Horse Racing News

Jim Tafel's homebred Looking Cool certainly kept his cool in the heat of battle down the Prairie Meadows stretch June 29 to prevail by a neck at 17-1 odds in the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

Fiftyshadesofhay made the most of her latest trip from California with a powerful 3 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 29.

Centralinteligence earned his first stakes win in style on Saturday when running down pacesetter Comma to the Top in the Grade 1, $250,750 Triple Bend Handicap for a 30.5-length victory on the wire.

The conditions were dreadful, the weight spread oppressive, but Wise Dan found a way to overcome all adversity to capture the $168,450 Firecracker Handicap on the night of June 29 over yielding turf at rainy Churchill Downs.

Paul Pompa Jr.'s Baby J re-rallied to overtake Bridgehampton late to win the $147,000 Victory Ride Stakes June 29 at Belmont Park by three-quarters of a length.

Cozze Up Lady saved ground to the stretch, shifted out for a clear path, and emerged from a line of fillies and mares to take Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Chicago Handicap at Arlington Park by three parts of a length under Miguel Mena.

Returning from an eight-month layoff proved no hindrance to Richard Santulli's five-year-old mare Laughing, who upset 2-5 favorite Dayatthespa in Saturday's Grade, $99,000 Eatontown Handicap at Monmouth Park.

A sub-par performance from Starformer in last month's Sheepshead Bay on testing ground did not dissuade trainer Bill Mott from pressing on with the Juddmonte Farms homebred in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 New York at Belmont Park.

Obviously was simply too sharp for his four rivals in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, going gate-to-wire by open lengths June 29 to hand trainer Mike Mitchell his 900th career victory at Betfair Hollywood Park.

A return to firm turf should help Jeranimo June 29 as the 7-year-old goes for a repeat victory in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Betfair Hollywood Park.