Bad weather no problem for Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park

Oceanport, NJ (Sports Network) - The first ever Friday running of Breeders' Cup World Championship races was conducted under rainy and windy conditions at Monmouth Park. Three brand new $1 million events kicked off the 24th annual Breeders' Cup that will continue Saturday afternoon with the remaining eight races.
Over a sloppy track the six-furlong Filly & Mare Sprint got things underway at the historic New Jersey track. Maryfield, ridden by Elvis Trujillo, came from well off the pace to win the first of 11 Breeders' Cup races.
Trained by Doug O'Neill, Maryfield was four wide around the turn for home as morning-line favorite Dream Rush had the lead into the stretch. Dream Rush, with Eibar Coa in the saddle, was the leader up the backstretch and around the final turn...Full Story

Record number pre-entered for 24th Breeders' Cup

Oceanport, NJ (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and Preakness champ Curlin are two of the record 141 thoroughbreds who have been pre-entered for all 11 Breeders' Cup races scheduled for October 26 and 27 at Monmouth Park. For the first time since the Breeders' Cup began in 1984, the event will conducted over two days.
Post positions for all 11 Breeders' Cup World Championships races will be drawn on Tuesday, October 23 at Monmouth Park. There will be three new $1 million Breeders' Cup races run on Breeders' Cup Friday and eight Breeders' Cup races on Breeders' Cup Saturday.
Nine thoroughbreds have been pre-entered for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. In addition to Street Sense and Curlin, the other possible contenders are Any Given Saturday, Awesome Gem, Diamond Stripes, George Washington, Hard Spun, Lawyer Ron and Tiago.
The $3 million Turf has a dozen horses pre-entered including 2004 winner Better Talk Now and 2006 champ Red Rocks...Full Story

Goodwood Stakes features Lava Man

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Defending champ Lava Man returns to face nine rivals in Saturday's $500,000 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The winner of the race will gain automatic entry into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic as part of the "Win and You're In" program.
Lava Man, owned by STD Racing and Jason Wood, can become the third horse to repeat as the winner of the Goodwood. Lord At War won in 1984 and 1985, and Pleasantly Perfect posted consecutive victories in 2002 and 2003.
Trained by Doug O'Neill, Lava Man will be ridden by Corey Nakatani from post seven. The six-year-old gelding is coming off a rare loss, he was sixth in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. This year he repeated as the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and won his third straight Hollywood Gold Cup.
Lava Man has won 17 of 41 lifetime starts for more than $5.2 million...Full Story

Jambalaya denies The Tin Man victory in Arlington Million

Arlington Heights, IL (Sports Network) - Canadian invader Jambalaya caught defending champion The Tin Man in deep stretch to capture Saturday's 25th Arlington Million at Arlington Park. A win gives Jambalaya automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Also gaining spots in Breeders' Cup races on Saturday were Shamdinan and Royal Highness. The three stakes races are part the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" program.
The Tin Man had a chance to make racing history with a victory in the Arlington Million. No thoroughbred had ever won two straight editions of the 1 1/4 mile turf race, and legendary John Henry has been the only horse to take two runnings. John Henry won the first Arlington Million in 1981 and again in 1984.
The field for the race was reduced to seven after Pam and Martin Wygods After Market, the morning-line favorite for the Arlington Million, was unexpectedly withdrawn Saturday morning due to less-than-firm track conditions. The turf course was listed as good for the day....Full Story

The Tin Man looks to strike gold again in Arlington Million

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) -- The Tin Man has a shot at some racing history Saturday in the Arlington Million.
The 9-year-old gelding, a son of Triple Crown winner Affirmed, could become the first horse to win the race two straight years and only the second to win it twice.
John Henry captured the inaugural race in 1981 and came back three years later -- also at 9 -- to reach the winner's circle a second time.
Since wrenching an ankle in the 2004 Hirsch, an injury that sidelined him 14 months, The Tin Man has won six of eight races. A victory Saturday in the eight-horse field will guarantee a spot in the Breeder's Turf on Oct. 27.
The Tin Man led wire-to-wire last year and is listed at 3-1 in the early odds. Victor Espinoza returns to the saddle for trainer Richard Mandella...Full Story

After Eight gets Shirreffs badge of approval

By Anita Chambers Special to PA SportsTicker
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Illinois (Ticker) -- The John Shirreffs-trained After Eight is expected to be the favorite for Saturday's Arlington Million.
The 4-year-old son of Storm Cat is seeking a Grade One hat trick after claiming the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap and Eddie Read Handicap in his last two starts.
"For a Storm Cat, he has a great mind on him," Shirreffs said. "He's just a big boy - robust, lots of energy, wants to do things quickly - so all we try to do is keep his mind focused on the job.
"My one concern for Saturday is that he has never run so quickly after his last start, but hopefully it won't be a problem."
Eight horses have been declared for the showpiece at Arlington...Full Story

Street Sense returns in Jim Dandy Stakes

Saratoga Springs, NY (Sports Network) - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will be making his first start in more than two months on Sunday in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Track. The 1 1/8 mile event for three-year-olds is a major prep race for the Travers Stakes on August 25.
Street Sense will take on five rivals as he returns to the races after resting since a second place finish to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes. The colt has been training under the watchful eyes of trainer Carl Nafzger and his staff.
Owned by James Tafel, Street Sense has four starts this year with two wins and two second place results. Along with his win in the Run for the Roses, Street Sense captured the Tampa Bay Derby and was the runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes.
In the Jim Dandy the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ will again be ridden by Calvin Borel from post three. Street Sense is expected to go off as the prohibitive favorite on Sunday....Full Story

Rags to Riches to miss Coaching Club American Oaks

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches will not make her return to the races in Saturday's $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park. The leading three-year-old filly has a fever preventing her from making her first start since winning the Belmont Stakes on June 9.
"Her temperature has been slightly elevated the last couple of mornings and we had to postpone a scheduled breeze that was to take place this morning," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "We will point her towards the Alabama, at Saratoga on August 18."
Only the third filly to capture the Belmont Stakes, Rags to Riches has been perfect this year in five starts while earning more than $1.29 million. She is trained by Pletcher for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Horse Racing: Lava Man goes for third straight Hollywood Gold Cup

Inglewood, CA (Sports Network) - Two-time defending winner Lava Man is back to retain his title in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday. The six-year- old can join Native Diver as the only three-time winner of the Gold Cup.
The 1 1/4 mile race has attracted nine older thoroughbreds.
Lava Man, owned by STD Racing and Jason Wood, will start from post eight with regular rider Corey Nakatani in the saddle. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Lava Man is coming off a second place finish in the Charlie Whittingham Handicap on the turf to After Market.
In his career Lava Man has won 16 of 39 starts for more than $4.7 million. This year he won the Sunshine Millions Turf and repeated as champ in the Santa Anita Handicap.
Last year he became the first thoroughbred to sweep the three big handicap races in Southern California in the same year, Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. Lava Man's lone loss in 2006 was a seventh place finish to Invasor in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Native Dancer won the Hollywood Gold Cup from 1965 to 1967 and along with Lava Man are the only two-time winners of the race. Native Dancer also was third to Colorado King in the 1964 Gold Cup.
Molengao, second in the Santa Anita Handicap, returns to face Lava Man, Coming off a victory in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, Molengao will be ridden by Victor Espinoza from post five.