JC / Railbird

Races/Results Archive

Saturday Recap

Big wins today for Ashado, Saint Liam, and Don’t Get Mad.
Ashado, the 2004 champion filly, took the Ogden Phipps at Belmont with a front-running performance, shaking off challengers with ease. Rival Society Selection made a late move and came in second, with Bending Strings running third.
At Churchill Downs, the Stephen Foster Handicap was Saint Liam’s from the start. The colt relaxed just off pacesetter Presidentialaffair until the top of the stretch, where he took off, winning by more than two lengths. In the Northern Dancer, Don’t Get Mad looked once more like the horse that won the Derby Trial, coming from off the pace in a stunning move that left his competition far behind.
Nine-for-nine: That’s the career record of the filly Happy Ticket, who notched her ninth straight win this afternoon in the Chicago Breeders’ Cup Handicap. “She won eight in a row and she was never tested in any of those races,” said trainer Andrew Leggio. “[Owner Stewart Madison] thought it was time for us to step up a notch and she did.” (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in Races/Results on June 18, 2005

Weekend Racing

This Saturday is the NTRA National Pick 4, comprising the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Fleur de Lis at Churchill, the Ogden Phipps at Belmont, and the Californian at Hollywood. And there’s more good racing to be had — Hollywood Park also has the Affirmed on its card and Churchill the Northern Dancer. Here in Boston, Suffolk Downs treats local fans to two stakes races, the African Prince for state-breds and the Old Ironsides, one of the four reinstated open stakes races.
Saint Liam is the morning line favorite in the Stephen Foster, but he’ll get some competition from the likes of Badge of Silver and Perfect Drift. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
“They’re not exactly Affirmed and Alydar, but the 4-year-old fillies Ashado and Society Selection continue a rivalry dating back to when they were 2-year-olds in today’s Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park.” (New York Post)
Buzzards Bay is his making first start since his fifth-place Kentucky Derby finish in the Affirmed. Stablemate Choctaw Nation is returning in the Californian, his first start since running third in the Dubai World Cup. (Blood-Horse)
Don’t Get Mad is the expected favorite in the Northern Dancer, despite the interruption to his training caused by the equine herpes quarantine at Churchill. “We’re in a good spot,” said trainer Ron Ellis. (Courier-Journal)

Posted in Races/Results on June 17, 2005

Summerly Wires the Oaks

“Summerly, who disappointed her connections in the Ashland Stakes … more than made up for it with a wire-to-wire win in the $554,400 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs Friday. Heavily favored Sis City tried valiantly but never could get by Summerly and finished fourth in the seven-horse field.” (Blood-Horse)

Posted in Races/Results on May 7, 2005

Watch Out, Boys

Sweet Catomine took the 1 1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks this afternoon in 1:44.44, three lengths ahead of second place finisher Memorette. The highly regarded filly’s win was no surprise to fans, who sent her off at 1-5, or her connections. “She was going so easy,” said jockey Corey Nakatani. “She’s definitely proven to me that she’s the best filly I’ve ever ridden and I’ve ridden some good ones.” Trainer Julio Canani was jubilant after the race, calling Sweet Catomine “the best filly who ever lived.” Her performance in the Oaks means she’ll go on to race the boys in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9. How she does in that race will determine if Sweet Catomine heads to the Kentucky Derby. (Blood-Horse)

Posted in Races/Results on March 13, 2005