Horse Racing News on October 8, 2011

Heavily favored Union Rags, forced to wait for room in traffic, slipped past pacesetter Right to Vote on the outside near mid-stretch and drew off to capture the $300,000 Champagne Stakes.

Never Retreat, ridden by the red-hot Julien Leparoux, overcame the far outside post to capture the $350,000 First Lady Stakes on the Keeneland turf Oct. 8.

Gio Ponti, winless in five starts since winning the 2010 Shadwell Turf Mile, found a return to Keeneland the answer to correct a losing streak.

Bob Baffert's three-year-old star The Factor was heavily favored to take Saturday's Ancient Title at Santa Anita, but the charismatic gray never looked comfortable throughout the six-furlong journey and wilted to fourth after dueling into submission.

Maiden Dullahan stunned the $400,000 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 8, coming from the back of the field to run down Majestic City late and score at odds of 17-1.

My Miss Aurelia defeated Stopshoppingmaria for the second time this year, drawing away in the stretch for a convincing 5 1/2-length win in the $300,000 Frizette Oct. 8 at Belmont.

Holiday for Kitten continued owner/breeder Ken and Sarah Ramsey's success at Keeneland when just holding Musical Romance in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes.

English invader Western Aristocrat stole Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Jamaica Handicap under a masterful ride by Corey Nakatani, who was winning his fifth race on the card at Belmont Park.

Havelock took advantage of a sizzling early pace in Saturday's $150,000 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland, rallying to win the Grade 3 turf sprint by a length.