Horse Racing News

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.

Turbulent Descent flashed her true ability when she ran away from the field in the Grade 1, $250,000 Test Stakes as the 9-10 favorite at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 6.

Is Flat Out the best runner Charles "Scooter" Dickey has ever trained?

Manofmanymissions is favored to go into the record books as the 30th winner of the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, which began hosting the prestigious event in 1981.

Canford Cliffs has been retired on veterinary advice due to a near-fore pastern injury which he suffered during the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last week. The brilliant miler will stand at Coolmore Stud for the 2012 season.