Horse Racing News

Points Offthebench made his first venture into stakes company a successful one, winning the $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes, over Goldencents in a terrific fight to the wire July 28 at Del Mar.

Verrazano led the 3-year-old ranks this spring, and after his thorough demolishing of a good field in the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational July 28 at Monmouth Park, it looks like he's right back on top.

Mark Bacon and Diana Wells' Silver Max returned to the turf to capture his fourth graded victory in style by crossing the wire 5 ¼ lengths ahead of his next closest rival in Sunday's Grade 3, $170,000 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park.

For the third straight race, Perretti Racing Stable's Forty Tales swooped from well off a ferocious early pace and got up in time in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.

George and Lori Hall's 5-year-old Pants on Fire took over in a marred edition of the $200,000 Monmouth Cup on July 28 at Monmouth Park, winning the 1 1/16-mile test after 3-5 favorite Take Charge Indy was suddenly pulled up.

Odds-on favorite Joyful Victory returned to her winning form with a front-running 7 ½-length humbling of four opponents in the $195,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes July 28 at Monmouth Park.

Kettle Corn came from off the pace to win the $200,000 San Diego Handicap, spoiling the return of Paynter to graded stakes competition July 27 at Del Mar.

Dogwood Stables' Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice proved his class July 27 at Saratoga Race Course, powering to victory in the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes by a length over Will Take Charge.

A determined Laughing refused to relinquish the lead in the $588,000 Diana Stakes July 27 over the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course, leading all the way for her first Grade 1 victory in a terrific finish.

Multiple Grade 2 winner Mucho Macho Man, runner-up in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic, completed his serious preparations for the $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap.