Horse Racing News

Though he has gone winless with his first 21 mounts at this meet, jockey Jesus Castanon still had plenty to smile about Saturday morning at Saratoga. And it wasn't just because of the glorious weather.

Mizdirection's front-running win in Friday's $90,285 Sandy Blue Handicap at Del Mar was a milestone first stakes win for the filly and one of her co-owners.

Tajaaweed has been disqualified from his first-place finish in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap on July 9 because a laboratory test revealed the presence of the bronchodilator clenbuterol in a urine sample.

Frank Calabrese's Where's Sterling wore down Southern Ridge in mid-stretch and went on to record his first added-money win Aug. 20 in the Grade 3, $252,500 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Royal Delta easily avenged her third-place finish behind It's Tricky and Plum Pretty four weeks earlier in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks with a convincing 5 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Alabama.

Under Javier Santiago, Eve Giselle prevailed in a time of 1:08 4/5 for six furlongs over a fast track and returned $4.40, $3.40 and $2.20 as the 6-5 favorite.

Cambina's determination has impressed trainer Jeff Bonde this year, and is why he speaks highly of her chances for a fifth career stakes win in Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar Oaks.

St. John's River may not have the resume that It's Tricky and Plum Pretty do, but she has the talent, late kick, and pedigree to suggest she could upset those two in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga.

The New York Racing Association, which was unhappy Breeders' Cup chose Santa Anita Park over Belmont Park to host the 2012 World Championships, already is in discussions with the organization to be the 2013 host of the event.

On opposite sides of the nation Wednesday, Blind Luck and Havre de Grace had workouts as their owners and trainers contemplate options.