Here is the latest news from America. Blood Horse magazine reports that Stonerside Stable has a new owner. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Darley group has bought the Stonerside operation from Bob  and Janice McNair. Stonerside has 80 horses in training. There are approximately 170 broodmares, yearlings and weanlings. The deal includes the 2000-acre farm near Paris, Kentucky and the training centre in Aiken, South Carolina. Terms have not been revealed.

The McNairs own the Houston Texans, a National Football League (franchise) team. Bob McNair made a statement. “We are deeply involved in managing the Texans. We are unable to focus effectively on two fronts. We have been assured our staff at Stonerside will continue to work in their positions.”

Evangeline Downs, located 15 miles north of Lafayette, Louisiana, did not race on Sunday, August 31. Monday is a national holiday in the US. It is Labor day. Racing on Monday has been abandoned. The reason is Hurricane Gustav. New Orleans has been evacuated. All the TV networks have switched their coverage to events about the hurricane. Louisiana’s Governor is Bobby Jindal, a Republican and a person of Indian origin. Mr Jindal is his thirties.

Curlin was 35 cents on the dollar in the Grade I Woodward at Saratoga on Saturday. It was Curlin’s Saratoga debut and Saratoga has been called the ‘graveyard of champions.’ Confidently handled by Robby Albarado, Curlin rolled to victory is his bid to become ‘Horse of the Year’ two years running.

Curlin lay fourth and moved to third with about 800 metres left as Past The Point set the pace. Wanderin Boy broke alertly and was sitting second. In striking range as the final turn was negotiated, Curlin made up ground steadily and was in hand when edging ahead in the last 100 metres. Past The Point was second and Wandering Boy took third. Divine Park, coming off a victory in the Grade I Metropolitan and widely expected to give Curlin a run for the money, sat third and began a retreat in the last 600 metres.

Curlin won by a length and a quarter and clocked 1 49.34 for the 1800-metre race. With earnings of 9,796.800, Curlin is only behind Cigar who retired with 9,999,815.

Trainer Steve Asmussen was measured in his praise. “He is meant for the big moment. He takes it all in stride.”

Jockey Albarado did not hold anything back. “He spoils us with his brilliance. The pace was quick. He gave a clear indication he would be there for me. We were getting bounced around a little. He’s a big horse and he handled it. Racing needs a star like Curlin and today he showed what he could do.”

Curlin will have a workout next week and his next race will be determined. It is believed that Curlin will defend his Jockey Club Gold Cup title at Belmont Park on September 27.

Lucky Island, the even money choice in the $250,000 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, had a miserable start and failed to recover. Squeezed at the start, Lucky Island stumbled leaving and lost several lengths.

First Defence, in the hands of Channing Hill, made it all and ran away in the lane to win by six and three quarter lengths. The time was 1 21.55 for 1400 metres. It was jockey Channing Hill’s first Grade I win.

“What a nice horse,” exclaimed jockey Hill. “Coming to the 3/8 pole (last 600) I figured everyone was going to have to start running to catch us. I am thankful  to Robert Frankel for putting me up on this horse.”

First Defence returned $17.60. Greely’s Conquest was second and the show spot went to Ferocious Fires.

At Del Mar over the weekend, there was an upset in the Del Mar Derby. Gio Ponti, heavily favoured and champion in Colonial’s Virginia Derby, was beaten by Madeo. Trained by John Shirreffs, Madeo was given a rail-hugging ride by Mike Smith. Madeo won by half a length and clocked 1 46.68 for the 1800-metre race on firm turf. Madeo paid $23.60.

Trainer Shirreffs complimented Mike Smith on his strategy. “Mike (Smith) stuck to the rail like a magnet and that made all the difference.”
 
Rain made the track sloppy on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Pepper’s Pride, going for her 17th consecutive win in the Lincoln Handicap, was scratched. The five year-old mare, set to carry 127 pounds, had not raced on a sloppy surface. Trainer Joel Marr waited until late to announce his decision.

“I had a horse in the sixth race. I talked to jockey Carlos (Medeira) to find out what he thought. Then it rained during the race. The track was slick.  It seemed to be progressively getting worse,” said trainer Marr.

Mani Bhavan, a name with inescapable Indian origins, won her third race in as many starts at Saratoga on Sunday. The Storm Boot filly won the Grade I Spinaway start to finish. Alan Garcia rode the Steve Klesaris-trained freshman filly. Delaware-based Klesaris said, “it was a gutsy performance. When challenged, my filly was digging down and had enough. It was a good test. We will go back to the drawing board and evaluate what’s next.”

The 7/10 favourite, Mani Bhavan ran 1400 metres in 1 25.23. She won by a length and a quarter.

At the Curragh in Ireland on Sunday, trainer David Wachman won another Group I race. Wachman had won at Deauville with Bushranger last week. Again got the job done in the Moyglare Stud Stakes in the hands of Seamus Heffernan. The 3-2 public choice, Again was well placed and hit the front halfway down the stretch and held on by half a length. On a soft grass course, Again clocked 1 28.83 over 1400 metres. Again has now won three races in four outings.

Trainer Wachman was extremely pleased. “She is a nice filly. Seamus gave a great ride. She is an exciting prospect next year as a three year-old. She is still big and weak.”

The reconstituted track at Santa Anita is now open. Gary Stevens, after exercising two horses, was thrilled. “I was pleased. It’s perfect. I hope no changes will be made. We could not have asked for anything better.”

The existing synthetic surface now has more fiber and pro-ride polymetric binders. Pro-Ride is the name of the Australian company that is doing the work.

The cushion track asphalt has been replaced by a grit layer which sits on top of a drainage rock with a membrane between the two to keep the rock layer in place.

Ian Pearse, Chief of Pro-Ride Racing, expressed optimism. “It is working and hopefully, the horsemen will like it.”

Benny The Bull has been retired. The five year-old champion sprinter has a filling in the right front ankle. X-rays showed a chip. Benny The Bull won nine races from 17 starts. His earnings stand at $2,221,630. Benny The Bull, a Lucky Lionel progeny, won the Golden Shaheen at Dubai in March. When he won the Smile Sprint at Calder in Florida, Benny The Bull had reeled off four in a row.

Churchill Downs in Kentucky and the home of the Kentucky Derby, has reduced the purses for the fall campaign that runs for 26 days from Oct 26 to Nov 29. Eleven stakes have smaller purses. Two have been eliminated. The total cut amounts to $975,000.

Saddler’s Wells, 14-time leader in siring stakes winners in England-Ireland, has achieved a landmark. Now pensioned, Saddler’s Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, has 300 stakes winners to his credit. Topping the category is Danehill with 349 winners. Danehill is no more.

Fantasia, a freshman Saddler’s Wells filly, won Goodwood’s Toteswinger Prestige Stakes, a Group III race last week.

In harness racing, Deweycheatumnhowe won his 17th race in as many outings. The three year-old colt by Muscles Yankee won the $565.000 World Trotting Derby at Du Quoin on Saturday. Du Quoin is in southern Illinois. Deweycheatumnhowe has over two million dollars in his account. Ray Schnittker trains and drives the champion colt.

Sources:Blood Horse, NTRA and TV reports.