2 horses die in 2 days of racing at Santa Anita

Always A Virgin drew the pole for the finals in the $725,480 Messenger Stakes for 3-year-old pacers at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday. Always A Virgin turned in a 1:53.1, the fastest of the two eliminations. Eight horses are entered in the final leg of the triple crown. Driven by Brian Sears, Always A Virgin, has won 11 of 17 and earned $647,463 this year.

Curlin won the five million-dollar Breeders’ Cup Classic in impressive style at Monmouth Park on Saturday, adding the coveted title to his Preakness Stakes triumph.

Tricky Causeway held off True Cause by a neck Thursday in the $78,000 Awad Stakes at Belmont Park. Tricky Causeway, ridden by Norberto Arroyo Jr., ran 1 3-8 miles on the turf course in 2:18.29, and paid $12.40, $7 and $3.60. The 4-year-old trained by Jimmy Jerkens has four victories in nine career starts.