Horse Racing Roundup : Java Gold Edges Gulch in the Whitney Handicap

Java Gold, ridden by Pat Day, became the first 3-year-old since Alydar in 1978 to win the $288,500 Whitney Handicap, beating Gulch by three-quarters of a length Saturday before a record crowd of 50,407 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Gulch, who raced as an entry with Gorky, appeared to be an easy winner in midstretch, but Java Gold mounted a late rush for his fourth win in five starts this year. Gulch finished 2 lengths ahead of the favorite, Broad Brush, who carried high weight of 127.

Seldom Seen Sue, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, battled Gorky for the lead for the first half-mile, then faded from contention.

Java Gold paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.60. Gulch returned $4.20 and $2.80, and Broad Brush paid $2.40 to show.

Java Gold earned $173,100. He carried 113 pounds over the fast 1 1/8-mile course in 1:48 4/5.

Trainer MacKenzie Miller said Java Gold will run in the Travers Stakes Aug. 22.

“In the Travers, he’ll be going an eighth of a mile more, and he’ll be going against Alysheba and Bet Twice,” Day said. “I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.”

Blue Jean Baby scored a 10 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Grade II Sorority Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., but pulled up on her way to the winner’s circle.

Jockey Chris McCarron dismounted after noticing that Blue Jean Baby was favoring her left foreleg.

X-rays showed no damage, but more tests will be made Monday.

“It’s really hard to say what’s wrong,” assistant trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “Chris said she was not 100% coming back, so he thought it best to get off her.”

Blue Jean Baby, trained by Wayne Lukas, led the six-furlong race from the start, posting a winning time of 1:10 1/5. Blue Jean Baby earned $111,600.

Blue Jean Baby, the favorite, paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.40. Tomorrow’s Child paid $3.40 and $3.40, and Granny’s Portrait paid $4.60 to show.

Shot Gun Bonnie, leading all the way over a sloppy track, turned back a late charge by Royal Cielo to win by a nose in the $75,000-added Arlington Oaks at Arlington Park in Chicago.

Shot Gun Bonnie, ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr., lasted just long enough to defeat Royal Cielo, who was closing fast on the outside, and earned $63,810. The winner’s time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:53 2/5.

Shot Gun Bonnie paid $12.40, $6 and $4.20. Royal Cielo paid $5.60 and $4.60, and Acting Sue paid $9 to show. The favorite, Bestofbothworlds, finished sixth.

The colt Mack Lobell turned in a record-breaking performance to win the Hambletonian in straight heats at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

Mack Lobell won the second heat, and the race, by 6 lengths over Napoletano in 1:53 3/5, a fifth of a second off the world all-age trotting record set by Prakas in the World Trotting Championship at Duquoin, Ill., in 1985.

Mack Lobell, who won the first division of the first heat in 1:54 over the one-mile track, set a world two-heat record of 3:47 3/5. The old record of 3:48 4/5 was held by Prakas.

Mack Lobell paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10 in boosting his 1987 record to 6-0. Napoletano paid $2.10 and $2.10 after finishing 6 3/4 lengths ahead of Spotlite Lobell, who returned $2.10.