Chocolate winds up with Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita

Hong Kong Cup

Umberto Rispoli of Italy riding Rulership (centre red) competes before winning the 2012 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup horse race at the Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong on April 29, 2012.

Photo credit: Dale de la Rey | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Nine scintillating thoroughbreds face the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, 2nd jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, at Fort Erie Racetrack.

While Qahira and Amuse were busy minding their own will to win, Into Chocolate (Umberto Rispoli 8-1), was equally busy on the wide outside churning up some mojo to nab the Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita.

He stamped the 6.5 furlongs in 1:15:8/10, for Pam and Martin Wygod. Umberto had never ridden the four-year-old before, but found her to be an ultimate professional. Qahira (Luis Saez 3-5) pipped Amuse (Drayden Van Dyke 1-5), and Hang a Star, for second spot.

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Nine scintillating thoroughbreds face the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, 2nd jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, at Fort Erie Racetrack. Queen's Plate competitors are vying for another triple crown jewel, especially Mighty Heart whom we reported on last week as the one-eyed wonder man.

Trained by Josie Carroll for Lawrence Cordes, Mighty Heart with Daisuke Fukumoto in charge, as usual hopes to be the first Triple Crowner since Wando in 2003.

Clayton, Truebelieve, Dotted Line, Enchant Me, Red Mercury, Bold Victory, and, Muskoka Giant, are having similar aspirations. Red Mercury is actually being supplemented for big bucks, so his 30-1 odds, might be quite attractive to punters on each way bets. The race is run over 1.3 miles on Fort Erie's dirt surface.

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The Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita, sees Tizamagician (Drayden Van Dyke 3-2), Azul Coast (Luis Saez 2-5), and, Combatant (Umberto Rispoli 2-1), lining up for Sunday's 1.5-mile contest. Others to consider are Bold Endeavor (Tyler Base 10-1), Muralist (Juan Hernandez 5-1), and, Pontantico (Abel Cedilo 6-1). The big three should have it all to themselves in what could become a blanket finish. Such quality.

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Adam Hollingsworth, infamously referred to as the Dreadhead Cowboy, rode his horse Nunu roughly seven miles down the Dan Ryan Expressway during rush hour in Chicago, stipulating the protest was to bring attention to “Kids Lives Matter.”

Adam now faces aggravated animal cruelty charges. Nunu was taken by Chicago's Care and Control Outfit, and has since been transferred to an affiliate rescue center.

Jockey Lesley Sercombe (centre) displays the Spanish Cup flanked by her mother Patsy Sercombe and her Horse Tiger in the Woods owner Mrs M. Haynes (left) on May 27, 2012 at Ngong Race Course.


The poor filly was so badly exhausted, she can only stand for a few minutes. If conditions do not improve for her, euthanasia is the only option

Adam claims to love Nunu, but this is not the definition of love. It is callous cruelty in black and white. Absolutely disgraceful.

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Meanwhile, back in Kenya, prayers are on-going for trainer Patsy Sercombe, who had a major set-back this week, being hospitalised with some serious lung issues.

Patsy has endured this problem before, but being a tough cookie, she will make a speedy recovery for Ngong's racing season opener mid-October.