Horse Racing News

Creative Cause won his stakes debut in Sunday's $150,000 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar to remain perfect in two starts, and the colt's performance was as flawless as his record.

Experience prevailed in Sunday's "Battle of the Exes" at Del Mar between former fiancees Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland.

Tizway and Flat Out, the one-two finishers from Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney Invitational Handicap at Saratoga, will likely renew acquaintances in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational at Belmont Park on Oct. 1.

Preakness winner and Haskell runner-up Shackleford will most likely make his next start in the $1 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 27, trainer Dale Romans said Sunday.

Front-running Tar Heel Mom overpowered her four rivals in the Grade 2, $150,000 Honorable Miss Handicap, drawing off in the stretch for a 5 3/4-length romp at Saratoga Aug. 7.

Front-running Sean Avery, under all-out pressure from jockey Joe Bravo, nosed prohibitive choice Trappe Shot to produce a 17-1 stunner in the Grade 1, $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga Aug. 7.

Ultra Blend, the ultra-consistent California-bred 5-year-old mare, became a grade I winner with a hard-fought neck victory over Zazu in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Prayer for Relief now becomes a possibility for that Aug. 27 showdown at Saratoga by virtue of his third straight victory since returning from minor ankle surgery.

Tizway can't be considered just a miler anymore. What he might be now is the best older male horse in the country.

George Brennan guided Broad Bahn down the road in the $1.5 million Hambletonian and came from off the pace with 24-1 longshot Bold and Fresh in the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks.