DEL MAR, Calif.--Graham Motion won two stakes at Del Mar, one a decisive victory by Spendarella, while the Houghtons had an all-family stakes victory at Penn National.
File photo of Spendarella (Photo by Coady Photography)Gainesway Stables' homebred Spendarella won the G1, $300,000, 11/8 mile Del Mar Oaks turf Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths, cruising to a decisive but fairly easy victory on Aug. 20.
Spendarella was coming off a very good second at Ascot in the Group 1 Coronation Cup, just beaten by the top filly Inspiral.
"I may run her back in the Q E 2 at Keeneland," said Motion. "Otherwise, we'll wait and run her again next year."
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partner's Sister O'Toole won the $100,000, 1 3/8 miles OTT and TOC turf Stakes for fillies and mares by 1/2 lengths at Del Mar on Aug. 19.
Sister O'Toole dug in to hold off Scarabea for the win.
A multiple graded stakes placed stakes 5-year-old mare, Sister O'Toole most recently placed second in the G2 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park on July 9.
"She'll run back in the Bewitch at Keeneland," said Motion.
BERNIE HOUGHTON saddled his mother Betsy's Sylmar Farm's Midnight Hauler, bred by Besty Houghton, to win the $50,000, 1 1/16 mile Lebanon Valley Stakes on the turf at Penn National on Aug. 19.
Midnight Hauler winning at Penn National (Photo by Equi-Photo)Reserved dearly, Midnight Hauler swung six wide on the turn and closed full of run to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
"Midnight Hauler is named after my son Michael," said Betsy."Michael has a trucking business called Apple Trucking. He has a fleet of trucks, but he sometimes drives one himself. One time I called him when he was just leaving Chicago, and he told me he'd be home by midnight. He laughed and said,`You can call me the midnight hauler.'So I named this horse after him."
This was Midnight Hauler's first stakes win after multiple allowance wins and he now has six wins, two seconds and five thirds from 18 starts.
Motion also had three maiden special weight winners as well as a maiden claiming winner.
Madaket Stables' G Laurie won a $60,000, 1 1/16 mile Maiden Special Weight on the turf at Colonial Downs on Aug. 23.
This was the 2-year-old filly's first start, and she won by 6 lengths.
G Laurie winning at Colonial Downs (Photo by Coady Photography) "She won nicely,"said Motion. "We'll wait for the Selma Stakes at Laurel with her."
The Selima Stakes in run in late November at Laurel.
Wertheimer et Frere's Dataman won a $60,000, 1 mile Maiden Special Weight for 2 year olds on the turf at Colonial on Aug.22.
Dataman won by 1 1/4 lengths in his second start.
"He'll probably run next in the Futurity at Laurel," said Motion.
Herringswell Racing Club and Carl and Yurie Pascarella's Hendrickson won a $37,125, 1 mile Maiden Special Weight for 2 year olds at Presque Isle by 2 1/2 lengths on Aug.22.
Sycamore Hall Thoroughbred's homebred Foul Balls dead heated with Lucky Lorraine for the win in a $39,540, 7 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Laurel on Aug. 21.
