A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap - Abraaj

Shadwell Stable's Abraaj earned his first stakes victory with a late rally in Saturday's $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2), closing with a rush to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee completed six furlongs in 1:10 1/5 over Saratoga's fast track and has now earned $338,050 from a 13-5-4-2 line. By finally taking this event, Abraaj has earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

 
Pgm Horse            Win Place  Show
5 Abraaj            5.40  3.10  2.40
2 First Defence           4.10  3.00
4 Sammarco                      5.10
$2 Exacta (5-2) Paid $20.60, $2 Trifecta (5-2-4) Paid $135.00

Diana Stakes - Forever Together

Augustin Stables’ late-running Forever Together surged into contention from the outside and wore down runner-up Dynaforce late to win the $500,000 Diana Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. It was the first graded-stakes turf win for the 4-year-old roan filly, who has dramatically improved since she switched surfaces.
Trainer: Jonathan E. Sheppard
Jockey: Julien R. Leparoux
Owner: Augustin Stable
2008 Record: 4-2-0-1
2008 Earnings: $374,760

Pgm Horse               Win    Place   Show
8 Forever Together      20.00   8.20   5.80
2 Dynaforce                     5.10   3.70
7 Rutherienne                          5.20
$2 Exacta (8-2) Paid $126.50, $2 Trifecta (8-2-7) Paid $866.00, $2 Superfecta (8-2-7-5) Paid $4,483.00

Go For Wand Handicap - Ginger Punch

Ginger Punch earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, formerly the Distaff. She'll likely run next in the Grade I, $600,000 Beldame for fillies and mares at nine furlongs at Belmont on Sept. 27, but trainer Bobby Frankel would also consider Ginger Punch for the Grade I, $400,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 22 at
Trainer: Robert J. Frankel
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano
Owner: Stronach Stables
2008 Record: 5-4-0-1
2008 Earnings: $803,924

Pgm Horse         Win   Place   Show
1 Ginger Punch   2.40   2.30    2.10
5 Copper State          5.80    3.30
3 Indescribable                 3.30
$2 Exacta (1-5) Paid $13.60, $2 Trifecta (1-5-3) Paid $51.50

Whitney Handicap - Commentator

Commentator, the 2005 champ, went wire-to-wire Saturday to register his second victory in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. The win secures a spot for Commentator into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday, October 25.
Trainer: Nicholas P. Zito
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Owner: Tracy Farmer
2008 Record: 4-3-1-0
2008 Earnings: $725,700

Pgm Horse             Win   Place    Show
1   Commentator     10.80    6.20    4.30
10  Student Council          7.60    4.70
8   Grasshopper                      4.80
$2 Exacta (1-10) Paid $100.00, $2 Trifecta (1-10-8) Paid $624.00, $2 Superfecta (1-10-8-3) Paid $3,342.00
 

4 Breeders' Cup Challenge Races and Post Positions

4 Breeders' Cup Challenge races will be run at Saratoga tomorrow. ABC will telecast the races.

Here are runners of each race, post positions, jockeys, trainers, and morning lines.
- Whitney Handicap (Gr I), Breeders' Cup Classic

PP Horse           Jockey         Trainer         Wt. ML
1 Commentator      Velazquez J R  Zito Nicholas P 120 3-1
2 Solar Flare      Saez G         Jones J Larry   115 4-1
3 Notional         Prado E S      Hennig Mark     116 5-1
4 Cowtown Cat      Bejarano R     Pletcher Todd A 114 20-1
5 Merchant Marine  Maragh R       Jerkens H Allen 113 15-1
6 Tasteyville      Luzzi M J      Kelly Patrick J 115 12-1
7 Rising Moon      Velasquez C    Dutrow, Jr. R E 115 10-1
8 Grasshopper      Albarado R J   Howard Neil J   116 10-1
9 A. P. Arrow      Dominguez R A  Pletcher Todd A 116 10-1
10 Student Council Bridgmohan S X Asmussen Steven M 117 6-1
11 Timber Reserve  Castellano J J Kimmel John C   115 20-1

- Go For Wand (Gr I), Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic

 
PP Horse         Jockey         Trainer            Wt. ML
1 Ginger Punch   Bejarano R     Frankel Robert     124 1-2
8 Spring Waltz   Castellano J J Frankel Robert     117 1-2
2 Inside Passage Coa E M        Tagg Barclay       113 15-1
3 Indescribable  Desormeaux K J Mott William I     115 15-1
4 Moon Catcher   Prado E S      Clement Christophe 115 5-1
5 Copper State   Bridgmohan S X Asmussen Steven M  114 10-1
6 Runway Rosie   Maragh R       Contessa Gary C    114 8-1
7 Over Under     Albarado R J   Stewart Dallas     113 20-1

- Diana Stakes (Gr I), Breeders' Cup F&M Turf

 
PP Horse           Jockey          Trainer              ML
1 Bit of Whimsy    Coa E M Tagg    Barclay             12-1
2 Dynaforce        Desormeaux K J  Mott William I       4-1
3 Bayou's Lassie   Albarado R J    Romans Dale         12-1
4 Wait a While     Bejarano R      Pletcher Todd A      3-1
5 Vacare           Prado E S       Clement Christophe   9-2
6 Criminologist    Velazquez J R   McGaughey III C R    8-1
7 Rutherienne      Gomez G K       Clement Christophe   6-1
8 Forever Together Leparoux J R    Sheppard Jonathan E 15-1
9 Chestoria        Velasquez C     Badgett William Jr  20-1
10 Lady Digby      Dominguez R A   Motion H Graham     10-1

- A.G. Vanderbilt Handciap (Gr II), Breeders' Cup Sprint

PP Horse          Jockey         Trainer             Wt.      ML
1 Thor's Echo     Nakatani C S   O'Neill Doug        118     6-1
2 First Defence   Castellano J J Frankel Robert      116     4-1
3 Black Seventeen Gryder A T     Koriner Brian       116     9-2
4 Sammarco        Hill C         Hushion Michael E   112    15-1
5 Abraaj          Garcia Alan    McLaughlin Kiaran P 115     3-1
6 Bustin Stones   Prado E S      Levine Bruce N      118     2-1
7 E Z Warrior     Desormeaux K J Mott William I      115    15-1

Greenwood Cup - Evening Attire

The 10-year-old gelding earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Marathon via a Breeders' Cup Challenge victory in the Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park on Saturday, July 19, 2008.
Trainer: Patrick J. Kelly
Owners: Grant, Mary and Joseph and Kelly, Thomas J
2008 Record: (6-1-3-0)
2008 Earnings: $227,236

Pgm Horse              Win   Place    Show
6 Evening Attire       6.40   3.20    2.60
5 Phil the Power             13.80    5.60
1 Barcola                             2.10
$2 Exacta (6-5) Paid $80.00, $2 Trifecta (6-5-1) Paid $171.20

San Diego Handicap - Well Armed

Well Armed earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile via a Breeders' Cup Challenge victory in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Saturday, July 19, 2008.
Trainer: Eoin G. Harty
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC
2008 Record: (4-2-1-1)
2008 Earnings: $960,000

Well Armed was making his first start since his third-place result behind Curlin in the Dubai World Cup in March. Earlier this year the five-year-old gelding defeated Heatseeker in the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita and was second in the San Pasqual behind Zappa and ahead of Heatseeker. The San Diego victory was worth $180,000 to bring Well Armed's career earnings to just over $1 million. The gelding has five wins in 17 career starts.

Well Armed returned $5.40, $3.60 and $2.80. Surf Cat paid $4.40 and $3.40, and Mostacolli Mort paid $4.60 to show.

Breeders' Cup Fantasy Challenge Began

The Breeder’s Cup kicks off on Jul 5, as does the 2008 Breeder’s Cup Fantasy Challenge. In the Fantasy Challenge, fantasy players place mythical bets on one horse per race to win and place. Based on the odds of the horse to win, fantasy players win (or lose) mythical money as a result.

The top three finishers after the Breeders' Cup Fantasy Challenge is complete on October 9, 2008 earn an automatic berth to the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, to be held January 23-24, 2009, at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Monthly prizes will also be rewarded at the end of each month and at the end of Breeders’ Cup season (Oct 9);

- July: a trip for two to Seattle for the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs racetrack.
- August: a trip to Woodbine for the October 4th Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.

Click to go to Breeders' Cup Fantasy Challenge contest!

Smile Sprint Handicap - Benny the Bull

Benny the Bull earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Sired by the little-known stallion Lucky Lionel, whose only graded stakes winner to date is G3 Las Flores winner Hello Lucky. A G2 winner in France, Lucky Lionel came to America at age 4 and set the 6-1/2 furlong track record at Santa Anita, but never won a domestic stakes. Maternal grandson of Birdonthewire, a two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint participant.
Trainer: Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
Owner: IEAH Stables, James, Greg and Cohen, Andrew I.
2008 Starts: 4
2008 Record: 4-4-0-0
2008 Earnings: $1,753,080

Delaware Handicap - Hystericalady

Hystericalady earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic via a Breeders' Cup Challenge victory in the Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on Sunday, July 13, 2008.

Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Owner: Rancho San Miguel, Hollendorfer, Jerry and Todaro
2008 starts: 4
winning: 4-2-0-1
earnings: $352,053

Princess Rooney Handicap - Mistical Plan

Mistical Plan earned a spot in the Sentient Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint via a Breeders' Cup Challenge victory in the Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder Race Course on Saturday, July 12, 2008.

Trainer: Doug F. O'Neill
Owner: J. Paul Reddam
2008 starts: 4
2008 Record: 4-1-0-1
earnings: $282,440

Vindication, son of Seattle Slew, euthanized

Vindication, the Seattle Slew son who won the 2002 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and was that year’s champion 2-year-old male, died because of a gastric rupture. Vindication had been standing at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, Kentucky for a fee of $60,000 for a live foal.

A news release said the stallion showed signs of colic last night and was sent to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, where exploratory surgery revealed an irreparable gastric rupture.

As a racehorse, Vindication was four-for-four, winning the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park in 2002 before taking the Breeders’ Cup race at Arlington Park. He suffered a suspensory injury in February 2003 while training for his 3-year-old debut and later was retired without racing again.

Presious Passion Won United Nations Stakes

Presious Passion led from wire to wire in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 5th, holding off Strike a Deal by a neck in the Grade I race on a yielding turf course. Presious Passion earned an automatic berth in the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Turf by winning the United Nations Stakes.

Pgm Horse                     Win   Place   Show
3 Presious Passion          29.60   8.80    5.40
8 Strike a Deal                     4.00    3.00
2 Equitable                                 4.20
$2 Exacta (3-8) Paid $109.20, $1 Trifecta (3-8-2) Paid $330.50, 
$1 Superfecta (3-8-2-5) Paid $1,217.60

Notional Won Salvator Mile

Notional, a Triple Crown contender last year until a fractured leg sent him to the sidelines, reemerged Saturday with a stirring win over Gottcha Gold in the Grade 3, $300,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. The win assures Notional a berth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita in October.

Pgm Horse              Win   Place    Show
1    Notional         17.80    5.40    2.80
5    Gottcha Gold              2.60    2.10
6    Honest Man                        2.60
$2 Exacta (1-5) Paid $48.40, $1 Trifecta (1-5-6) Paid $89.40, 
$1 Superfecta (1-5-6-4) Paid $212.50

2007 Breeders' Cup Mile - Kip Deville

The $2 million Netjets Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) saw 13 older horses go 1 mile on the soft turf course. Cosmonaut set a pace of 24.26, 49.54, and 1:14.65, and held the lead to the 1/8 pole. However, Kip Deville, who had stalked him in third the whole way, found running room at the top of the stretch and surged to the lead at the 1/16 pole, holding off late-running favorite Excellent Art to win by a length in 1:39.78. Pacesetter Cosmonaut finished another length back in third.

Results and Payouts
Gate   Horse              Win     Place   Show
 8   Kip Deville          $18.40  $7.20   $5.20
 13  Excellent Art (GB)           $4.20   $3.00
 7   Cosmonaut                            $6.60

2007 Breeders' Cup Distaff Recap - Ginger Punch

The $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff features the older fillies and mares, deciding both the older female and 3-year-old filly championships. Canadian hope Bear Now battled on the early pace with Hystericalady for the first 1/2 mile before tiring, but Ginger Punch, who stalked them just off the pace in third, moved up along the rail to challenge for the lead. After a prolonged stretch duel with Hystericalady with some bumping, Ginger Punch pulled ahead in the final strides to win by a neck, and it was another neck back to Octave in third in a 3-way photo finish.

Results and Payouts
Gate   Horse           Win   Place   Show
4   Ginger Punch       $11.00  $6.20  $4.40
12  Hystericalady              $9.60  $7.20
8   Octave                            $5.00

2007 Breeders' Cup Turf - English Channel

The $3 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf saw a compact field of just 8 travel the marathon distance of 1 1/2 miles over the soft turf course. Fri Guy set the early pace while being stalked by Shamdinan and English Channel. With 1/4 mile left to run, jockey John Velazquez asked English Channel for run and got it, as English Channel took the lead and never looked back, drawing off to a 7 length win in 2:36.96. Shamdinan finished second while defending champion Red Rocks was third. Heavy favorite Dylan Thomas did not like the soft going and failed to show his usual late rally, finishing fifth.

Results and Payouts
Gate   Horse             Win   Place   Show
  6  English Channel    $8.00  $4.40  $3.00
  4  Shamdinan (FR)           $17.60  $9.40
  2  Red Rocks (IRE)                  $4.60