Horseracing

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$2 million Ladies' Classic

Ginger Punch delivered her fourth straight graded stakes win in Friday's $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, rallying gamely in deep stretch to catch Lemon Drop Mom and score by a nose. Unbridled Belle, who led briefly, faded in the lane to finish third. Ginger Punch, a 5-year-old Awesome Again mare, was trying the 10 furlongs for the first time and showed the distance is within her reach as she finished in 2:03.37 over a fast track under Rafael Bejarano. She now has 12 wins from 20 lifetime starts, including her hard-fought victory over Hystericalady in last year's Ladies' Classic. "This race was very close and very scary," Bejarano said. "The other horse tried hard, too, but my horse doesn't quit. She runs 'til the end." Winning trainer Bobby Frankel indicated he will give Ginger Punch one more start before the Breeders' Cup -- the $600,000, 9-furlong Beldame at Belmont on Sept. 27.

Hystericalady toyed with a quartet of rivals in Sunday's $300,000 Molly Pitcher Handicap at Monmouth Park, tracking the pace set by Rolling Sea into the top of the stretch, then drawing off to win by 8 lengths, ridden out by Robby Albarado. Rolling Sea held second, followed by Lexi Star, Talkin About Love and Cowgirls Don't Cry. Hystericalady, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred daughter of Distorted Humor, finished the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.31. Jerry Hollendorfer trains the mare. "We'll probably go to the Lady's Secret Stakes at Santa Anita," Hollendorfer said. "Or we might skip it and go right to the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup is the goal."

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 08/25/2008

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