NTRA-National Thoroughbred Racing Association

July 2008 - Posts

• Sky Mom tops wide-open Arlington Oaks
  Jul 31 2008, 07:15 PM

  ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - If you have been following the career of the top 3-year-old filly Storm Mesa, who won the Grade 2 San Clemente last weekend, you might have noticed that Storm Mesa won the Iowa Oaks on June 27 at Prairie Meadows by only a diminishing... Post Reactions

• Mott aims to end Spa winless streak
  Jul 31 2008, 06:37 PM

  SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - On the seventh day of the 2007 Saratoga meet, Bill Mott won two races to move atop the trainers' standings. It was a lead he would never relinquish en route to his ninth Spa title, with a personal-best 27 wins. On the eighth... Post Reactions

• Zanjero, Magna Graduate in for Asmussen
  Jul 31 2008, 06:33 PM

  Zanjero, returning to Mountaineer Racetrack for the first time since winning last year's West Virginia Derby, and Magna Graduate, who came close to winning Grade 1 and Grade 2 stakes last season, provide a potent one-two punch for trainer Steve Asmussen... Post Reactions

• Just for Keeps a threat to wire
  Jul 31 2008, 06:29 PM

  SHAKOPEE, Minn. - As if putting an exclamation point on the day's Claiming Crown card, 14 fillies and mares will line up to contest one of the deepest runnings of the $100,000 Lady Canterbury in recent memory. Just for Keeps, who has sprinted in all... Post Reactions

• Del Mar Oaks for Storm Mesa
  Jul 31 2008, 06:26 PM

  Storm Mesa, who stretched her winning streak to five with a victory in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap last Saturday, is staying in California for the $400,000 Del Mar Oaks over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 16. The race will be her Grade 1 debut. Trainer... Post Reactions

• Notional retired after injury
  Jul 31 2008, 06:21 PM

  Notional, a multiple graded stakes winner, has been retired from racing after breaking the coffin bone in his left front foot when he finished fourth in last weekend's Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Read More... Post Reactions

• Big Brown 1-2 on morning line
  Jul 31 2008, 06:20 PM

  OCEANPORT, N.J. - Big Brown will break from post 4, right in the middle, in his comeback Sunday in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is the 1-2 favorite on Monmouth oddsmaker Brad Thomas's... Post Reactions

• Zenyatta has rivals thinking of second in Hirsch
  Jul 31 2008, 06:17 PM

  DEL MAR, Calif. - It takes a smart aleck's point of view to envision beating Zenyatta in Saturday's $300,000 Clement Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar. "If the gates don't open for Zenyatta, it gives us a chance," said Mike Mitchell, who... Post Reactions

• Indian Blessing tries new tricks in Test
  Jul 31 2008, 06:16 PM

  SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As a 2-year-old, Indian Blessing was simply too fast for the other members of her generation. She used her blazing speed to register three easy victories and earn an Eclipse Award in the process. Now 3, Indian Blessing can no... Post Reactions

• Cherokee Artist taking derby shot
  Jul 31 2008, 06:12 PM

  The timing of the West Virginia Derby isn't ideal for Cherokee Artist, a colt with great potential but limited experience. Considering the alternatives, however, trainer Graham Motion figures it's worth making the road trip from the Fair Hill... Post Reactions

• Marina Ballerina relaxed and ready
  Jul 31 2008, 06:08 PM

  ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Marina Ballerina has been pointed toward Saturday’s $150,000 Royal North Stakes since she arrived at Woodbine, and she looks like the one to catch in the six-furlong turf event for fillies and mares. Marina Ballerina has started three... Post Reactions

• Big Brown draws post 4 for Haskell
  Jul 31 2008, 02:30 PM

  Six 3-year-olds, including three stakes winners, have been entered to face dual classic winner Big Brown in the $1-million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park. The 1 1/8-mile Haskell marks the first start for the Kentucky Derby Presented... Post Reactions

• NTRA Thoroughbred Notebook: July 31, 2008
  Jul 31 2008, 02:22 PM

  News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world Read More... Post Reactions

• Del Mar Thursday carryover: $138,000
  Jul 31 2008, 12:05 PM

  An upset win by Dusty Trail ($50.60) in Wednesday's sixth race led to a carryover of $138,349 for Thursday's pick six at Del Mar. First post Thursday is 2 p.m. Pacific, with the first pick six race, the third, going off at 3:04. Read More... Post Reactions

• Zappa scores; Pacific Classic may be next
  Jul 30 2008, 08:48 PM

  DEL MAR, Calif. - Zappa earned an automatic berth to the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting on Oct. 25 with his win in Wednesday’s $150,000 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar. First, co-owner Gary Barber has a more lucrative... Post Reactions