Horse Racing Roundup : Toro Rides By Land By Sea to Victory in Milady

By Land By Sea enhanced her reputation as one of the nation’s top racing mares Saturday, winning the $156,700 Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park for her fourth straight victory.

Ridden by Fernando Toro, By Land By Sea had to fight off the challenge of Invited Guest, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, to gain a 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race. Integra was a distant third in the four-horse field.

By Land By Sea, carrying top weight of 124 pounds, was timed in 1:43 3/5 as the favorite of the crowd of 24,355. With only four horses in the field, there was no show wagering. The winner paid $3.20 and $2.80. Invited Guest returned $3.

Invited Guest, expected to trail early, moved past By Land By Sea going down the backstretch and had a 1/2-length lead at the head of the stretch. Toro applied the pressure to By Land By Sea in a prolonged duel down the stretch.

The winner earnedup $89,200 to go with the $537,763 she accumulated in 12 previous races.

Great Communicator beat Putting by a head to win the $300,000 Golden Gate Handicap at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif.

Great Communicator, ridden by Ray Sibille, gave up the lead in midstretch but then dug back inside to win at the wire in the season’s richest race at Golden Gate Fields. The victory was worth $165,000 to the 5-year-old son of Key To The Kingdom and pushed his career earnings to $1,096,040.

The defending champion, Rivlia, launched a late bid but finished a length back in third. Roi Normand was fourth, Variety Road last.

Great Communicator, carrying 120 pounds, covered the 1 3/8-mile course in 2:15 2/5 and paid $5.20, $3.40 and $2.40. Putting returned $5.60 and $2.80. Rivlia paid $2.60.

Jim’s Orbit slipped between horses in the stretch and pulled away for a 2-length victory over Primal in the $250,000 Ohio Derby at North Randall, Ohio.

Jockey Shane Romero forced Jim’s Orbit between early pacesetter Din’s Dancer and late-closing Primal midway through the stretch. Jim’s Orbit covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 3/5.

The Texas-bred chestnut colt earned $150,000 for owner James E. Cottrell. The victory pushed Jim’s Orbit’s career earnings to $589,720.

Jim’s Orbit, the 3-1 favorite, returned $5.60, $3.20 and $2.60. Primal, ridden by M.A. Gonzalez, paid $5.80 and $4.40, and Intensive Command returned $5.60 to show under jockey Mike Venezia.

Din’s Dancer, ridden by Pat Day, faded to finish fourth.

Notches Trace led all the way to win the $154,150 Monmouth Park Budweiser Breeders’ Cup by 1 lengths over favorite Le L’Argent at Oceanport, N.J.

Notches Trace, ridden by Rick Wilson, covered the 1 mile 70 yards in 1:41 and paid $10.40, $4.60 and $3.80.

Le L’Argent returned $2.60 and $2.60, while Natania finished third and paid $3.20.

Coeur de Lion gained the lead in the final furlong and held on to win by a neck in the $252,800 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Coeur de Lion, with Craig Perret aboard, went 1 3/8 miles on the firm inner turf course in 2:13 2/5. Coeur de Lion paid $14.60, $7 and $5. Pay the Butler paid $3.60 and $2.80, and Milesius returned $4.