Horse Racing News

Gio Ponti flexed the muscles of a multiple Eclipse Award winner Saturday when gliding to victory without even feeling the whip in the richest race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile.

The connections of both Etched and Musket Man, who finished a close one-two in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Monmouth Cup at Monmouth Park have to give serious consideration to giving their horses a shot in next month's Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.

For the third consecutive meet at Keeneland, Silver Timber scored a graded stakes victory over the Keeneland grass course in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Woodford, following a victory in the Grade 3 Shakertown this spring and in last fall's Woodford.

But Prince Will I Am rose from the ashes with an explosive late kick under Jose Lezcano that carried him from last to first in the Jamaica, giving both horse and trainer their first Grade 1 victory.

A Z Warrior, after a disappointing finish in the Grade 1 Darley Debutante, relished the dirt surface at Belmont Park with an eye-catching 1 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Frizette Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Proviso did her best Zenyatta impersonation Saturday in the Grade 1, $400,000 First Lady at Keeneland, appearing in danger of being beaten in midstretch, only to unleash a powerful closing kick to secure yet another prestigious victory.

Dubai Majesty ran down an improbable longshot to post the richest victory in her rags-to-riches career Saturday in the 30th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.

Sidney's Candy, a four-time graded stakes winner in California this year, was scratched from the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile on Saturday at Hollywood Park because of a pending sale, trainer John Sadler said Saturday morning.

California invader Wickedly Perfect turned back all challengers after setting a moderate pace when proceeding to capture the 59th running of the Grade 1, $400,00 Darley Alcibiades Stakes, opening day of the Keeneland fall meet.

Proviso has developed into one of the leading female turf runners in the country. She has won three straight Grade 1 races and will go for a fourth Saturday, when she heads a field of nine in the $400,000 First Lady at Keeneland.