Horse Racing News by Jack Shinar

Ultra Blend, the ultra-consistent California-bred 5-year-old mare, became a grade I winner with a hard-fought neck victory over Zazu in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar.

Turbulent Descent flashed her true ability when she ran away from the field in the Grade 1, $250,000 Test Stakes as the 9-10 favorite at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 6.

Undaunted by Turbulent Descent's defeat as the odds-on choice in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes, Southern California trainer Mike Puype returns to New York to try his filly in the Grade 1, $250,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 6.

Zagora earned her first United States win in five starts when she charged home on the outside to tally convincingly by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 1, $500,000 Diana Stakes on the Saratoga turf July 30.

Bourbon Bay, the king of the 2010 distance turf series at Santa Anita, stormed down the Del Mar Polytrack, returning to his winning ways in the July 29 $125,000 Cougar II Handicap (Grade 3) in the seaside oval's Friday night feature.

Payton d'Oro, looking for her first win since returning from nearly a year's layoff in March, leads a closely-matched field for the Grade 1, $250,000 Ruffian Invitational at Saratoga July 31.

A starting berth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is on the line for eight older horses in Del Mar's San Diego Handicap (Grade 2) July 30.

Cambina re-gathered herself and surged between horses in the final strides to finish in a dead-heat for the win with pacesetting Nereid in a spectacular finish to the Grade 1, $250,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park July 16 .

Air Support, coming from the clouds, surged past 20-1 shot Casino Host in deep stretch to capture the Grade 3, $600,000 Virginia Derby by a neck over the closing Banned on the turf at Colonial Downs July 16.

A starting spot in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is at stake when a field of nine lines up for the Grade 2, $200,000 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park July 16.