Horse Racing News

Rahystrada, an earner of more than $850,000, and Rezif, the defending champion, were among the 10 older horses entered Wednesday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Kentucky Cup Turf, which will help to open the 2011 Kentucky Downs meet Saturday in Franklin, Ky.

Led by Grade 2 winners Alternation and Prayer for Relief, a well-rounded field of nine was drawn for Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby Sept. 10 at Louisiana Downs.

Jeff Bloom, 47, is hoping his latest venture is his best yet, and, so far, he's batting 1.000.

It was a quiet experiment begun by Kiaran McLaughlin with his 2-year-olds starting under the colors of Darley and Shadwell Stables.

Favored Currency Swap handled sloppy conditions at rainy Saratoga better than any of his nine juvenile rivals in the Grade1, $250,000 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes edging a persistent Trinniberg on closing day of the 2011 season Sept. 5.

Del Mar's business has been so far above projections this summer that the track announced on Monday it would pay an additional $1 million in purses, a record underpayment.

Shipping to Southern California for the first time, the well-traveled Banned outfought Midnight Interlude by a nose in a taut finish to the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Derby on the turf Sept. 4.

Simply Business was all business, arriving in the final stride to close the deal upsetting the $1 million Metro Pace, the continent's richest freshman pace, on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbelville, Ontario.

Untried Grace Hall won the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes like a true professional Sept. 4, stalking the leaders into the stretch and sweeping past favored Judy the Beauty to handily win the $250,000 event at Saratoga.

Havre de Grace came out of her victory over males in Saturday's Grade 1 Woodward Stakes in good order and will more than likely make her next start in the Beldame Stakes against females on Oct. 1 at Belmont Park, trainer Larry Jones said Sunday.