Happy Horses Win

Trainer Bill Mott saved the best for last in 2011, and it helped him capture his third Eclipse Award as champion trainer in a tight race. He received 83 first-place votes while Bob Baffert garnered 60 votes. Third-place finisher Todd Pletcher landed 57 first-place votes.
Mott, 58, was the man at the 2011 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs. He won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (gr. I) with Palides Investments’ 3-year-old filly Royal Delta Nov. 4, and the following day won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) with WinStar Farm’s 4-year-old colt Drosselmeyer.
It was the start of a big November for Mott as six of his 15 graded-stakes victories on the year came during the month. He capped things off when Live Oak Plantation’s 3-year-old colt To Honor and Serve, seventh behind Drosselmeyer in the Classic, returned to win the grade I Cigar Mile Handicap in New York.
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The serious Fort Lauderdale horses, in terms of surface and prevailing conditions, are Silver Medallion and Teaks North. That was until Bill Mott dropped the name of Mutual Trust (3-1) into the entry box.
The Juddmonte import has been hacking around at Payson Park since early November and it’s a tough read on his level of condition. This certainly cannot be a serious winter objective.
A multiple winner of four straight in France including a Group 3 and the G1 Jean Prat, he certainly has demonstrated ability but this is a salty group—no pun intended—if he doesn’t have his Air Nikes on.
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Scooter Dickey will kill two birds with one stone when he tries his Grade 1 winner Flat Out on the grass for the first time Saturday in Gulfstream Park’s $100,000 Fort Lauderdale.
A son of Flatter owned by Preston Stable LLC, Flat Out won the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park and finished second in both the Grade 1 Woodward and Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga to rise to the top of his division in 2011. He went postward the tepid 7-2 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but finished a disappointing fifth, although only three lengths behind upset winner Drosselmeyer.
Mutual Trust, who has never raced beyond a mile, will compete with Lasix for the first time in the Fort Lauderdale. He has worked steadily over the main track at Payson Park since early December in preparation for his return.
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Royal Delta, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and the heavy favorite to be named champion older female at Monday’s Eclipse Award ceremonies, also had her first work of the winter on Tuesday, going three-eighths in 36 at Payson Park. Trainer Bill Mott said last month that Royal Delta’s first major objective in 2012 will be the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 24.

Likely three-year-old female champion Royal Delta got back into the swing of things Tuesday with her first official work of her four-year-old season. The daughter of Empire Maker went an easy three furlongs in :36 at Payson Park Training Center in Florida for trainer Bill Mott.
Mott says the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner will either train up to or have a prep race for the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March.
“The World Cup is the goal for the first half of the year," Mott tells the Blood-Horse. "We’ll move in that direction. If all is well we’d love to run back in the Breeders’ Cup in the fall. She would obviously have a break after Dubai if we do go, and then we’ll start up the second half of the year and hit some of the nicer filly races.”

Summer Front stumbled badly leaving the starting gate but was able to overcome his adversity and remain undefeated after rallying to a game 1 1/2-length victory over the 8-5 Finale in Sunday’s $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Summer Front, who had won his two previous starts, including the King Cugat overnight stakes at Aqueduct, recovered quickly following his unlucky start to race within easy striking range albeit in tough position between horses down the backstretch. With regular rider Ramon Dominguez aboard, Summer Front angled wider to commence his rally on the final turn and then outkicked Finale to the wire in the final furlong.
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Richard Kaster and Frederick Wietling's 2-year-old Kentucky homebred colt Excaper finished a game second as a 33-to-1 longshot behind Aidan O'Brien-trained Irish invader Wrote in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs, and appears set to resume his promising career in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Sun. Dec. 18.
"He's (Excaper) been training right along at Payson Park and we're seriously looking at the race (Dania Beach)," said trainer Ian Black. "He'll work on Monday and if that goes well he'll likely run."
A roan/gray son of Exchange Rate, Excaper made each of his three career starts prior to the Breeders' Cup at Woodbine where Black is based for most of the year. After winning his debut sprinting on Polytrack in early August, he finished a close-up second on turf in the $250,000 Summer Stakes (G3) in mid-September and fourth back on Polytrack in the $200,000 Gray Stakes (G3) in early October..
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Chad Brown said he had a pretty good teacher when it came to taking European imports and winning races in the U.S. That teacher was the late Bobby Frankel and he would have been proud of the job Brown has done with Thai Haku, an Irish-bred filly who rallied to a 1 /4-length victory over the 45-1 Hooh Why in Sunday’s $60,000 South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Brown took over Thai Haku’s training from Mikel Delzangles following her second-place finish in Belmont’s Grade 3 Noble Damsel late this past summer in New York. Thai Haku had made one previous start for Brown prior to the 7 1/2-furlong South Beach, finishing third over a yielding course in Belmont’s Athenia on Oct. 15.
Thai Haku benefitted from a perfectly judged ride from Julien Leparoux, rating within easy striking distance just off the early pace before angling three wide into the stretch and readily wearing down Hooh Why near midstretch. Hooh Why attended the pace from the outset, took control in early stretch, but proved no match for the winner while finishing a half-length in front of Trip for A.J.
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Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl is heading to South America to complete her 2011 campaign Saturday in the Group 1 Gran Premio Internacional Pellegrini at San Isidro Race Course in Buenos Aires.
Perfect Shirl, a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Perfect Soul, is trained by Roger Attfield for owner-breeder Charles Fipke. She has not started since registering her only victory of the year, a shocking three-quarter-length triumph at odds of 27-1 in the Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 4.
Perfect Shirl had originally been scheduled to compete last Saturday in the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, but her itinerary changed suddenly last week.
"We weren't able to get all the blood work and some other necessary paperwork done in time to make the trip to Honk Kong," Attfield said by phone from his winter base at Payson Park on Monday morning. "So we decided to go to Argentina instead."
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Adam Wachtel had wanted to buy Ron the Greek for more than a year when he finally got his chance in July. Thus far, Ron the Greek has proven worth the wait.
A Kentucky Derby prospect in 2010, Ron the Greek on Saturday recorded his second consecutive stakes victory as a 4-year-old, rolling to a front-running 2 1/4-length victory over odds-on favorite Inherit the Gold in the $65,000 Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct. It was one length back in third to Arson Squad, who finished 3 1/2 lengths clear of stablemate Ea. Fonda Ronda Won finished last in the compact field.
The win was the fifth from 15 starts for Ron the Greek, a Florida-bred son of Full Mandate bred by Jack Hammer, who at first rebuked Wachtel's offers to buy the colt. In three starts for Wachtel and his partner Nils Brous - and since being transferred to trainer Bill Mott - Ron the Greek has a second and two stakes wins.
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Royal Delta, sold for $8.5 million after her Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic victory, has been returned to trainer Bill Mott with the Dubai World Cup as her target.
The three-year-old filly was purchased by Benjamin Leon's Besilu Stable at the Keeneland November sales four days after winning at Churchill Downs.
Leon has most of his horses with Todd Pletcher but has sent her back to Mott, whom she has joined in Florida at the Payson Park training centre.
"The plans are to go to the Dubai World Cup with a possibility that she'll have a race at Gulfstream first," said Mott, speaking to the Daily Racing Form.
"It's difficult to top what she's already accomplished, but I won't say it can't be done. It's going to be a big challenge for us to do well for her and for her new owner again next year.
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Trainer Shug McGaughey proved once again why he is in the Hall of Fame after bringing Casbalanca Smile back from an 11-month layoff to win the 1 1/2-mile La Prevoyante Handicap on Friday's closing-day program at Calder.
Casablanca Smile had been idle since finishing second behind Changing Skies in the first edition of the Grade 2 La Prevoyante run in 2011 on Jan. 2. With Javier Castellano doing a masterful job of rating the Chilean-bred on the lead, Casablanca Smile coasted through early fractions of 25.31 seconds, 51.63, and 1:18.01 for the first six furlongs and then had more than enough left in the tank to hold off the 5-2 favorite, Mr. Ryder, to post a 1 1/2-length decision. Mr. Ryder, the tepid favorite in a field of 11 long-winded fillies and mares, chased the winner from flagfall to finish but was not good enough while finishing nearly three lengths clear of longshot Tesoro de Amor to be second.
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Trainer Bill Mott’s November to remember concluded Saturday at Aqueduct with To Honor and Serve recording a 1 3/4-length victory over the late-running Hymn Book in the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile Handicap.
While To Honor and Serve was registering the first Grade 1 stakes victory of his career, he gave Mott his sixth graded stakes win this month, third in a Grade 1. Mott, who also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Drosselmeyer and Ladies’ Classic with Royal Delta, had won nine graded stakes from January through October and only two Grade 1’s.
“What started out as a very slow year as I said before has ended up good,” Mott said. “This is probably one of the last stakes we’ll run for the year, and it’s a great way to top it off.”
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Roger Attfield completed a perfect Thanksgiving weekend at Calder on Saturday by sending out his uncoupled duo of Musketier and Simmard to finish first and second, respectively, in the Grade 2, $150,000, W.L. McKnight Handicap.
The McKnight ended a memorable month for Attfield, which began Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs where Perfect Shirl gave him his first Breeders’ Cup victory in the Filly and Mare Turf and continued here last Thursday when Oregon Lady rallied to capture the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap.
Musketier parlayed a perfect trip under jockey Luis Saez into a half-length decision over his unlucky stablemate Simmard, who was hung wide throughout the 1 1/2-mile McKnight. Musketier saved ground behind the early leaders, then was able to slip through along the hedge when launching his winning bid turning for home.
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The debate over the Horse-of-the-Year title, which inspired such passion at the end of the last two racing seasons, will be muted in the wake of the 2011 Breeders' Cup. With the world's best Thoroughbreds gathered at Churchill Downs, not a single one could muster a performance that would merit the sport's highest honor.
While the Breeders' Cup was a compelling event, filled with exciting finishes, human drama, and astronomical parimutuel payoffs, it hardly lived up to its purpose of showcasing the American Thoroughbred at his best. On a day when several horses had the chance to become the Horse of the Year by winning the main event, the $5 million Classic, all of them flopped and finished behind the long-shot Drosselmeyer, who had not won a race of consequence in 17 months.
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The annual Breeders' Cup just completed Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the World Championships of thoroughbred horse racing. There are 15 different races over two days finishing with the Breeders' Cup Classic with a $5,000,000 purse.
Payson Park trainers took nine of their Payson Park trained horses to the Breeders' Cup and came home with seven paychecks totaling $13,500,00, and recording 78% of its entrants in the money. The onslaught was led by Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, whose Royal Delta won the $2,000,000 Ladies' Classic on Friday followed by Drosselmeyers' stirring win in the $5,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic in Saturday's finale.
Canadian Hall of Famer, Roger Attfield's, Perfect Shirl, won the $2,000,000 Filly and Mare Turf Championship on Friday.
Bill Mott also scored big with Birdrun's second place showing in the $500,000 Marathon, and Christophe Clement's Gio Ponti finished with a fourth in the $2,000,000 Breeders' Cup Mile.
Gail Cox's, Hard Not to Like, finished fifth in the $1,000,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf and Roger Attfield's fellow Canadian trainer, Ian Black, placed second in the $1,000,000 Juvenile Turf with Excaper.
Payson Park's motto is "Happy Horses Win". These outstanding finishes have made these horses, their trainers, and their owners very happy indeed!
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Carolyn Wilson’s Arena Elvira won her fourth straight start as she captured the $193,725 Falls City Handicap (G2) on Thursday at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Bill Mott, Arena Elvira collared eventual runner-up Afleeting Lady in the final furlong to win as the even-money favorite under jockey Junior Alvarado. Arena Elvira covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.76 on a track rated as fast to win by a neck.
“When we turned for home, she switched leads and I knew I had plenty of horse, but when she got real close to [Afleeting Lady] she didn’t really want to go by her,” Alvarado said. “I always thought I had enough horse to get there by the wire, though. She’s a nice filly. She ran great last time and ran well today.”
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Trainer Roger Attfield’s November roll with filly and mare turf horses continued Thanksgiving Day at Calder, where Orgeon Lady rallied to a neck victory over Trip for A. J. in the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap. Attfield was rewarded with his first Breeders’ Cup victory less than three weeks ago when Perfect Shirl upset the Filly and Mare Turf.
Oregon Lady, an Irish-bred daughter of Oregon Trail, rallied off a slow pace to outfinish a game Trip for A. J. in the final yards of the 1 1/8-mile My Charmer. Trip for A. J., ridden for the first time by owner Peter Fuller’s daughter, Abigail Fuller, recovered after bobbling at the start to slip inside the odds-on Denomination to move clear in early stretch, before proving no match for the winner. Snow Top Mountain rallied belatedly from last to finish another half-length further back in third.
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Trainer Christophe Clement has been a major supporter of the Tropical Meet program since the mid-90s when the French-born horseman began shipping from New York into Payson Park winter quarters, and appears set to move toward the top of the all-time Tropical stakes victory list in several of the five Graded stakes to be run in the final days of this session.
Clement went into this meet Tropical Meet with 16 stakes victories to rank sixth on the all-time list led by Marty Wolfson with 28, followed by Luis Olivares second with 21 and Manny Tortora, Frank Gomez and Eddie Plesa, Jr. tied for third at 17 apiece.
Clement could jump into third with a big Thanksgiving holiday weekend performance by contenders in two stakes with Ghislaine Head’s 5-year-old mare Denomination the morning-line favorite in Thursday’s $100,000 My Charmer Handicap (G3) and Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s 6-year-old Winchester, a multiple Grade 1 winner, among the choices in the $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) on Saturday.
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Roan Inish, who has been off since finishing third in last year’s Queen’s Plate, has been retired and is at Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky awaiting a date with the stallion Arch.
Carolyn Costigan, who sent out Roan Inish to win the Woodbine Oaks and the previous year’s Princess Elizabeth, had given the homebred filly every chance to return to the races, but a comeback now has been ruled out.
“She had a ligament injury, which we’d thought would heal in time, but then arthritis set in,” said Costigan, who trained Roan Inish for her father, Bob Costigan.
Roan Inish, a daughter of Elusive Quality and the two-time Sovereign Award-winning turf female Inish Glora, retires with her two stakes wins, three seconds, and a third for earnings of $628,329 from eight starts.
“She’s going to be bred to Arch,” said Costigan, who will be setting up shop at Florida’s Payson Park for the first time during the off season.
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Ron the Greek took advantage of a bad stumble by 2-5 favorite Rail Trip to post an easy win Thursday in the $60,000 Sunny and Mild Stakes on Thursday at Aqueduct.
Rail Trip dumped rider Ramon Dominguez as the field broke from the starting gate. Dominguez, apparently unharmed, quickly bounced up from the muddy track and walked off while the riderless Rail Trip ran with the pack.
The mishap by the heavy choice opened the door for Ron the Greek to post a five length victory over Bigger Is Bettor. Jose Lezcano was aboard for trainer Bill Mott as Ron the Greek, a 4-year-old, got his fourth win in 14 starts. The time was 1:51.83 for the 1 1-8 miles.
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Lady Cohiba, the 2-5 favorite, splashed to a 3½-length victory in the slop over Lasamanamama in the $58,800 May Night Stakes for 2-year-old fillies originally scheduled for the turf at Aqueduct. Lady Cohiba, an also-eligible who would not have run had the race remained on the grass, improved to 2 for 2 for trainer Christophe Clement. Jose Lezcano was aboard as she ran the mile in 1:41.38, paying $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10. Lasamanamama returned $3.30 and $2.50 while Court of Dreams returned $3.30.

Hit It Rich stalked the early pace, wrested command on the third and final turn, and drove clear to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Long Island Handicap, completing a sweep of Aqueduct’s graded turf stakes for Shug McGaughey.
Sent off as the third choice in a field of eight fillies and mares, Hit It Rich ($10.80) bided her time in second position under Javier Castellano as longshot Unbridled Essence took the lead from her inside post. Hit It Rich took over nearing the quarter pole and remained clear through the lane to win by a length and a half.
“It looked like there wasn’t much speed at all, but [Unbridled Essence] rushed and wanted to dictate the pace,” said Castellano. “The pace was very slow and my filly loved to gallop right next to the lead.”
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The six Woodbine-based horses who participated in the Breeders’ Cup races at Churchill Downs last Friday and Saturday typified the highs and lows and everything in between.
Trainer Roger Attfield hadn’t pulled any punches heading into Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Fillies and Mares Turf, telling all and sundry that he didn’t believe the conditions would suit Perfect Shirl.
“I was just terrified about the going,” said Attfield, back at his Woodbine headquarters this week. “I was actually distraught, the day before the race, with the amount of rain we were getting. I thought I had no chance to show how good this filly was becoming. I knew she was sitting on a big race.”
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Second-crop sire WAR FRONT sired his 11th stakes winner November 6 as SUMMER FRONT stayed unbeaten in the King Cugat S. at Aqueduct. The 2-year-old colt was an impressive debut winner going six furlongs at Belmont in mid-October, and continued with his winning ways in his stakes debut. In the one mile turf race SUMMER FRONT settled just off the pace to stalk leaders. He began to make his move at the eighth pole and took over in the stretch to post a strong win under jockey Ramon Dominguez. It was the second start for the colt.
Bred by Graceville Breeding, SUMMER FRONT is owned by Waterford Stable and trained by Christophe Clement. He is a half-brother to Grade 1 winer Laragh, by PULPIT's son Tapit. The colt was a $475,000 2-year-old purchase at the Keeneland April Sale this year.

King's Best was the sire of his second Stakes winner of the day November 6 as Wallis impressed in the Spice Island Stakes at Aqueduct by a strong five lengths. The four-year-old filly was previously second in the Stormy West Stakes at Belmont in early October. She was a winner in England already this year.
During the one mile turf event Wallis settled slightly off the pace in third. She took off coming around the final turn and swept past the competition en route to the powerful victory.
Bred by Fittocks Stud, Wallis is out of the Sadler's Wells mare Frangy. She is a half-sister to Stakes winner Savarain and Group-placed Forte Dei Marmi.
King's Best was the Leading Sire in Europe by worldwide earnings in 2010. His six G1 winners include Derby and Arc hero Workforce, and he is the sire of 43 Stakes winners to date.

Boisterous, fresh off a win in the Knickerbocker three weeks ago for Shug McGaughey, caught Harrods Creek in midstretch and drove clear to score right back in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Red Smith Handicap, New York’s final graded turf stakes of the season for older males.
Boisterous ($6), the second choice in a field of seven, was about eighth lengths back in fifth position as Harrods Creek loped along through a half-mile in 52.56 seconds and a mile in 1:44.56. He moved smartly to contention three wide on the far turn turn, struck the front just inside the eighth pole, and drew off as the third winner on the card for Alan Garcia.
“He makes one run,” Garcia said. “At the three-eighths, I asked him a little bit to see what he had. I was watching for the favorite [Grassy] to come to me, but he never showed up and I said, ‘This horse is going to win.’ ”
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Trainer Bill Mott put an exclamation point on his big Breeders' Cup weekend at Churchill Downs when the regally-bred Deluxe held on for a half-length victory in the $109,900 Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIIT) Nov. 6
Mott, Churchill's all-time leading trainer, saddled both Ladies' Classic (gr. I) winner Royal Delta and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) victor Drosselmeyer in the preceding two days.
Juddmonte Farms' Deluxe, by Storm Cat out of the great Kahyasi mare Hasili--a producer of five grade I winners--registered her first graded stakes win as the 3-2 favorite facing six rivals in the 1 1/8-mile Cardinal. Deluxe is a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) winners Banks Hill and Intercontinental.
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Arena Elvira notched her third straight victory and first in a graded stakes when she pulled away to a 6 ¾-length triumph in the $98,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 4, the opening-day feature at Aqueduct Racetrack.
With Junior Alvarado in the irons, the 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper tracked Banker's Buy through an opening quarter-mile in :25.17 and a half in :50.71, then moved alongside the pacesetter on the far turn. Straightening for home after six furlongs in 1:16.21, Arena Elvira began opening up through the stretch under a hand ride. She hit the wire in 1:51.59 for the 1 1/8 miles.
“My filly didn’t break and I got stuck behind the horse in front (Banker’s Buy), but the rest was easy,” said Alvarado. “I asked her, and she responded right away. In the end, I was just keeping her straight. I wasn’t asking for much.”
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A resilient Stormy Lord denied the advances of an onrushing Hollinger, in a stirring stretch battle, to capture Sunday’s $116,800 Labeeb Stakes at Woodbine.
It was the fourth added-money score of a six-race campaign for the four-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic-Lady Auchamore, and the seventh stakes victory of the season for trainer Ian Black.
As expected, Kara’s Orientation sprinted to the lead from the Post 11 in the one-mile turf tilt over an E.P Taylor Turf Course rated as, ‘yielding’. Stormy Lord, under a confident ride from jockey Justin Stein, settled into third position as Kara’s Orientation marked an opening quarter in :24.30 and a half in :48.80.
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Oregon Lady, trained by Roger Attfield, opened up down the lane to capture the $105,200 River Memories, on Saturday at Woodbine.
The four-year-old bay filly, owned by Harlequin Ranches, picked up her first added-money score with the victory under a masterful ride by Patrick Husbands in the one-mile turf tilt over an E.P Taylor Turf Course rated as 'soft'.
Moonlit Beauty led the field through moderate opening fractions of :24.50 and :49.15 with Moment of Majesty hot on her heels. Moonlit Beauty maintained her lead through three-quarters, but Oregon Lady, travelling swiftly from fifth-position, took the lead at the top of the stretch, angled in to the rail, and drove clear for a four and a quarter length score, in a final running time of 1:39.59. Moment of Majesty held on gamely for place, three and a half lengths clear of the favoured Magic Broomstick.
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Hymn Book, the 1-5 favorite, rallied to beat Cactus Charlie by 21/4 lengths on Thursday in the $60,000 Firethorn Stakes at Belmont Park.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Hymn Book improved to 2-1-0 in three starts on Belmont’s main track. He was sixth in his prior race, the Bernard Baruch Handicap on the turf at Saratoga.
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Miss Keller, runner-up in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes last year, prevailed in a thrilling three-horse finish in Sunday’s running of the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares.
Trained by Roger Attfield and ridden by John Velazquez, Miss Keller was up in time for a head victory over I’m A Dreamer with the favored Dream Peace another nose back in the field of 11 fillies and mares for the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes.
By capturing the Breeders' Cup Win and You’re In event, Miss Keller received a fees-paid berth into the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
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Denomination may have made the last start of her career on Saturday, and if it was, she went out in style, rallying under Joe Bravo for a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park.
Unbridled Humor, the even-money favorite, finished second by two lengths over Countess Lemonade. Thai Haku, Nefertiti, Thundering Emilia, and Stormy Dixie completed the order of finish. Aquitaine was scratched.
Denomination, a 5-year-old daughter of Smart Strike, won for the seventh time in 22 starts. Denomination added the Athenia to earlier Grade 3 stakes wins in the Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs and the Violet at Monmouth in May.
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Seemingly one-paced throughout the majority of the race, Boisterous kicked into another gear in the final sixteenth of a mile and was able to run down Sleepless Knight to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Knickerbocker Stakes by a half-length at blustery Belmont Park.
Sleepless Knight, who made the lead above the eighth pole, had to settle for second, a neck in front of the hard-charging Mr. Ryder. Mata Keranjang, Boots Ahead, Followmyfootsteps, and Yummy With Butter completed the order of finish.
The win was the fifth from 13 career starts for Boisterous, a 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor owned by the Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey. It was his first triumph in a graded stakes after two failed attempts in Grade 1 company.
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Hard Not to Like beat the boys convincingly Saturday at Woodbine in the $250,800 Cup and Saucer Stakes, a race in which two of the nine 2-year-olds were pulled over the soft turf course.
Hard Not to Like ($7) tracked the front-running Stormy Revenge on the backstretch of the mile and a sixteenth route for Canadian-breds. She hit the front late on the turn, and then drew away in the stretch to score by 4 3/4 lengths, in 1:48. Hampstead Heath was a prominent second, and Jomelo rallied for third. Dead On, Prince Raphael, and Maritimer were scratched.
Patrick Husbands rode Hard Not to Like, who earned $150,000 for Hillsbrook Farm and trainer Gail Cox.
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Castleton Lyons Farm’s Gio Ponti rallied past Get Stormy and Sidney's Candy in deep stretch to win the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) for the second consecutive year Oct. 8 at Keeneland, breaking a five-race losing streak in the process.
The three-time champion earned a trip back to the winner's circle for the first time since taking the 2010 Turf Mile. It was a little tougher this time around, as he had to wait for room in upper stretch and then run down Get Stormy, who had taken the lead from the pacesetting Sidney's Candy. The final margin of victory was a half-length.
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Quantum Racing Team #1’s 6-year-old gelding Mambo Meister is a longtime fan favorite at Calder Casino & Race Course and Leo Azpurua, Jr.’s 3-year-old Manicero is building an impressive resume with each start, both multiple stakes-winners expected to see action in stakes to be run on the track’s $850,000 Festival of the Sun program on Sat., Oct. 15.
The $300,000 In Reality and $300,000 My Dear Girl division finales of the Florida Stallion Stakes series for 2-year-olds lead the Festival card that also will include renewals of the $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles and the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby and $75,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes for 3-year-olds to be run on turf at 1 1/8 miles and one mile, respectively, the latter for fillies.
Mambo Meister won the 2009 edition of the Spend a Buck for trainer Phil Gleaves and finished second in the race last year. The son of King Cugat went on to a strong fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita in 2009 and has run well in other Graded stakes on the road, but has posted all of his 11 career wins on turf and dirt at Calder while earning over $660,000.
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Gio Ponti and Get Stormy head what might be the deepest field in years in the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile, the last of five straight graded stakes set for a blockbuster Saturday card at Keeneland.
Gio Ponti, winner of the Shadwell last year, was assigned post 5 in a field of eight in the Shadwell, a Win and You’re In race toward the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ramon Dominguez will ride 6-year-old Gio Ponti for owner Castleton Lyons and trainer Christophe Clement.
Get Stormy won the premier turf race at the Keeneland spring meet, the Maker’s Mark Mile, and was assigned the outside post with Garrett Gomez getting the call.
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Waterville Lake Stable’s homebred Miss Valentine was all heart winning the $60,000 open Mom’s Command Stakes for thee-year-old fillies at Belmont on Wednesday, getting the decision by a head bob over a determined Draw It after a nip and tuck duel in the final furlong.
Making her sixth start of the year and ninth start lifetime for trainer Christophe Clement in the one-mile Mom’s Command, Miss Valentine appeared to be in peak form going in. The chestnut daughter of Afleet Alex was last seen finishing second in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks on August 13. This followed directly on the heels of an impressive three-length victory in the Serena’s Song at Monmouth on July 16. Miss Valentine’s most recent workout prior to Wednesday’s race was a four-furlong bullet in 47 seconds flat at Belmont on September 18, the best of 56 at the distance that day.
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Trainer Roger Attfield and jockey Eurico Da Silva combined to sweep both stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, most notably the Grade 3, $255,500 Selene for 3-year-old fillies with Smart Sting.
Smart Sting ($13.70) led most of the way through slow fractions in the Selene, before drawing off in the stretch to score by 3 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:43.73 for the 1 1/16 miles. Left in her wake were the two favorites, Anne’s Beauty and Inglorious, who fought for second, which Anne’s Beauty secured by a neck. Inglorious’s rider claimed foul on Anne’s Beauty for interference in the stretch, but the result stood.
Smart Sting, owned by Stronach Stable, had competed exclusively on turf prior to the Grade 3 Selene.
“She’d been working great on the Polytrack,” Attfield said. “She’s very, very well right now. I told Eurico in the paddock to just let her run her race, and he gave her a great ride. The filly has a big future.”
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Honimiere went wire-to-wire for the victory in Sunday's off-the-turf $103,400 Flaming Page Stakes for older fillies and mares at Woodbine.
Honimiere, who hadn't raced since July 9 when fifth at Delaware Park in the Grade 3 Robert G Dick, was quickest from the gate and never looked back, crossing the wire 7 1/2 lengths the best in a time of 2:31.25.
Ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva, trained by Roger Attfield and owned by Stella Perdomo, the five-year-old Irish-bred earned her fifth lifetime win from 25 career starts.
Honimiere paid $4.90, $3.50 and $2.50 across the board, combining with Oregon Lady ($4.50, $2.40) for a $13.60 exactor. Happy Clapper ($2.30) completed a $26.20 triactor.

To Honor and Serve provided a not-so-subtle reminder why he entered the year ranked so high on many handicappers' Kentucky Derby lists with an authoritative victory, running stakes-record time, in Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.
Taking over from pacesetting Rush Now with three furlongs remaining, To Honor and Serve, under Jose Lezcano, scored a 2 1/4-length victory over Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice. It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Rattlesnake Bridge in third.
To Honor and Serve ($5.20) ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:47.34, the fastest clocking for the Pennsylvania Derby in 32 runnings. The previous stakes record was 1:47.60 established by Western Playboy in 1989, though times were not recorded in hundredths back then. Timber Reserve ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.67 in 2007.
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Canadian invader Stormy Lord pulled a 9-1 upset Saturday when rallying from just off the pace to win the $250,000 President’s Cup at Parx Racing in suburban Philadelphia.
Ridden by Justin Stein for trainer Ian Black, Stormy Lord edged clear late to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by 1 1/4 lengths over Citrus Kid, the 5-1 third choice. Lubash, a 54-1 shot, led most of the way when finishing a neck back in third, with Bim Bam finishing fourth.
Smart Bid, the even-money favorite in the field of 10 older horses, had no mishap when finishing eighth in his first time out of the money in eight 2011 starts for trainer Graham Motion. Violon Sacre, the 9-2 second choice, ran ninth.
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Trainer Roger Attfield and jockey Eurico Da Silva combined to sweep both stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, most notably the Grade 3, $255,500 Selene for 3-year-old fillies with Smart Sting.
Smart Sting ($13.70) led most of the way through slow fractions in the Selene, before drawing off in the stretch to score by 3 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:43.73 for the 1 1/16 miles. Left in her wake were the two favorites, Anne’s Beauty and Inglorious, who fought for second, which Anne’s Beauty secured by a neck. Inglorious’s rider claimed foul on Anne’s Beauty for interference in the stretch, but the result stood.
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Grassy satisfied his hunger for victory Saturday at Belmont Park, first by nearly taking a bite out of one of his rivals, then by outkicking the rest of them to take the Grade 2, $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap on opening day at Belmont Park.
Despite a wide trip under Garrett Gomez, Grassy overtook Center Divider just outside the sixteenth pole and outlasted that one to the wire to win by a half-length. It was a neck back to Bold Hawk in third. He was followed in the order of finish by Sanagas, the 3-2 favorite, Kindergarden Kid, Colonialism, and Sal the Barber.
The win was the fifth from 15 starts, but first in five outings this year for Grassy, a 5-year-old son of El Prado owned by Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm. It was Grassy’s first win since he took the Grade 2 Red Smith at Aqueduct last November.
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Seruni won the $75,000 Labor Day Stakes and Grecian Maiden took the $75,0000 Summer Finale at Mountaineer Race Track on Monday.
Seruni, ridden by Jon Court, won the mile and 70-yard Labor Day by 4 3/4 lengths over 9-10 favorite Cryptolight, with Sneakin Thru third in the field of seven older horses. Owned by G. Watts Humhrey Jr. and St George Racing Farm, Seruni paid $6 to win and covered the distance on a muddy, sealed track in 1:41.98.
Grecian Maiden drew off by 6 3/4 lengths under Scott Spieth in the Summer Finale, a mile and 70-yard race for fillies and mares. American Romance rallied for second, and favored Kiss Mine took third. Grecian Maiden, owned by Marathon Farms and trained by Michael Trombetta, covered the distance in 1:42.86. She paid $12 to win.

Odds-on favorite Arena Elvira, under Jose Lezcano, rallied three wide leaving the five-sixteenths pole, took command in upper stretch and easily held Satans Quick Chick at bay to win the $75,000 Sightseek Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths.
Satans Quick Chick finished second by two lengths over Lacie Slew. Connie and Michael and All About Alex completed the order of finish.
It was the second overnight stakes victory for Arena Elvira, a 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper who earlier in the meet won the Madam Jumel by 1 1/4 lengths.
Arena Elvira, owned by Carolyn Wilson and trained by Bill Mott, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.41 and returned $3.

After a sparkling maiden victory in her turf debut at Belmont Park on June 29, Alaura Michele surged to a dominant stakes victory at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday.
The two-year-old filly by Arch rated in fifth early and flashed an impressive turn of foot in the stretch to win the $75,000 P. G. Johnson Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths.
Bill Mott trains the bark bay or brown filly for owner-breeder Siena Farms.
“We didn’t know we’d be quite back that far, but she handled it well,” Mott said. “When she broke her maiden at Belmont, she was very keen. We didn’t know how well it would transfer to today.”
Alaura Michele covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.95 on turf rated as good to prevail at 3.20-to-1 odds. She was bred in Kentucky out of stakes-placed winner Isobel Baillie (GB), by Lomitas (GB).
[Owner Siena Farm] bred and raised her. Greg Fox [the prior trainer] is kind of retired. I just inherited her,” Mott said. “Greg deserves a lot of credit for getting her ready over the winter. We believed she had the mechanics to stretch out but were not sure [if it would be] this time.”
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For most of the year, it seems like Royal Delta has been playing catch-up in the 3-year-old filly division. By virtue of her dominant performance in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes before 33,380 at balmy Saratoga, it seems safe to say she has ascended to the level of the elite in the division.
After stalking the Grade 1 winners Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky for more than a mile, Royal Delta was guided off the rail by Jose Lezcano in upper stretch and blew past those two accomplished opponents to win the 131st Alabama by 5 1/2 lengths. It’s Tricky, the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks winner, finished second as the slight 2-1 favorite by one length over longshot Pinch Pie. Plum Pretty, the Kentucky Oaks winner, finished fourth followed by St. John’s River and Inglorious, the surprising second choice at 2-1.
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Hungry Island parlayed her own talents and the misfortune of the 2-5 favorite Winter Memories, who suffered through a second straight eventful trip, to register a convincing 2 1/2-length victory over Kathmanblu in Sunday’s $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes decided over a yielding course at Saratoga.
Winter Memories finished fourth, 3 1/4 lengths behind Hungry Island, in the scratched reduced field of seven 3-year-old fillies who contested the 1 1/8-mile Lake Placid.
Hungry Island, a homebred daughter of More Than Ready owned by Emory Hamilton, posted her fourth consecutive win and first graded stakes victory while benefitting from a patient ride by her regular jockey, Alex Solis. Rating kindly near the rear of the pack off a slow pace set by Bellamy Star, Hungry Island finished full of run down the center of the course once settling into the stretch to readily overtake the leaders near the sixteenth pole and win going away.
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Before the July 23 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), Bill Mott hinted that Royal Delta might not be ready to fire her best effort. Recovering from a minor foot bruise, the Empire Maker filly went on to finish a distant third behind It's Tricky and Plum Pretty, who were separated by less than a length.
With a race under her belt, Royal Delta was primed for a monster run in the $500,000 TVG Alabama (gr. I) (VIDEO) Aug. 20 and she did just that, blowing by It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty at the eighth pole and powering home for a impressive 5 1/2-length victory at Saratoga. It was the first grade I win for the dark bay/brown filly and the victory put her right into the thick of things in a suddenly wide-open 3-year-old filly division.
With Jose Lezcano aboard, Royal Delta covered 1 1/4 miles on the fast dirt in 2:03.13. It was the third win in five starts this year for the Palides Investments N. V. homebred, who captured the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) in May at Pimlico Race Course.
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Impossible Time, defending her title in the Victoriana Stakes, capped a 3-for-3 day for trainer Roger Attfield here at Woodbine last Sunday.
“A perfect day is always okay, and it had been kind of slow for a while,” said Attfield, who also sent out Smart Penny to win her maiden and Mobilizer to score under second-level allowance terms to run his record to 5 for 8 here for the week.
Attfield conditions Impossible Time, who is a 6-year-old mare, for her owner and breeder Chuck Fipke.
Mobilizer, a 4-year-old colt, and Smart Penny, a 3-year-old filly, are homebreds who race for Stronach Stable.
“I’m so proud of all of them,” said Attfield. “That filly has been so good to me; I kind of have a soft spot for her.”
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Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone's homebred Winchester delivered the fourth grade I victory of his career Aug. 13 when he rallied from last to take the $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (gr. IT) (VIDEO) by three-quarters of a length at Saratoga.
With Cornelio Velasquez in the irons for Christophe Clement, 6-year-old Winchester trailed the field for a mile and was still near the back when they turned for home, but was able to run down pacesetter Rahy's Attorney in the final yards to earn the win. It was the first triumph of the season for the son of Theatrical, who posted grade I victories in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational in 2010 at Belmont Park. He also won the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) as a 3-year-old.
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Cascadilla Falls won the $75,000 Lucy Scribner Stakes for 3-year-old female sprinters at Saratoga on Thursday, a race marred by the fatality of Doing Great, who was leading at the three-furlong pole when she collapsed and fell heavily to the turf, unseating jockey Javier Castellano.
Doing Great died of "cardiovascular collapse," according to Dr. Anthony Verderosa, the chief examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association.
Castellano was removed in an ambulance and taken to track first aid, where he said he merely had the wind knocked out of him. He did take off his lone remaining mount of the day, Smart Enuf in the 10th race.
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Seal Cove remained unbeaten on turf and got the first stakes win of his brief career by rallying to take the $78,000 Gleaming Stakes, an overnight race for 3-year-olds, on Monday at Saratoga.
Sent off as the favorite, Seal Cove ($6.50), sixth in the eight-horse field for the first six furlongs, roared down the center of the course to beat Canaveral by 1 3/4 lengths. Eternal Ruler, the early leader, was 2 3/4 lengths farther back in third.
Seal Cove, under jockey Javier Castellano, completed 1 3/16 miles on a course rated yielding in 2:01.75.
The win was the third in four starts for Seal Cove, whose only loss came in a race at Keeneland that was rained off the turf. He beat maiden-claimers in his debut at Gulfstream in March, and won a first-level allowance at Belmont in June.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” said Shug McGaughey, who trains Seal Cove, a colt by Strong Hope, for owner-breeder Stuart Janney III.
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Unbridled's Song's 4-year-old colt Mystic pulled some late-race heroics for a hard-fought neck victory in the $85,000 West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker's Cup Aug. 6 at Mountaineer Park, and in the process became the newest stakes winner for his top 15-ranked sire.
Mystic was in the back half of the eight horse field for the first six furlongs of the 1 mile and 70 yard contest on the turf. With a late surge in the stretch under strong handling from James Graham, the chestnut nipped even-money favorite Strike Impact on the wire in a time of 1:38.90 on the firm going. The final clocking was just a second off the track record and scored him a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
Mystic, who races for Sequoia Racing, is now 4-0-3 in 15 starts and has amassed $181,573. He was bred in Kentucky by Sha-Li Leasing Associates and is one of three winners from as many starters out of Mayville's Magic.

Arena Elvira, under Jose Lezcano, rallied past stablemate Acronym to win the $77,000 Madame Jumel Stakes for fillies and mares by 1 1/4 lengths. Both Arena Elvira and Acronym are trained by Bill Mott.
Arena Elivra, a daughter of Ghostzapper owned by Carolyn Wilson, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.48 and returned $5.70 as the 9-5 favorite.

Brushwood Stable’s Mr. Ryder notched his first career stake victory in the Sussex Stakes at Delaware Park today. With Ramon Dominguez aboard, the 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway posted a neck victory over Bim Bam, with David Cohen. It was another 3 ¼-lengths back to Mikoshi, with Garrett Gomez, in third. Mr. Ryder returned $5.00 as the favorite in the field of six and covered the mile and a sixteenth over a firm turf course in 1:40.82.
The Kentucky-bred conditioned by Christophe Clement raised his career record to five wins from eight starts with earnings of $165,480.

Stuart Janney had a feeling his horse would enjoy stretching his legs with a longer race in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Janney is a darn fine read. Air Support took to the 1 1/4-mile distance a little better than his biggest rivals.
After staring at the hind parts of Banned and Street Game in the closing moments of recent graded stakes races, Air Support finally got his revenge Saturday with a photo finish win by a neck over Banned in the $600,000 Virginia Derby, a Grade II turf race.
"This was a race we've been pointing to all season, so everything he's done prior to (the Virginia Derby) was to get us here," said Janney, who owns Air Support. "We thought he would like a little more distance, which he clearly did."
None of the 12 horses in the field had run in a race longer than 1 3/16 miles, but Janney and jockey Alex Solis had a little added motivation with Air Support, which went off at 7-1 odds.
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Birdrun, winner of the Brooklyn H. (G2) in June, earned his second stakes win of 2011 when the 5-year-old son of Birdstone was awarded first place in the $250,000 Greenwood Cup on Oct. 12.
The Greenwood Cup, run at Parx Racing on July 16, was originally won by A. U. Miner, but was subsequently disqualified from the first-place purse earned in that victory as a result of a positive drug finding. Birdrun, who finished second, was declared the winner by the Pennsylvania track's stewards.
Besides Birdrun, Birdstone is the sire of S. S. Stone, winner of this year's Grade 3 Skip Away S. and the promising stakes-placed 2-year-old Little Bird.

French import Right One lived up to his name as made a late run from the rear and got up in the last jump to nip Yield Bogey in the $100,000 Jaipur Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park July 16.
The victory was the third in four U.S. starts for Right One, one of two Jaipur starters for trainer Christophe Clement, and one of four winners on the card for jockey Javier Castellano.
A homebred for Ghislaine Head, who bred the gelded son of Anabaa in France along with her husband Alec, Right One was trained in his native country by his owner-breeder’s daughter, Criquette Head-Maarek, before coming to the U.S. at the end of his 2010 campaign. Previous to the Jaipur, Right One took the Island Sun Stakes in his second U.S. start and finished second behind Courageous Cat and Yield Bogey in the Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont June 10.
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Miss Valentine made her first road trip a winning one, beating Withgreatpleasure by three lengths on Saturday in the $76,350 Serena's Song Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.
The Serena's Song is the prep for the Grade 3, $150,000 Monmouth Oaks on Aug. 13.
Miss Valentine, a New York-bred who had not previously raced outside her native state for trainer Christophe Clement, settled not far off the pace with Joe Bravo aboard while Coco Ecolo set the pace. "There was a good honest pace," Bravo said.
Miss Valentine ranged into contention on the final turn and pulled clear with a furlong to go. Withgreatpleasure came on to get second while Coco Ecolo held on for third.
The 2-1 favorite, Miss Valentine paid $6.40 to win as she ran the one mile, 70 yards in 1:41.35.
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Shug McGaughey sounded some awfully optimistic notes this past week about Air Support’s chances in the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby, and the colt backed his trainer up, gamely holding off Banned to score a narrow victory in an exciting finish Saturday evening at Colonial Downs.
Jockey Alex Solis, who has regularly teamed with McGaughey since coming to New York this spring, did his part, too, giving Air Support a perfect ground-saving trip while getting a clean run from the back of bulky field. Banned ran well in defeat, losing by a neck, as did longshot Casino Host, who finished another three-quarters back in third.
Air Support ($15.60) had finished a distant second to Virginia Derby starter Street Game last month in the Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont, but that race came over one mile, and McGaughey forecast a stronger performance at the Virginia Derby’s 1 1/4-mile distance, while also speaking in glowing terms of Air Support’s turf work on Sunday in New York.
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Stormy Lord, under a confident ride from Jim McAleney, took Wednesday evening's feature race, the $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes, at Woodbine.
The gelded chestnut son of Stormy Atlantic, trained by Ian Black, took aim at the leaders just before the turn for home in the seven-furlong turf stake, held a one-length advantage at the stretch call, then kept his rivals at bay to triumph by the same margin.
Officeinthevalley was second, while Hollinger was third. Cross Every Bridge and Sand Cove were scratched.
Now a six-time winner, along with five seconds and one third from 17 starts, Stormy Lord came into the race off a tenth-place finish in the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes on June 26. On this picture-perfect night, however, he was at the top of his game.
It was the second win from three starts in 2011 by the Ontario-bred, who kicked-off his campaign with a three-length score in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes on May 29. The final time over a 'firm' E.P. Taylor Turf Course was 1:21.90.
Stormy Lord paid $5, $2.60 and $2.50, combining with Officeinthevalley ($3.90, $2.90) for a $16.30 exactor. Hollinger ($2.70) completed a $30.40 triactor.
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Pender Harbour, third in the 1 1/4-mile Queen’s Plate on June 26, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 on the dirt training track Monday at Woodbine in preparation for Fort Erie's Prince of Wales Stakes.
The field for Sunday's $500,000 Prince of Wales, which is run over 1 3/16 miles of Fort Erie's dirt oval and is the second leg of the Triple Crown for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, will be announced 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Pender Harbour will be among the choices in the Prince of Wales, with his appeal being enhanced by the presence of Luis Contreras, who had piloted Inglorious to victory in the Queen's Plate but was open after that filly's connections opted to head for the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga.
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Robert Scarborough’s Cheetah came from the back of the pack and used an inside stretch move to score the $202,450 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (gr. IIIT) July 9 at Delaware Park.
Sent off as the 9-5 favorite in a field of 12, the 4-year-old Tiger Hill filly trailed for six furlongs before launching her winning move coming off the final turn. Under Jose Lezcano, she finally overtook pacesetter Ainamaa approaching mid-stretch with a quick burst along the hedge and went on to win by 3 3/4 lengths.
The final time for 1 3/8 miles on the good turf was 2:13.13. Bubbly Jane rallied on the outside to get second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Dyna Waltz. Ainamaa settled for fourth.
Cheetah won for the second time in three United States starts. The gray/roan filly won two of six starts in England before being shipped to Christophe Clement’s New York barn earlier this season. She won in her stateside debut April 23 on the Keeneland Polytrack, easily taking an allowance race before finishing third in the Sheepshead Bay (gr. IIT) in her most recent start May 28 at Belmont Park.
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Devil by Design, making her season debut for trainer Bill Mott, overcame early trouble to take control in the final furlong, winning the $100,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III) July 3 at Arlington Park.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Devil by Design was in tight quarters early before working her way clear on the turn and into contention in upper stretch. After angling out three wide for the drive, she put a head in front of favored Tidal Pool and Dr. Zic approaching the eighth pole and prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths under strong urging.
Devil by Design, now five-for-seven at the seven-furlong distance, was working impressively at Churchill for her 2011 bow.
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Courageous Cat’s gritty win in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park left winning jockey Patrick Valenzuela in a forecasting mood after the race.
“This horse is so much better than when I rode him in the Shadwell Mile,” Valenzuela said, referring to a third-place finish in the Grade 1 race at Keeneland last fall. “I can almost guarantee he’ll win the Breeders’ Cup Mile, even if they bring that filly over.”
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Hungry Island, last until the quarter pole, was spun five-wide by Alex Solis turning for home and rocketed past her seven rivals in the stretch to win the $60,000 Recording Stakes by three lengths over My Redbyrd. It was a length back to Parting Words in third. Hungry Island, a daughter of More Than Ready, won for the third consecutive time for owner Emory Hamilton and trainer Shug McGaughey. She covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.59 and returned $15.60 to win.
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After tracking a swift early pace set by Longboarder, Stronach Stables’ homebred Don Cavallo opened a clear lead on the turn and cruised to a five-length win in the $209,260 Dominion Day Handicap (Can-G3) on Friday at Woodbine.
The four-year-old El Prado (Ire) colt secured his first stakes win, covering 1¼ miles on the synthetic Polytrack surface in 2:03.47. James Street closed well for second, followed by 2010 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Stately Victor in third.
Don Cavallo entered off a solid runner-up finish, beaten a half-length by Fifty Proof, in the 1 1/16-mile Eclipse Stakes (Can-G3) on May 28 at Woodbine.
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Musketier, the senior member of the field at age 9, successfully defended his title for trainer Roger Attfield in Sunday’s Singspiel as he rallied to post a neck victory in the Grade 3, $151,200 supporting feature on the Queen’s Plate card at Woodbine.
Rahy’s Attorney, the 2-1 choice in the field of seven for the 1 1/2-mile turf race, lead through slow fractions over a course rated firm, but was joined by Simmard with about a half-mile to run.
Simmard and Rahy’s Attorney dueled into the stretch, but Grassy and Musketier were coming hard and wound up fighting it out for the win in the closing yards.
“I had to get after him a little bit earlier than I wanted to,” said jockey John Velazquez, who had ridden Musketier to victory in the last two runnings of Keeneland’s Grade 2 Elkhorn over 1 1/2 miles of turf.
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Florida-bred Clement Rock improved to 2-for-2 on Woodbine’s turf course Saturday, rallying for a 2 ¼-length victory in his stakes debut, the $101,585 Charlie Barley. The colt is a homebred for Eugene Melnyk of Ocala’s Winding Oaks Farm, which stands Clement Rock’s sire, Strong Hope.
Clement Rock made his career debut for trainer Malcolm Pierce on a sloppy Fair Grounds track in March and finished last of 11. He was then transferred to trainer Mark Casse and won in his next start, taking a $61,000 maiden special weight race by half a length on the Woodbine lawn June 10.
That performance made Clement Rock the 3-1 second choice in a field of eight 3-year-olds for the Charlie Barley, but the colt ran like a favorite. With Woodbine’s leading rider, Luis Contreras, aboard for the second straight race, Clement Rock raced in midpack as Something Extra led the field through a quarter-mile in 24.26 seconds and a half-mile in 48.27.
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Giants Play (Giant's Causeway) set a glacial tempo while racing on a relaxed lead and held off a late charge from Zagora to win Belmont Park’s Grade Two New York for fillies and mares on Saturday.
The Newsells Park Stud color-bearer dictated fractions of 52.99 and 1:17.65, opened a 1 ½-length advantage on the far turn, and dug in late to prevail by a diminishing head and earn her first victory in the United States.
Off as the 7-2 third choice, Giants Play returned $9.20 for a $2 win wager and completed 1 ¼ miles over the firm inner turf course in 2:04.76, running the final quarter-mile in 23.33.
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Sand Cove’s victory here in last Sunday’s Steady Growth boosted his career earnings to $1,039,732. But, if there is a way to make a million the hard way, Sand Cove’s workmanlike victory in the $125,000 Steady Growth continued a case in point, as the Ontario-sired 6-year-old horse was making his 34th career start and winning his ninth stakes race for trainer Roger Attfield and owner Ralph Johnson.
“What a tough little campaigner he is,” said Attfield, who had watched Sand Cove tote highweight of 126 pounds including regular rider Richard Dos Ramos and prevail by a neck over a game J J for Dave, who carried 117 pounds.
“It’s tough, to give that kind of weight away. I have a lot of admiration for this horse.”
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Birdrun, taking a page from the playbook Shackleford is likely to use on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes, led from start to finish going 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on Friday in the Grade 2, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap for older horses.
In doing so, Birdrun beat last year’s Belmont winner, Drosselmeyer, who finished about three lengths back in second after being on nearly even terms at the top of the stretch. But the result was a dream scenario for trainer Bill Mott, who sent out both Birdrun and Drosselmeyer in the five-horse field. Mott also won the Grade 3 Poker Stakes, which immediately preceded the Brooklyn, with Courageous Cat.
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Pam and Martin Wygod’s homebred Courageous Cat took over from pacesetter Yield Bogey nearing the eighth-pole and cruised to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Poker Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 10 at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old son of Storm Cat notched his third graded stakes victory in his season debut. The bay horse had not raced since finishing third in the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) last October at Keeneland. That did not stop bettors from sending him off as the 4-5 choice in a field of five turf milers.
Jose Lezcano guided Courageous Cat to victory for trainer Bill Mott. The final time for a mile over the good turf course was 1:36.69.
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John Kimmel came to work Monday morning and found a pleasant note from his night watchman as it pertained to the trainer's 4-year-old colt Friend Or Foe.
"The chart from the night watchman said ‘He ate everything,' " Kimmel said Monday morning. "I don't know if I believe him, but that's what it said."
Kimmel wouldn't have been surprised if Friend Or Foe had left some feed Sunday night. Earlier that day, Friend Or Foe had run a hard and fast 1 1/16 miles to run down the Grade 1 winner Rail Trip and take the $60,000 Easy Goer Stakes by a neck. His final time of 1:40.13 was only .75 of a second off the track record of 1:39.38 set by Birdrun in October 2009. Friend Or Foe earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.
"It was more than I really wanted to get from the race, but hopefully he'll move forward," Kimmel said.
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Trainer Roger Attfield took a giant step toward what could be a record ninth Queen's Plate victory last Sunday when he sent out Check Your Soul for a convincing 3 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial.
Five of Attfield's seven previous Plate Trial victors went on to double up in the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate, with the most recent being Not Bourbon in 2008.
And while Check Your Soul would appear to be in a very good position to go down that road, he entered his sophomore campaign as an unknown and his rise has been little short of meteoric.
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Mrs. Alec Head's DENOMINATION (Smart Strike) rallied between rivals to the lead in deep stretch and edged the late-running Unbridled Essence (Essence of Dubai) by a nose in Monday's $151,000 Violet S. (G3) at Monmouth Park. Winner of the Hillsborough S. (G3) two starts previously at Tampa Bay Downs, the Christophe Clement-trained mare picked up the services of Joe Bravo on Memorial Day and completed 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:41 4/5.
Denomination headed postward as the even-money favorite among seven runners and paid $4.20, $3 and $2.60 to her many supporters. She saved ground near the back of the field as Marquet Madness (Pico Central [Brz]) established early fractions of :25 2/5, :48 2/5 and 1:11 3/5 on a clear lead. The pacesetter had every chance to steal the race turning for home, but came back to her rivals in the final sixteenth of mile.
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Relishing the soft condition of Woodbine's turf course, Stormy Lord led every step of the way to take the $172,802 Connaught Cup (Can-IIT) for the first graded stakes victory of his career May 29.
With Jim McAleney aboard, 9-2 shot Stormy Lord repelled the challenge of odds-on choice Grand Adventure in upper stretch and cruised home by three lengths under steady handling, completing the seven furlongs in 1:25.72.
Ian Black trains the winning 4-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic --Lady Auchamore, by Meadowlake, for Ontario breeder Kinghaven Farms, which co-owns the chestnut gelding with Hat Trick Stable. The Connaught Cup was the first start of the year for Stormy Lord.
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Fifty Proof earned his first graded stakes win when he disposed of odds-on favorite Exhi on the final turn and held on for a half-length win in the $175,871 Eclipse Stakes (Can-III) at odds of 10-1 at Woodbine May 28.
One of two in the field for trainer Ian Black, 5-year-old Fifty Proof competed mostly on turf during the past two years, nearly stealing Woodbine's 2010 Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) when second to Redwood at at 29-1 last fall. But the Ontario-bred gelding by Whiskey Wisdom is equally adept on Polytrack, winning three times in five races over the surface.
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Boisterous became stakes winner number 101 for Distorted Humor with a three-quarter length victory in the $60,000 Three Coins Up at Belmont Park on May 22. Distorted Humor has 10 stakes winners this year, tops among all North American stallions.
In the 1 1/4-mile turf marathon, Boisterous came from third place to reel in front-runner Grand Rapport in the last eighth mile, then held off 8-5 favorite Grassy in the final strides. Boisterous, a 4-year-old Phipps Stable homebred ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:06.99 seconds on a yielding inner turf course under John Velazquez.
Boisterous, 4-year-old, has really come into his own of late, winning four of his last five starts, all of them at 1 1/16 miles or more. He has now won $140,057 for Phipps and trainer Shug McGaughey.
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After a couple of near misses in graded stakes company, Irish-bred No Explaining finally held on for the first black-type score of her career when she prevailed impressively by a length over a strong late challenge from two rivals in the $100,000 Omnilife Gallorette Handicap (gr. III) May 21 at Pimlico
The 1 1/16-mile turf contest on the Preakness undercard proved exciting, with a dead heat for second between English-bred fillies Dyna Waltz and Desert Sage.
The Gallorette also marked the first win at the Baltimore track for 4-year-old No Explaining, who is trained by Roger Attfield for Richard Bonnycastle’s Harlequin Ranches.
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A rainy three days and a sloppy track greeted Fort Erie patrons last week. In the short sprints, speed was the danger, but closers fared better as the races stretched out.
The first two-furlong dash of the year was run Monday afternoon, and the Robert Johnson-trained Minkredible led from start to finish. Chris Griffith, the meet's leading rider with nine wins, cleared early as a number of rivals had trouble at the break, losing all chance.
Local fans love the dashes, and it appears there will be a solid group of speedsters throughout the racing schedule, including fan favorite Texas Blitz, winner of last year's Quarter Horse/Thoroughbred challenge.
Texas Blitz's trainer, John Simms, entered the weekend atop the trainer standings with five wins, including two scores Monday. as his Tampa shippers had him in front of all rivals in the trainer standings with five wins, which included two scores Monday. One of the scores came from owner Steve Organ's Biblionico, who ran down front-running Cacouna to take the third race, a six-furlong claimer. started the day for Simms in the third race when Martin Ramirez, riding his first of two winners on the day, kept the front-running Cacouna in his sights and then ran that one down in the late going
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Royal Delta got the jump on the competition with a decisive move in the second turn and rolled to a 2½ -length victory in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Friday at Pimlico Race Course. The Empire Maker filly trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 3/5 over a fast track to earn the winner’s share of $150,000 in the Grade 2 stake for 3-year-old fillies. Buster’s Ready was second, 5 ¼ lengths ahead of Hot Summer.
The 87th Black-Eyed Susan was the featured race of the 13 on The People’s Pink Party program that benefited the Susan G. Komen for the Cure held on a sun-drenched afternoon at historic Pimlico. The on-track crowd of 27,966 watched the $30,000 Pimlico Female Jockey Challenge won by Canadian standout Emma-Jayne Wilson, and the $20,000 Legends for the Cure II Race in which eight retired female riders returned to the saddle.
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Hymn Book rallied to beat 3-5 favorite I Want Revenge by 1 lengths Thursday in the $58,800 Three Coins Up Stakes at Belmont Park. A 5-year-old gelding trained by Shug McGaughey, Hymn Book raced to his fifth win in nine starts. John Velazquez was aboard as he ran the 1 1-8 miles in 1:47.16 over the main track rated good. The race, originally scheduled for the turf, dwindled to five runners with the surface switch.
I Want Revenge set the pace, but could not hold on. He's winless in five races since capturing the 2009 Wood Memorial. I Want Revenge was the morning-line favorite for that year's Kentucky Derby before scratching hours before race with an ankle injury that sidelined him for more than a year.
Hymn Book paid $10.80, $3.80 and $2.90. I Want Revenge returned $2.40 and $2.10, and Ron The Greek paid $2.80 to show.

Drosselmeyer won the $60,000 One Count Stakes on Sunday at Belmont Park in the return to scene of his greatest triumph. The victory was the first for the 4-year-old since he won the Belmont Stakes last year. He was sidelined with ankle issues following the Belmont and hard run only twice since then in Florida earlier this season. The return to Belmont was the tonic, but it did not come easy. He beat Birdrun, the determined pacesetter, by only a neck for his fourth win in 12 starts. Jose Lezcano rode for trainer Bill Mott as Drosselmeyer ran the 1 miles in 2:06.07. He paid $6.90, $3.90 and $2.40 as the 2-1 second choice. Birdrun, also trained by Mott but uncoupled in the betting, returned $4.90 and $2.70. Inherit the Gold, the even-money favorite, paid $2.10 to show.

Trainer Paul Attard has gotten off to a good start here at Woodbine this spring, clicking with three of the first 11 entrants he has started. Attard, 29, has some potentially exciting days on his horizon with a group of promising 3-year-olds in his barn among the 21 head he has stabled here.
Attard is the son of Sid Attard, who is perennially among the leading trainers here. He has been training since 2002 and will be looking for the third stakes win of his career when he sends out Anne's Beauty for Sunday's $150,000 La Lorgnette.
Waiting in the wings will be Kurogane, a candidate for the $1 million Queen's Plate, and Niigon's Touch, a filly who was an impressive winner of her debut and is nominated to the May 23 Lady Angela Stakes.
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Hardly drawing a deep breath, Right One (4th, $4.60) swept past the leaders outside under a confident Rajiv Maragh, and drew off to win the $60,000 Island Sun overnight stakes under mild urging.
Right One won just twice from 16 starts in Europe, one of those wins coming on the fibresand track at Deauville last winter. However, the 5-year-old gelding is now 2 for 2 in the U.S. for Christophe Clement, and he looks bound for graded stakes after this easy win.
Right One ran a mile in 1:33.41 over a firming-up Widener turf.
Beau Choix outfinished Zifzaf for the runner-up spot.

Aviate finished full of run down the center of the course to hand Aruna her first U.S defeat in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.
Aviate led a one-two-three finish in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile by fillies who began their careers in Europe. The result of the race and comments by the winning connections suggest the turf course was on the softer side rather than firm as it was officially designated prior to the race.
Aviate, a homebred daughter of Dansilli owned by Juddmonte Farms, was a Group 3 winner in England at 3 and had even ventured into Group 1 company prior to being turned over to trainer Bill Mott for the 2011 season. She had made just one previous start in this country prior to the Distaff Turf Mile, finishing third in Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 Honey Fox on March 5.
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Southdale was put away late last year with some minor problems and an eye toward a career as an Ontario stallion.
But when a deal failed to materialize, Southdale went back into training at Payson Park in Florida and will be looking to return with a vengeance in Sunday's $150,000 Vigil here at Woodbine.
Ian Black, who trains the homebred Southdale for owner Rod Ferguson, had hoped to start the 5-year-old at the Keeneland meeting.
"Originally, we were thinking about the Commonwealth," Black said, with reference to the seven-furlong stakes in Lexington on April 16."
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Check Your Soul stamped himself as a contender for the June 26 Queen’s Plate on Sunday at Woodbine with a decisive score in the $115,000 Wando Stakes.
With Patrick Husbands aboard, Check Your Soul ($3.20) went five-wide on the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile route for 3-year-olds, before racing three lengths off a sleepy pace set by Something Extra.
Check Your Soul made a four-wide bid for the lead on the far turn, and then hit the front at the head of the stretch before drawing off on his left lead to win by 2 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:45.29. The maiden Whippit rallied for second, and Top Prospect finished third in a field reduced to five with the late scratch of Silverleo.
Check Your Soul banked $72,000 in his stakes debut for owner Charles Fipke and trainer Roger Attfield.
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Trainer Gail Cox enjoyed a career year last year, sending out 11 winners from 67 starters for purses of $754,295 here at Woodbine.
And while her 18-horse stable should make Cox a going concern again this season, she will have to make do without Simply Splendid, who was her most productive performer last year with earnings of $255,540 despite making just three starts.
"I miss her already," said Cox, who also owned Simply Splendid in partnership with John Menary and sold the mare for $200,000 at Keeneland last November.
Cox, who checked back into Woodbine last Monday after spending the winter at her usual Payson Park headquarters, will have her first starter of the meeting on Saturday with Something Extra set to contest the $150,000 Woodstock Stakes.
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The third race Saturday at Keeneland is an allowance, but by name only. Four of the six starters in the $67,000, 1 1/8-mile turf race are graded stakes winners, including Battle of Hastings, an earner of more than $1.36 million, and Al Khali, whose victory over Winchester in the Grade 2 Bowling Green last September made him one of the hottest turf horses in North America at the time.
Battle of Hastings, trained by Greg Fox, was scratched as the 5-2 morning-line favorite from the $400,000 Muniz Memorial on March 26 at Fair Grounds. Rosie Napravnik has the mount Saturday.
"Just a few hours after we got the horse to New Orleans, he had an awful skin reaction and was really, really quiet, which is nothing like him," said Fox. "We took care of him and got him back here to Keeneland right after that, and he hasn't looked back since." Battle of Hastings, Al Khali, and another of the favorites, Grassy, all spent the winter at Payson Park in Florida.
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