Horse Racing News by Frank Angst

Juddmonte Farms' 3-year-old filly Close Hatches appears to be taking things to another level as summer turns to fall. The First Defence filly registered her second straight grade I victory Saturday, Sept. 21 in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes.

After knocking on the door in four stakes starts since her arrival from her native France, Minakshi secured the first stakes victory of her career Sept. 15 in the $295,952 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine.

Forte Dei Marmi completed his climb to the top of the stakes ladder Sept. 15 with a victory in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by Vtech at Woodbine, the first Grade 1 score for the veteran turf runner.

Avoiding trouble near the eighth pole when favored Ready to Act bore in sharply while leading and hit the rail, Harlequin Ranches' Llanarmon surged between rivals to post a victory in the $217,907 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.

Still last in mid-stretch, Peace Preserver rallied between horses to secure the first graded stakes win of her career with an upset tally in the $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes.

One year after saddling Gary Barber and Stoneway Farm's Spring Venture to victory in the 2012 Natalma Stakes, trainer Mark Casse has entered four fillies in the one-mile turf race for juvenile fillies Sept. 14 at Woodbine.

Pants On Fire drew away late to post a clear win in the Ack Ack Handicap Sept. 7 at Churchill Downs, completing the one-turn mile in a stakes-record time of 1:33.78.

After winning a graded stakes for the first time since 2011 in his previous start, Pants On Fire will try for two straight when he starts in the $100,000 Ack Ack Handicap Sept. 7 at Churchill Downs.

After tracking the leaders through the turn, Michael Langford's Dunkin Bend rallied three wide turning for home on his way to a clear victory in the $96,000 Sapling Stakes Sept. 1 at Monmouth Park.

Fred Allor's homebred Five Iron scored a third straight front-running victory Sept. 1, this time nailing down the first graded stakes win of his career in the $150,000 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.