Newsletter

Sydney’s Candy Looks Sweetest

John Mabee Stakes

Smelling Sweet in the Gardenia

Seeking the Title is Seeking the Title

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Harness Stakes Action

—————————————————————————————————————————————

Sydney’s Candy Looks Sweetest
70th edition of the La Jolla Handicap

This Saturday, Del Mar will host the 70th edition of the Grade II, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at 1 1/16 miles to be run on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. Leading the way weight among a solid group of eight 3-year-olds into the La Jolla is Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney’s Candy, who will be making his turf debut.

Sidney’s Candy lost his last start, the Swaps Stakes on Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track on July 17th, when he was caught just before the wire as the 1-5 favorite in a four-horse field. Sidney’s Candy opened up a clear lead in the stretch but could not hold off Skipshot in the Swaps. He lost by a head in his only start since finishing 17th after a rough trip in the Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track at Churchill Downs.

John Sadler tabbed Joel Rosario to ride Sidney’s Candy, replacing Joe Talamo, who was sidelined for the duration of the Del Mar meet when he fractured a wrist. Talamo rode Sidney’s Candy in all eight of the chestnut colt’s prior races.

Besides the Santa Anita Derby, Sidney’s Candy won the San Vicente and San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita this year and has banked $713,416.

He will spot his La Jolla foes from two to six pounds apiece, carrying high-weight of 121 pounds..

Other leading contenders in the La Jolla include Leroy’s Dynameaux, who won the Will Rogers Stakes at 13-1 odds at Hollywood Park in his last start and Affirmed Handicap winner Golden Itiz, who like Sidney’s Candy, is making his grass bow in the La Jolla.

Ellenay Racing’s Leroy’s Dynameaux, a son of Leroidesanimaux   trained by Mark Glatt, rallied five paths wide from well off the pace to score a neck victory in the 1 1/16-mile Will Rogers, which was the dark bay gelding’s second start on turf. Rafael Bejarano takes over the mount from Rosario.

Among those Leroy’s Dynameaux beat in the Will Rogers was third-place finisher Macias, who returned to run second in the opening-day Oceanside Stakes. He finished 2 1/4 lengths behind the impressive Twirling Candy, another Craig homebred for Sadler that is skipping the La Jolla.

The only other starter in the field to take part in the one-mile Oceanside is John and Cheryl Toffan’s three-time turf winner Face and an Ace, who ran fifth for trainer Paco Gonzalez.

Golden Itiz brings a three-race winning streak into the La Jolla following his half-length score over seven rivals as the odds-on choice in the Affirmed at Hollywood Park. The son of Tiznow won an optional claiming race by more than 11 lengths on the Cushion Track for trainer Ron Ellis prior to his stakes debut in the Affirmed. Patrick Valenzuela rides.

An intriguing possibility is Summer Movie, who returns to the turf after a pair of graded races on the main track at Hollywood. Trained by Art Sherman for theater chain owner George Krikorian, Summer Movie won two of four starts on turf, breaking his maiden on the grass at Oak Tree last fall and taking an optional claimer at Hollywood Park back in April. Both turf wins came at the one-mile distance.

Following a dismal effort in the Arlington Classic, Summer Movie was switched to Cushion Track. He finished an even fourth in the Affirmed and made a strong late bid to finish third in the Swaps, beaten by just a half-length. Victor Espinoza picks up the mount on Summer Movie with Martin Garcia sticking with Macias.

Irish-bred Kid Edward is the only horse in the field with a victory on the Del Mar turf, rallying for a 1 1/4-length win over an optional claiming field at the La Jolla distance July 23. That was his first start since breaking his maiden at Santa Anita in a one-mile turfer. James Cassidy trains the Singspiel colt for the Gould Family Trust.

Alphie’s Bet, who broke his maiden on the Santa Anita grass with a big closing effort in January, offered no late bid in his last start in the Swaps. He finished a close third in the Affirmed prior to that.

Gonzalez-conditioned Face and an Ace; Golden Itiz, winner of three straight, including Hollywood Park’s Grade III Affirmed Stakes for trainer Ron Ellis; Kid Edward, winner of two straight turf races for trainer Jim Cassidy; Leroy’s Dynameaux, Will Rogers Stakes winner for trainer Mark Glatt, and Macias, who is 4 for 11 for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.

John Mabee Stakes
Wasted Tears Puts Six Race Win Streak on the Line

On Sunday, the $250,000 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar brings Wasted Tears to California for the first time, but more important, her six-race winning streak into the 1 1/8 miles turf event.

Wasted Tears is perfect in all of 2009 and 2010, including wins this year in the Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, and the Grade 3 Ouija Board Handicap at Lone Star Park.

On the racetrack, Wasted Tears thrives by racing in front on turf, which has led to graded stakes wins this year in Florida, Kentucky, and Texas. The five year-old mare has 10 wins in 15 starts and earnings of $558,598. Bred by Evans in Kentucky, she began her career at 2, winning on turf at Retama Park, near San Antonio. She has made all but two starts on turf.

Wasted Tears, by Najran, will be easy to find on the front in the Mabee under New York-based jockey Rajiv Maragh, who rode her in the Jenny Wiley. Even though she is a front-runner, Wasted Tears is not speed-crazy and will cooperate with a rider, Evans said. She keeps races interesting to the finish, too. Her four wins this year have been by a combined 2 1/4 lengths.

The Mabee is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in November, but that race is not on Evans’s mind. Its run over 1 3/8 miles on turf, and the course could easily be less than firm in a Kentucky autumn.

Smelling Sweet in the Gardenia
Midway Holiday Looking to Get it Done

This Saturday, trainer Greg Foley is hoping for a bit of déjà vu as he saddles Midway Holiday as a major contender in the $100,000 Grade 3 Gardenia Stakes, a race he won at the Ellis Park meet three years ago when he sent out Pleasant Hill to a victory.

Foley acknowledges that Midway Holiday will be switching things up a bit in the Gardenia, a one-mile race on dirt, but believes the 3-year-old filly is talented enough to prevail. She most recently was a decent fourth behind the surging Check the Label in the Grade 3 Virginia Oaks on the Colonial Downs turf.

Midway Holiday is one of at least six fillies and mares, with maybe a few more, that Ellis racing officials were expecting when entries were drawn Thursday, with the other likely favorites being Ravi’s Song, Lady’s Laughter, and Tap Tap Tapping. An overnight handicap and four allowances also are in the condition book for what is traditionally the richest day of the Ellis meet.

The $100,000 Gardenia is the lone graded race every year at Ellis Park.

Seeking the Title is Seeking the Title
Filly Looking to Score Big in Monmouth Oaks

Seeking the Title will gun for her second Oaks victory of the year on Saturday in the $200,000 Grade III Monmouth Oaks this Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race drew six three-year-old fillies, but only Seeking the Title enters with a previous Oaks win to her credit. The Seeking the Gold filly captured the Iowa Oaks by a half-length over Harissa on at Prairie Meadows Racetrack.

Trained by Dallas Stewart, Seeking the Title enters off a fifth-place finish in the Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24th at Saratoga Race Course.

Another homebred No Such Word, will try to continue a very consistent three-year-old season on Saturday. After winning just one of five starts as a juvenile, No Such Word has emerged as a force as a three-year-old. She finished fourth in her 2010 debut but followed with a 2½-length victory on February 14th  in an optional claiming race and a 2½-length score in the Honeybee Stakes on March 13th, both at Oaklawn Park.

This season, she won the Go For Wand Stakes, finished second in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and third in the Fantasy Stakes. She enters off a fourth-place finish, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Blind Luck, in the Delaware Oaks.

The Jersey Shore hometown fans may be pulling for owner-breeder Kin Hui’s and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Patriotic Viva. The filly enters off a 3¾-length score in the Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth and will have fan-favorite jockey Joe Bravo aboard.

Eric Fein’s C C’s Pal, second in the Serena’s Song, enters in search of her first stakes win. She finished second in the Florida Oaks and third in the Comely Stakes earlier this season. Grade 2-placed winner Worship the Moon won a one-mile allowance race at Philadelphia Park in her most recent start while Briland Farm’s Absinthe Minded will try to breakthrough in a stakes race for the first time.

Thoroughbred Racing Action
Weekend Stakes Action

The Dog Days of Summer are upon us and race fans have been hitting the big tracks, but if you are looking for value for your buck, check out The Gardenia at Ellis Park, Monmouth’s Breeders Cup Oaks and for fun check out the Cal Fair racing with Santa Rosa racetrack for ole time racing!  Watch these and more all on BetAmerica.com.

Friday – August 13

•    Assiniboia Downs: Gold Strike Mile, $20,000, 3yo f, Manitoba-bred, 8f.
•    Del Mar: Daisycutter Handicap, $75,000, 3&up, f/m, 5f (turf).

Saturday – August 7

•    Albuquerque: Chamisa Handicap, $30,000, 3&up, f/m, 6.5f.
•    Arapahoe Park: Spicy Stakes, $30,000, 3&up, f/m, Colorado-bred, 8.5f.
•    Assiniboia Downs: North Dakota Futurity, $10,000, 2yo, 6f.
•    Charles Town: Sadie Hawkins Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
•    Del Mar: La Jolla Handicap – G2, $150,000, 3yo, 8.5f (turf).
•    Ellis Park: Gardenia – G3, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 8f.
•    Emerald Downs: Washington Oaks, $75,000, 3yo f, 9f.
•    Evangeline Downs: Evangeline Mile, $100,000, 3&up, 8f.
•    Laurel Park: Jameela Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Maryland-bred, 6f (turf).
•    Monmouth Park: Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks – G3, $150,000, 3yo f, 8.5f.
•    Monmouth Park: Continental Mile Stakes, $100,000, 2yo, 8f (turf).
•    Northlands Park: Sales Stakes, $50,000, 2yo f, 6.5f.
•    Northlands Park: Sales Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, c/g, 6.5f.
•    Pinnacle Race Course: Michigan Breeders Cup, $20,000, 3&up, Michigan-bred, 8f.
•    Santa Rosa: Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes, $50,000, 2yo, 6f.
•    Suffolk Downs: First Episode Stakes, $50,000, 3&up, f/m, Massachusetts-bred, 8.32f.
•    Yavapai Downs: Yavapai Downs Derby, $20,000, 3yo, 8.5f.

Sunday – August 8

•    Albuquerque: Charles Taylor Derby, $30,000, 3yo, 8f.
•    Arapahoe Park: Arapahoe Park Classic, $30,000, 3&up, 9f.
•    Del Mar: John C. Mabee Stakes – G2, $250,000, 3&up, f/m, 9f (turf).
•    Emerald Downs: Emerald Downs Derby, $75,000, 3yo, 9f.
•    Monmouth Park: Incredible Revenge Stakes, $100,000, 3&up, f/m, 5.5f (turf).

Harness Stakes Action
This Weekend’s Stakes Action

Summertime is Harness Time… Ton’s of great racing this weekend including the $650,000 Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs.  Watch and Wager on these fantastic Harness stakes races this week:

Friday – August 13

•    Harrah’s Chester: PA Stallion Series, $20,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
•    Flamboro: OSS Grassroots, $24,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
•    Freehold: NJSS, $54,000, 3yo, C&G trot
•    Freehold: Helen Smith, $10,000, 3yo,Filly Trot
•    Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
•    Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
•    Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
•    Meadowlands: WR Haughton, $50,000, Free For All Pace
•    Meadowlands: Sweetheart, $20,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
•    Meadowlands: Woodrow Wilson, $20,000, 2yo, Open Pace
•    Saratoga Raceway: NYSS, $200,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
•    Vernon Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
•    Vernon Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 2yo, Filly Trot

Saturday – August 14

•    Freehold: NJSS, $66,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
•    Freehold: NJSS, $66,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
•    Indiana Downs: Indiana SS, $40,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 3yo, Filly Trot
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
•    Ocean Downs: MSRF, $10,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
•    Saratoga Harness: Joe Gerrity, $25,000, 3yo and up, Open Pace
•    Scarborough: Joseph Ricci Memorial, $50,000, Open Trot
•    Scioto Downs: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
•    Scioto Downs: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, C&G Trot
•    Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
•    Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, C&G Trot

Sunday – August 15

•    Harrah’s Chester: PASS, $200,000, 3yo, C&G Pace
•    Flamboro: Confederation Cup, $650,000, 3yo,Open Pace
•    Flamboro: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 3yo, C&G Trot
•    Flamboro: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 2yo, C&G Pace
•    Raceway Park: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
•    Raceway Park: Ohio SS, $15,000, 2yo, Filly Trot
•    Rideau Carlton: OSS Gold Finals, $130,000, 2yo, Filly Pace
•    Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, Filly Pace
•    Tioga Downs: NY State Fair, $100,000, 3yo, Filly Trot

Zenyatta Back in Action

West Virginia Derby and More

Big M and the Hambletonian

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Harness Stakes Action

————————————————————————————————————————————-

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:

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