. Campbell already holds the record for most driving wins, with six. Sylvester and Campbell teamed to win the 1998 Hambletonian with Muscles Yankee and the 1987 Hambletonian with Mack Lobell. Sylvester’s other victories came with Chip Chip Hooray in 2002 and Park Avenue Joe (in a dead heat with Probe) in 1989.
The Hambletonian elim victory was Lucky Chucky’s first of 2010, in three starts. The colt, who was coming off a second-place finish to Holiday Road in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division, was last year’s Dan Patch Award winner as best 2-year-old after winning nine of 12 races (including the Matron and Valley Victory stakes) and $667,649.
Cassis won his elimination race by 1-1/4 lengths over Temple Of Doom in a career-best 1:52.4. His time was the fastest of the three Hambletonian elims. He is the 7-2 second choice in the morning line.
Schnittker, who won the Hambletonian from post No. 1 with Deweycheatumnhowe in 2008, this year is bidding to be the first trainer to win both the Hambletonian and million-dollar Meadowlands Pace in the same season. Schnittker’s One More Laugh won the Meadowlands Pace on July 17. Five trainers have won both races, in different years: Steve Elliott, Blair Burgess, Chuck Sylvester, Bill Haughton and Ray Remmen.
Pilgrims Taj, who won his Hambletonian elim by a half-length over Muscle Massive and Hard Livin in 1:53.3, was made 9-2 in the morning line. He joined the stable of trainer Trond Smedshammer two weeks ago. Last year, Pilgrims Taj won seven of 10 races, including the Breeders Crown, with driver Mike Lachance and never was worse than second. Returning this season, he went off stride in his second qualifier on May 20 and made a break in a 3-year-old Open on July 9. In between, he picked up two victories and a third-place finish on the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes circuit. He was sixth in a division of the Stanley Dancer.
Holiday Road, trained by Greg Peck, will start from the far outside in post No. 10. Peck won last year’s Hambletonian from post one with Muscle Hill and is trying to become the first trainer to win consecutive Hambletonians since Per Eriksson in 1991-92.
Here is the draw for the $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old open trotters, Race 10 on the card:
Post—Horse-Driver—Morning Line Odds
1. Cassis Tim Tetrick 7-2
2. Lucky Chucky John Campbell 5-2
3. Pilgrims Taj Mike Lachance 9-2
4. Mystery Photo Andy Miller 10-1
5. Wishing Stone George Brennan 12-1
6. Muscle Massive Ron Pierce 8-1
7. On The Tab Daniel Dube 15-1
8. Hard Livin Yannick Gingras 15-1
9. Temple Of Doom David Miller 15-1
10. Holiday Road Brian Sears 6-1
Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action
The fantastic Zenyatta is back in action at Del Mar and The $750k West Virginia Derby is Saturday. Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.
Friday – August 6
• Assiniboia Downs: Gold Strike Mile, $20,000, 3yo, c/g, Canadian-bred, 8f.
• Del Mar: Sorrento Stakes – G3, $150,000, 2yo f, 6.5f.
• Penn National: Robellino Stakes, $75,000, 3&up, 8.5f (turf).
• Penn National: Russian Rhythm Handicap, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f (turf).
• Prairie Meadows: Prairie Meadows Juvenile, $60,000, 2yo, 8f.
Saturday – August 7
• Arapahoe Park: Silver Cup Futurity, $20,000, 2yo, Colorado-bred, 5.5f.
• Calder Race Course: Desert Vixen Stakes, $75,000, 2yo f, 6f.
• Calder Race Course: Dr. Fager Stakes, $75,000, 2yo, 6f.
• Calder Race Course: Champali Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 6.5f.
• Charles Town: Robert G. Leavitt Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
• Del Mar: Clement L. Hirsch Stakes – G1, $300,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f.
• Ellis Park: Alpena Magic Handicap, $22,000, 3&up, 9f (turf).
• Monmouth Park: Colleen Stakes, $100,000, 2yo f, 5.5f.
• Monmouth Park: My Frenchman Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, 5.5f (turf).
• Mountaineer: West Virginia Derby – G2, $750,000, 3yo, 9f.
• Mountaineer: West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, $125,000, 3&up, 8.5f.
• Mountaineer: Harvey Arneault Memorial Breeders’ Cup Stakes, $85,000, 3&up, 6f.
• Mountaineer: Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies Stakes, $85,000, 2yo f, 6f.
• Mountaineer: Mountaineer Juvenile Stakes, $85,000, 2yo, 6f.
• Mountaineer: W.V.House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup, $85,000, 3&up, 8.32f (turf).
• Mountaineer: WV.Legislature Chairman’s Cup, $85,000, 3&up, 4.5f.
• Mountaineer: W.V.Secretary of State, $85,000, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
• Mountaineer: W.V.Senate President’s Stakes, $85,000, 3&up, f/m, 8.32f (turf).
• Northlands Park: Westerner Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f.
• Pinnacle Race Course: Ann Arbor Stakes, $20,000, 3yo f, Michigan-bred, 8f.
• Prairie Meadows: Donna Reed, 85,000, 4&up, f/m, Iowa-bred, 8.32f.
• Prairie Meadows: Ralph Hayes, 85,000, 4&up, c/g, Iowa-bred, 8.5f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Breeders’ Derby, $75,000, 3yo, c/g, Iowa-bred, 8.5f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Breeders’ Oaks, $75,000, 3yo f, Iowa-bred, 8.32f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Cradle Stakes, $75,000, 2yo, c/g, Iowa-bred, 6f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Sorority, $75,000, 2yo f, Iowa-bred, 6f.
• Prairie Meadows: Iowa Classic Sprint, $60,000, 3&up, Iowa-bred, 6f.
• River Downs: Vivacious Handicap, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Ohio-bred, 8.5f (turf).
• Thistledown: Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, Ohio-bred, 6f.
Sunday – August 8
• Arapahoe Park: Stallion Stakes, $12,000, 3yo, c/g, Colorado-bred, 7f.
• Canterbury Park: John Bullit Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, 8.5f (turf).
• Canterbury Park: Brian Barenscheer Juvenile Stakes, $35,000, 2yo, 5.5f.
• Del Mar: Best Pal Stakes – G2, $150,000, 2yo, 6.5f.
• Ellis Park: Coup Handicap, $22,000, 3&up, 5.5f (turf).
• Emerald Downs: Angie C. Stakes, $25,000e, 2yo f, 6f.
• Emerald Downs: Premio Esmeralda Stakes, $25,000, 2yo, c/g, 6f.
• Fort Erie: Andy Passero Memorial Cup, $25,000, 3&up, c/g, 8.5f.
• Monmouth Park: Select Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 6f.
• Monmouth Park: Malouf Auto Group Starter #4, $50,000, 3&up, 11f (turf).
• Yavapai Downs: Doris Grundy Memorial, $15,000, 3yo f, 6f.
Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action
This weekend it’s all about The Big M with the $1,500,000 Hambletonian and the $ 750,000 Hambletonian Oaks and much, much more. Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:
Friday – August 6
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Meadowlands: Niatross, $145,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Meadowlands: Townsend Ackerman, $50,000, Open Trot
• Meadowlands: Duenna, $30,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Saratoga Raceway: NYSS, $200,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
• Tioga Downs: NYSS, $200,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
Saturday – August 7
• Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Meadowlands: Hambletonian, $1,500,000, 3yo,Open Trot
• Meadowlands: Hambletonian Oaks, $750,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
• Meadowlands: Merrie Annabelle, $525,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Meadowlands: Peter Haughton, $523,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
• Meadowlands: Mistletoe Shalee, $400,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Meadowlands: US Pace Championship, $325,000, Free For All Pace
• Meadowlands: Nat Ray, $300,000, Open Trot
• Meadowlands: Lady Liberty, $246,000, FFA Mare Pace
• Meadowlands: O.W. Holmes, $230,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
• Meadowlands: Perretti Matchmaker, $100,000, FFA Mare Trot
• Pocono: PASS, $220,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
• Saratoga Harness: Joe Gerrity, $25,000, 3yo and up, Open Pace
• Saratoga Harness: NYSS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
• Scarborough: Maine Sire Stakes, $41,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
• Scarborough: Joseph Ricci Memorial, $20,000, Open Trot
• Vernon Downs: NYSS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
Sunday – August 8
• Flamboro: OSS Gold Elims, $40,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
• Flamboro: OSS Gold Elims, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
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