Sailor Cap back to races.

Sailor Cap back to races. Sailor Cap, winner of the $600,000 Colonial Turf Cup through a driving rainstorm in June, will make his first start since a third in the Virginia Derby in Thursday’s $75,000 John’s Gold, an overnight stakes for 3-year-olds scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Also entered for turf were Luck Money, a restricted stakes winner at Saratoga in his U.S. debut who faded as third choice in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes last out; Wishful Tomcat and Big Truck, who were heads apart in the Floral Park for New York-breds four weeks ago; Atwell, second by a head in the Jersey Derby; and Slambino, who paid $179 for winning his last start on firm turf.

Pluracity and Numaany were entered for dirt only.

Sailor’s Cap has not run at Belmont since his debut last October, when he dueled for the lead in a sprint on the inner course and faded to fourth behind Atwell.

An emphatic maiden winner when stretched out at Aqueduct a month later, Sailor’s Cap emerged as one of this season’s top 3-year-old turf specialists with a sharp placing in the American Turf, followed by his breakthrough performance through a storm of biblical proportions at Colonial Downs.

Sailor’s Cap was then favored in the July 19 Virginia Derby, but raced wide trailing a slow early pace and settled for third behind Gio Ponti and Court Vision.

“He ran a good race in the Virginia Derby, but he was behind the two closers, so the way the race shaped up he was just a little out of his element,” said trainer Jimmy Toner. “He was going to run in the Jamaica, but he ran into a little bump in the road. The decision had been made to freshen him up, and he came up with some foot issues and he wound up freshening himself up . . . a little more than I wanted him to.”

Sailor’s Cap, who is using the John’s Gold as a bridge to a return to graded stakes company, was also nominated to Saturday’s Knickerbocker Handicap as a precautionary measure.

“I was trying to find a spot to run him this week, because he would have to run in this time frame to make the Hollywood Derby” on Nov. 30, Toner explained. “The main thing is to get him back and get a race into him. His last two breezes have been nice and comfortable.”

Atwell, whose maiden win came over Sailor’s Cap last fall, drew advantageously on the rail.

Well Armed held off fast-closing Tiago to win the $500,000 Goodwood Stakes by a length at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Well Armed held off fast-closing Tiago to win the $500,000 Goodwood Stakes by a length at Santa Anita on Saturday. And earn a shot at a much bigger payday, the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic.

The victory gave Well Armed an automatic berth into the Classic, where Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brownand BC officials hope Curlin awaits on Oct. 25 over the same new synthetic surface.

John Velazquez notched career victory No. 3,999 in the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, riding even-money favorite Wait a While to a three-quarters of a length win over Vacare.

Zenyatta ran her record to 8-0 with a 3 1/2 -length victory over Hystericalady in the $250,000 Ladys Secret Stakes, leaving Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith searching for superlatives to describe the filly.

A record six Grade 1 stakes were run at Santa Anita on the same day Curlin became North Americas richest thoroughbred, going over the $10 million mark with a victory in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at New Yorks Belmont Park.

Curlin will be shipped to Santa Anita on Sunday, starting the countdown clock on owner Jess Jacksons decision whether to take on Big Brown and some of Europes best horses in the Classic.

In the 10-horse Goodwood, Well Armed was third in the early going under Aaron Gryder while Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track and Informed traded the lead. Smith had Tiago, half brother to 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, in last before they started their move entering the stretch turn.

They were pushed to the far outside, moving three steps sideways instead of forward, when another horse also took the same path.

I would have liked to have seen what those three steps might have become, Smith said. Maybe the outcome would have been the same. But it certainly would have been a lot closer. Nevertheless, he ran good. Hes back on track.

Well Armed gave trainer Eoin Harty two likely Classic starters, including Colonel John.

Ive managed to dodge land mines along the way, but theyre both very sound horses, he said.

Well Armed ran 1 1-8 miles on the turf in 1:47.11 and paid $5.40 to win. Albertus Maximus was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Whats impressed me the most about him is how much hes changed from a year ago, Gryder said about Well Armed. Hes relaxing so well. Hes just a much better horse.

Wait a Whiles Yellow Ribbon victory made her 3-0 on Santa Anitas turf course and earned the mare an automatic spot in the BC Filly & Mare Turf. The $240,000 winners purse pushed her career earnings to $2,181,917.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, whose Red Giant won the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship earlier, Wait a While ran 1 1/2 miles in 1:59.16.

When Vacare came to her outside, she dug in and got it done, Velazquez said. Shes going to be real tough (in the Breeders Cup) on this course.

Wait a While ran 1 miles on the turf in 1:59.16 against nine rivals and paid $4 to win. Black Mamba was another length back in third.

Zenyatta won for the sixth time this year and earned an automatic berth in next months BC Ladies Classic on Oct. 24.
I just cant describe her, Smith said. She leaves me speechless. Her race today was incredible.

Three races later, Smith rode Stardom Bound to another 3 1/2 -length victory over Palacio de Amor in the $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes and a guaranteed spot in the BC Juvenile Division.

Zenyatta covered 1 1-16 miles in 1:40.30 and paid $3.40 and $2.10 as the slight wagering favorite on a sunny day with highs in the low 90s.

She just seems to be sent from heaven, man, Smith said. She does things horses arent supposed to do. She went by them like well, the last quarter of a mile, she was just galloping.

Hystericalady brought a three-race winning streak into her first meeting with Zenyatta, but the 5-year-old mare failed again on a synthetic track, where she is 0-for-5.

The trip over the racetrack should set her up for the Breeders Cup, said jockey Garrett Gomez, who rode two winners to get to No. 2,998. She had a soft trip on the lead early. Maybe it would have been better to go a little faster because when she went to sprinting, she kind of misplaced her feet a little bit.
Zenyatta certainly seems to like the artificial footing underneath her, with two wins on it at Hollywood Park and another at Del Mar this year. It was her third Grade 1 victory this year, having won the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn and the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.

She was fourth behind leader Hystericalady most of the way until moving up to the lead on the stretch turn. Zenyatta is owned by Jerry Moss, co-founder of A&M Records who also owns Tiago, who was set to run later Saturday.

Hystericalady returned $2.10 in losing the Ladys Secret for the second consecutive year. She was beaten by a nose last year.

The matchup was a preview of the Ladies Classic, where the duo is set to meet again.

Right now, it looks like the filly (Zenyatta) is the very best, said Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Hystericalady. But I dont take anything away from my horse. I really love her. She ran really well, and I think shell make a good account of herself in the Breeders Cup.
Smith compared Zenyatta to Azeri, the mare he rode who earned 2002 Horse of the Year honors.

Im really starting to think she might be the best horse Ive ever ridden, he said. Without a doubt, she would be a deserving Horse of the Year if things continue to go well. Shes flawless. I mean, what else can you do beyond flawless?

In the Oak Leaf, Stardom Bound stretched out to two turns for the first time and improved to 4-0 in her brief career. Her first three wins came this summer at Del Mar, including a 4-length victory in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, when she rallied from last to first.

Shes my baby Zenyatta, Smith said.

Stardom Bound, a 2-year-old gray filly, ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.44. She was kicked on the inside of her right hind leg by an outriders pony after galloping Friday.

Tyler Baze guided Cost of Freedom to a half-length upset in the $240,000 Ancient Title Stakes and a berth in the BC Sprint. They covered six furlongs in 1:07.53.

Street Boss, who will make his final start in the Breeders Cup before retiring, was second as the 9-10 favorite and In Summation third.

Red Giant edged Out of Control by a head in the Hirsch, the days only stakes without an automatic Breeders Cup berth going to the winner.

Ridden by Velazquez, Red Giant covered 1 miles in 1:57.16, a world record for the distance on turf that bettered the old mark of 1:57.40 set by Double Discount in the Carleton F. Burke Handicap on Oct. 9, 1977.

Raven Pass won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Raven Pass won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Beating Henrythenavigator for a boost heading into the Breeders Cup.

Jimmy Fortune rose the 3-year-old colt.

Horse, trainer and jockey finally got it right all at the same time, Ravens Pass trainer John Gosden said. The plan is now to go to the Breeders Cup. Whether that is for the Mile or the Classic we will have to see.

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Zanjero wins Kentucky Cup Classic.

Zanjero used a determined stretch run to pull away from the two favorites and stay clear of two long shots Saturday in the $350,000 Kentucky Cup.

The win earned the 4-year-old colt a trip to the Breeders Cup series next month at Santa Anita.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the nations leading trainer, and ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, Zanjero ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:49.27 to beat Extreme Supreme by 1 1/2 lengths. Canela was another 4 lengths back in third.

That horse ran great, said Asmussen, who watched the race on TV at Belmont Park, where he saddled Jockey Gold Cup winner Curlin. This horse is going to the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile.

The win in the Grade 2 Classic put Zaneros lifetime earnings over $1.6 million.

Zanjero took the lead from pacesetters Honest Man and Extreme Supreme at the top of the stretch.

The race went just as I hoped it would, said owner Ron Winchell. He broke clean and was close to the pace. He has a good late kick as long as he doesnt use it too early.
The 8-5 co-favorites, Honest Man and Stream Cat, faded to finish fourth and last in the six-horse field. Jockey Terry Thompson said Honest Man didnt appear to like Turfways Polytrack surface.

Hes a real big, heavy horse and he pounds the ground kind of hard, Thompson said.

Zanjero paid $7.40, $3.80 and $3.20. Extreme Supreme returned $10 and $5. Canela paid $6.60 to show.

Woodbine-based Fatal Bullet, winner in six of seven starts this year, set a track record in the Kentucky Cup Sprint, one of three graded stakes on the undercard. Fatal Bullet, trained by Reade Baker and bound for the Breeders Cup Sprint, ran six furlongs in 1:08.03 on Turfways Polytrack, which is similar to the synthetic surface at Santa Anita.

Trainer Kelly Breen said Kentucky Cup Juvenile winner West Side Bernie, now 2-for-2, also is headed for the Breeders Cup series.

Bear Now, trained by Baker, won the Kentucky Cup Distaff. Eurico Da Silva rode both of Bakers winners.

Canadian-owned Somebeachsomewhere matched the fastest mile in harness racing history Saturday.

Canadian-owned Somebeachsomewhere matched the fastest mile in harness racing history Saturday. Finishing in 1:46.4 in a Bluegrass Stakes division for 3-year-old pacers at the Red Mile.

Somebeachsomewhere, driven by Paul MacDonell, tied the mark set by Holborn Hanover in 2006 at the Meadowlands in 2006.

Holborn Hanover was a 5-year-old when he set the record. Somebeachsomewheres time is the fastest ever for a 3-year-old, breaking the mark of 1:47 set by Art Official in the Meadowlands Pace in July. Art Official beat Somebeachsomewhere by a neck in the Meadowlands Pace, handing Somebeachsomewhere the only loss of his career.

Facing 70-degree temperatures and a 10 mph headwind in the backstretch, Somebeachsomewhere had fractions of 26.4, 52.4 and 1:19.2. MacDonell said he hopes for better conditions next week to take on the record again.

The conditions werent exactly 100 percent, he said. He did have a bit of a breeze in his face, but this just shows how great of a horse that he is. The track condition was excellent, though.

Trainer Brent MacGrath had to treat some sickness before he arrived with Somebeachsomewhere earlier this week.

He had three weeks off and he was a little sick in his last start, he said. I think weve got him close to 100 percent now. I think hes got another half-second in him.

Somebeachsomewhere will start next in the Tattersalls Pace at The Red Mile for owner Schooner Stables of Nova Scotia. The colt has won 16 of 17 career races and earned $2.3 million.

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, his career marred by substance abuse and suspensions.

Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, his career marred by substance abuse and suspensions. Wont be riding in California again.

His conditional license was revoked this week and the 45-year-old rider wont be able to reapply, the California Horse Racing Board ruled. The board adopted the proposed decision of administrative law Judge Daniel Juarez. He said Valenzuela is permanently ineligible to reapply for or to hold a license issued by the board.

Valenzuelas license was revoked in December after a drunken-driving arrest in Southern California. He pled guilty in May.

He has ridden at Louisiana Downs since late May. His active license to ride in that state was granted last fall and he hasnt violated any of Louisianas racing rules. Hes also ridden in New Mexico this year.

Valenzuela rode Sunday Silence to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1989.

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Nakatani could miss Breeders Cup with injury.

Jockey Corey Nakatani most likely will miss next months Breeders Cup because of a broken collarbone from a spill at Santa Anita.

His mount, Easy on the Eye, went down after clipping heels shortly after the start of the $100,000 Morvich Handicap on Wednesdays opening day of the tracks Oak Tree meeting.

Its a new injury and a clean break, his agent, Ron Ebanks, said. Doctors will see him in three weeks for further evaluation, but hes expected to be out from three to five weeks.

In January, Nakatani broke his right clavicle in a training accident at Hollywood Park.

The 37-year-old rider was replaced on seven scheduled mounts Saturday, including Vacare in the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, In Summation in the $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes and Spring House, who finished fourth in the $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship.

Nakatani was the leading rider at the 2006 Oak Tree meeting.

The Breeders Cup will be run Oct. 24-25 at Santa Anita.

Curlin became the first horse in North America to top $10 million in career earnings.

Curlin became the first horse in North America to top $10 million in career earnings. Winning the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday at sloppy Belmont Park.

The $450,000 winners purse pushed Curlins career bankroll to $10,246,800. Cigar held the old mark of $9,999,815, which stood for 12 years.

Im sure this record will be broken someday, but it will take a hell of a horse to do it, winning jockey Robbie Albarado said.

The next $3 million could come with a victory in the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic on Oct. 25 Santa Anita. The Jockey Club Gold Cup was a Breeders Cup Challenge Win and Youre In race, insuring the winner a spot in the Classic and a much anticipated showdown with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.

Owner Jess Jackson, speaking from a charity wine auction in California, called the Classic the next prospect for us. We will give it every consideration that we can.

The upcoming Breeders Cup will be the first contested on a synthetic track. Jackson has reservations about running Curlin on the unfamiliar surface.

Its up to him, whether he likes the track, Jackson said. Those are concerns we still have, but we will consider it now that we are past this hurdle.

Curlin will ship to Santa Anita on Sunday to train over the racing strip.

In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Curlin, the 2-5 favorite, beat Wanderin Boy by three-quarters of a length with Merchant Marine third.

As far back as sixth after a half mile, Curlin split rivals down the backstretch before swing three wide on the final turn. He took charge with a sudden burst turning for home as Albarado hand-rode him to the finish.

The defending Horse of the Year trained by Steve Asmusssen now has 11 wins in 15 starts.

The 4-year-old won the Jockey Club Gold Cup for a second straight year. His other major victories include the Preakness Stakes and the Breeders Cup Classic last year, the Dubai World Cup in March and the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga last month.

Curlin paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10. Wanderin Boy returned $4.20 and $3.70. Merchant Marine paid 5.70 to show.

Mambo in Seattle was fourth followed by Ravel, Stones River, A.P. Arrow and Angliana.

The time was 2:01.93 for the 1 miles.