Horse Racing News on October 9, 2010

The opening half-mile of Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne Stakes went in 45.92 seconds and the heavy favorite, Uncle Mo, had 22-1 longshot I'm Steppin It Up lapped on him.

Smiling Tiger is bound for the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6 after a hard-fought win in Saturday's $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes at Hollywood Park.

The $150,000 Oak Tree Mile at Hollywood Park on Saturday was more of a prep for the $100,000 California Cup Mile on Oct. 30 than the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6.

Gio Ponti flexed the muscles of a multiple Eclipse Award winner Saturday when gliding to victory without even feeling the whip in the richest race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile.

The connections of both Etched and Musket Man, who finished a close one-two in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park have to give serious consideration to giving their horses a shot in next month's Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.

For the third consecutive meet at Keeneland, Silver Timber scored a graded stakes victory over the Keeneland grass course in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Woodford, following a victory in the Grade 3 Shakertown this spring and in last fall's Woodford.

But Prince Will I Am rose from the ashes with an explosive late kick under Jose Lezcano that carried him from last to first in the Jamaica, giving both horse and trainer their first Grade 1 victory.

A Z Warrior, after a disappointing finish in the Grade 1 Darley Debutante, relished the dirt surface at Belmont Park with an eye-catching 1 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Frizette Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Proviso did her best Zenyatta impersonation Saturday in the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady at Keeneland, appearing in danger of being beaten in midstretch, only to unleash a powerful closing kick to secure yet another prestigious victory.

Dubai Majesty ran down an improbable longshot to post the richest victory in her rags-to-riches career Saturday in the 30th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.