saratoga races

Kentucky Derby hero Street Sense returned to the races and made a promising start to his summer campaign with a victory in the Grade II Jim Dandy at Saratoga Racecourse on Sunday. The race carried a $500,000 purse. The margin of winning was 1 1/2 lengths. The time for the nine-furlong journey was 1 48.99. Calvin Borel was aboard. Taking second was C P West who stalked the pace-setter, took charge in the lane and fought on gamely only to be overhauled by Street Sense late in the stretch. Street Sense was 35 cents on the dollar and returned $2.70. Street Sense's next race is in the Travers Stakes on August 25 at Saratoga. Carl Nafzger, Street Sense's trainer, said, "he got a lot out of this race. That was just what we needed for the Travers."At Del Mar in California on Sunday, In Summation won the $300,000 Grade I Bing Crosby Handicap. In Summation, Corey Nakatani up, beat Greg's Gold, the 2005 Crosby hero,in a photo. The time for six furlongs was 1 11.06. In Summation paid $18.40.Saratoga had a lot of stakes action on Saturday. In the $750,000 Grace I Whitney Handicap, Lawyer Ron was a 4 3/4 length winner in 1 46.64 over nine furlongs. He beat the track record of 1 47.04. John Velasques was the winning jockey. Lawyer Ron returned $13.00. Wanderin Boy set the pace and held for second. Lawyer Ron gained a berth in the 5-million Breeders' Cup Classic at Monmouth Park in late October. Ginger Punch ran away with the Go For Wand Handicap. The $250,000 Grade I event was over nine furlongs and Ginger Punch's time was 1 49. The payoff was $4.50. Rafel Bejarano rode Ginger Punch who earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup distaff. The $500,000 Grade I Diana Stakes went to My Typhoon, ridden by Eddie Castro. The time was 1 46.47 for the mile event. My Typhoon paid $8.10. My Typhoon earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly-Mare turf. Finishing third was the strongly-fancied Makderah who found her best stride when it was all over. At Arlington Park on Saturday, Lewis Michael carried the public purse to a decisive win in the Grade II Washington Park Handicap. E T Baird was the winning rider. The time was 1 55.17 for 1 3/16 miles.On Saturday at Ascot in England, Dylan Thomas returned to winning ways in the 12-furlong King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Dylan Thomas, Johnny Murtagh up, was wide all the way and lay about fifth. Two furlongs to go and Dylan Thomas bounded forward when given the green light. The margin was four lengths and the time was 2 31.11. The race was worth 425,850 pounds to the winner. Youmzain paced on to take the runner-up berth. Scorpion set the pace and tired. Maraahel lay handy, hit the front turning for home and was outpaced as the race took a serious turn. Dylan Thomas was 5-4 and the track was good to soft. The dry conditions played to the winner's strength. In America, jockey Jose Santos,46, announced his retirement on Monday. Santos rode 4083 winners from 25,290 rides. His winners earned 187 million dollars. He began riding in America in 1984. He won the Derby and the Preakness with Funny Cide in 2003. He was in a spill on Feb 1 at Aqueduct. He suffered five fractures in his spine. "My back is in bad shape. My doctor said it would not be a good idea to come back because one more spill and I may not walk. Retiring is in my best interests and the interests of my kids and grandchildren," Santos said.