(Edited Santa Anita report)

ARCADIA, Calif., — Santa Anita Park announced today a list of five finalists for the 60th annual Santa Anita George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, with the winner to be announced in January.  Gary Baze, Calvin Borel, Javier Castellano, David Flores and John Velazquez will face an electorate comprised of their peers and one of the five will be selected the recipient of the 2009 Woolf Award.

Bob Hill
Staff writer
Tracksideview.com

INGLEWOOD, Calif., -  On  a day when the sun was blotted out by the smoke of the Southern California wildfires, Evita Argentina took full advantage of a pace duel between Mi Chiamano Mimi and Palacio de Amor to capture the $100,000 Moccasin at Hollywood Park. 

Tracksideview.com
and racetrack reports

Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will be retired to stud in 2009 according to majority owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable.

It has not been entirely ruled out that he would run in 2009 if an “attractive price was offered at an appropriate venue,” Jackson said. But it looks like that is highly unlikely.

(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, KY., – Courtlandt Farms’ Indescribable closed from far back to nip Long Approach in the shadow of the wire to win the 36th running of the $113,400 Cardinal Handicap (Grade 3) by a head at Churchill Downs on Saturday afternoon.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Indescribable covered the 1 1/8 miles on a “yielding” Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:55.77.

Graham Ross
Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS, La., – Wachtel Stables, Brous Stables and J.D. Lee’s Desert Wheat swung outside the leaders entering the lane and proved best by a length and three-quarters in the inaugural $60,000 Mr. Sulu Stakes Saturday at Fair Grounds.

(NTRA release)

The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) announced today that Larry Jones, trainer of the brilliant three-year-old fillies Proud Spell and Eight Belles, has been chosen as the 2008 winner of the organization’s Big Sport of Turfdom award. The award is presented annually to a person or group of people who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and Thoroughbred racing publicists.

(Edited Churchill Downs report)

LOUISVILLE, Ky., – Jockey Julien Leparoux rode seven winners on the Veterans Day card Tuesday at Churchill Downs to match the single-day record of Hall of Famer Pat Day who initially set the mark on June 20, 1984, when he rode all eight races on that day’s card.

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif., — Favorite High Heel Sneakers, given a ground-saving trip by jockey Victor Espinoza, moved off the rail with three furlongs to run and easily out-ran Brushed Gold through the stretch en route to a 2 ¾-length victory in Sunday’s $65,000 Hermosa Beach Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview.com

Peppers Pride remained unbeaten and stretched her North American win record to 18 straight when she took the New Mexico Cup Fillies and Mare Stakes on Sunday at Zia Park in Hobb, N.M.

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif., — Chocolate Candy, ridden perfectly by Garrett Gomez, charged to the lead inside the sixteenth pole and went on to a one-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park.

The bay son of Candy Ride covered 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in a stakes record time of 1:42.25 while paying $15.60, $6.80 and $3.80 as the fourth choice in the field of seven 2-year-olds. The upset helped set up a…