Let us begin with what happened in Saratoga on Saturday. Grand Couturier beat the strongly fancied English Channel to win the Sword Dancer Invitational in 2007. Winless since that victory. Grand Couturier, a Grand Lodge progeny, returned to Saratoga and ran away with the 2008 renewal of the Sword Dancer. In 2007, Calvin Borel was the jockey. Jockey Alan Garcia was on board on Saturday.

The Grade I Sword Dancer, a grass race over 2400 metres, carried a purse of $500,000. Grand Couturier won by two lengths from Better Talk Now, winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2004 and who is now nine. Grand Couturier ran the 2400-metre trip in 2.32.21 and paid $9.30. Bobby Ribaudo trains Grand Couturier.

Grand Couturier went on a ground-saving mission. Turning for home, jockey Garcia found room along the hedge and began passing horses. With 200 metres left, pace-setting Presious Passion shut off the inside passage. Jockey Gracia had to take his mount back. Moments later. Grand Couturier saw daylight to go outside of Presious Passion and responding with alacrity, charged into the lead. Better Talk Now came on with a burst to take second. Dancing Forever, the public choice, did not look like a viable contender at any point.

Jockey Garcia put it all coherently. "I thought I was home free. I had a lot of horse. The rail opened. Suddenly I got stopped. I said to myself. "Oh God, I have lost my momentum," but he (Grand Couturier) kept trying. I kept riding."

Conspicuous by his absence in the Sword Dancer was Red Rocks who had beaten Curlin in Belmont's Man O War on July 12. Red Rocks showed up with a puffy hock and trainer Mark Henning decided to scratch. He stated, "it's disappointing. It is better to have it blow up now than not to know about it."

There was another Grade I race at Saratoga on Saturday. It was the Grade I Alabama for distaffers over 2000 metres on the main track. The Alabama had a $600,000 purse.

Music Note, a filly owned by the Godolphin stable, was the 10 to 4 on choice. She was coming off a romp in the Coaching Club American Oaks. Proud Spell, winner of the Kentucky Oaks, had suffered a loss in the Mother Goose with a trouble-filled trip. Proud Spell had eked out a narrow win in the Delaware Oaks and was the second choice in a field of five. Music Note was coupled with Little Belle.

Proud Spell showed out early, let Little Belle took over, assumed command negotiating the final turn and was soon tackled by Music Note. It was a neck and neck duel down the lane. For a moment, Music Note was gaining the upper hand. Proud Spell was in no mood to yield. Less than 200 metres left, Proud Spell had a slender advantage and ran on to win by a head.

Proud Spell paid $5.90 and clocked 2 04.08 for the 2000-metre race on a fast track. Proud Spell is by Proud Citizen by Gone West. Pacific Spell is the dam by Langfuhr. Larry Jones trains Proud Spell. Thirty minutes before his win in the Alabama, trainer Jones had won the Philip Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park with Honest Man.

"This filly has never been passed down the stretch. If you come up to her and eyeball her, you won't beat her," trainer Jones said.

Jockey Gabriel Saez talked about his filly's determination. "With 200 metres to go, I had to push her a little harder. When I saw Music Note coming, I said to myself, "let's start running," and it was an exciting finish."

The Alabama was the seventh career win for Proud Spell who now has $1,975,110 in her account. Brereton James, former Governor of Kentucky, owns the Proud Citizen filly.

Music Note, widely regarded as the best sophomore filly in America, was a possibility in next week's Travers Stakes against the boys. The connections, however, decided that the Alabama was the better option. The odds may not reflect this but Proud Spell's win was an upset of immense proportions.

At Del Mar in San Diego, California, there was an upset in the Del Mar Oaks. It was an 1800-metre grass race for three year-old girls. The purse for the Grade I race was $350,000. Trained by Patrick Gallagher and ridden by Alex Solis, Magical Fantasy, a transplant from the United Kingdom, had the last laugh at 42 to 1. It was a two-length win in a time of 1 46.73 on firm turf. Bel Air Sizzle, another longs hot, took the runner-up berth. Satan's Circus, a French filly and the favourite, raced poorly.

Magical Fantasy was winning only for the second time in her career. She is by Diesis. The win payoff was $87.00.

Trainer Gallagher talked about his confidence level. "I knew she was an outsider. We were hopeful because of the way she was training. We used earmuffs to help her relax."

Jockey Omar Berrio, a rider based in California, has been suspended for six months. He tested positive for cocaine. This was the second 'positive' for jockey Berrio in less than three months. He ran afoul of the rule in late May in New York.

A paragraph or two on the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville (France) on Sunday. Trainer Freddie Head won his fifth Group I race in 2008 with Tamayuz. Ridden by Davy Bonilla, Tamayuz won with a measure of comfort from Natagora. Major Cadeaux, from England, salvaged third.

By Nayef, Tamayuz is, at the moment, France's best miler. Among other races, the Breeders' Cup Mile is a target for Tamayuz who has won five times in six starts. The only loss came in the French 2000 Guineas with a wide draw and a poor trip.

Freedie Head, as a jockey, won the le Marois six times. He spoke about Tamayuz's progress. "He's pure class. Improving all the time. He will get a lot better."

In Ireland at Leopardstown on Sunday, three riders scored doubles. Mick Kinane won with Sea The Stars at 2-1 and Tanoua at 10-1. Pat Smullen connected with Impossible Dream, the 100-30 favorite, and Caribbean Sunset at 5-2. John Murtagh rode the 9-10 King of Rome to victory in the Group II Royal Whip Stakes and was victorious aboard Again at 9-2.

In Germany at Cologne on Sunday, Papal Bull who had forced Duke of Marmalade to a photo in the King George at Ascot in late July, was beaten by Oriental Tiger in the Group I Rheinland-Pokal der Sparkasse Kolnbonn, Oriental Tiger made it all.

The Ebor meeting at York in England begins on Tuesday. There was been heavy rain. Dry weather later in the day on Sunday, has raised the hopes for a good track. York has a new drainage system.

Aidan O'Brien, talking about York, has expressed doubts about Duke of Marmalade's participation in the Juddmonte International on Tuesday. John Murtagh, however, did not hide how bullish he felt. "A good horse goes on any going. He gives 110% every time."

Duke of Marmalade is at evens with Ladbrokes. New Approach has been cut to 5-2 by Coral.

Patkai, a winner at Royal Ascot and the favourite for the St Leger in September, will take his chances in the Great Voltigeur at York on Tuesday. The Michael Stoute-trained Patkai will be ridden by Ryan Moore.