Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Wonder Again ready despite short rest

ELMONT, N.Y. - Some exceptionally talented fillies have won the Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap, including the last three: Perfect Sting, Gaviola, and Voodoo Dancer.

Ten fillies will try to add their names to that distinguished list when the Garden City, the only Grade 1 race for 3-year-old turf fillies in New York, is run on Sunday at Belmont Park.

Four of the 10 fillies entered, including Wonder Again, the 2 1/4-length winner of the Grade 2 Lake Placid, carry 119 pounds as the co-highweights of the 1 1/8-mile race.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

10-minute halt on bets to remember Sept. 11

NEW YORK - Nearly all racetracks and simulcast locations in the United States plan to stop taking bets for 10 minutes on the afternoon of Sept. 11 to commemorate last year's terrorist attacks.

Officials have been asked by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association to close betting, stop racing, and tune all televisions to a broadcast from Del Mar outside San Diego from 4:10 p.m. Eastern to 4:20 p.m. Del Mar has planned two ceremonies related to the attacks and will also hold an after-races charity event.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Janet in line for score in Palomar

DEL MAR, Calif. - A drop in class, and a target to run at, are two factors that should lead Janet to a victory in the Grade 2 Palomar Handicap on Sunday at Del Mar.

As the leaders of the female turf division have scattered - Astra and Golden Apples to the Yellow Ribbon on Oct. 5 at Santa Anita, Affluent to the WinStar Galaxy Stakes on Oct. 4 at Keeneland - the Palomar has taken shape as a $150,000 consolation prize.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Well Fancied wins MacArthur

ELMONT, N.Y. - Say Florida Sandy failed in his bid to win the General Douglas MacArthur Handicap for a third time when he finished sixth as the even-money favorite in Friday's opening-day feature at the Belmont Park fall meet.

Well Fancied was the 4 1/4-length winner of the restricted MacArthur.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Peninsula buys rest of Evangeline

Peninsula Gaming Partners, which operates a riverboat casino in Iowa, made two major purchases last week that will affect the future of Evangeline Downs near Lafayette, La.

The company became the sole owner of the track by purchasing the 50 percent of the facility that it didn't already own from businessman William Trotter, and, in a separate transaction, it purchased approximately 500 acres in a neighboring parish that will serve as the new home for a rebuilt Evangeline Downs.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

'Graceful' inherits the lead

AUBURN, Wash. - The late defection of Always a Dixie, the 121-pound highweight and probable favorite for Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Belle Roberts Handicap at Emerald Downs, will leave just five older fillies and mares to vie for the $60,000 pot.

Always a Dixie, a winner of three of her four starts at Emerald Downs, all in stakes, was declared out of the race on Friday night by her trainer, Barbara Heads, who reported the filly had bruised a hoof.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Bullseye on 'Bill' in Hastings colt division

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Two-year-olds headline the 12-race card at Hastings Park Sunday afternoon as both divisions of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Sales Stakes are on tap. Bullseye Bill should go favored over seven other colts and geldings, but it's hard to say who will be favored in the fillies' division. Both races are worth $60,000 and are at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Habibti back from her layoff

DEL MAR, Calif. - After a four-month break, Habibti returns in Sunday's $75,000 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar, a race that trainer Bob Baffert expects to lead to a start in more prominent stakes this fall.

The winner of the Del Mar Debutante and Hollywood Starlet last year, Habibti has not run since finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3. Baffert warned that she is not 100 percent ready for a return.

"She might come up a little short, but she's doing well," he said. "This was a last-minute thought."

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Sir Bear's Kentucky trip canceled

MIAMI - Sir Bear will run next in the $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap on Oct. 12 here, rather than in the Grade 2 Kentucky Cup Classic next Saturday at Turfway Park as originally planned.

"We decided it was just too far to ship not knowing who you might catch in the race," said Sir Bear's trainer, Ralph Ziadie, on Friday.

Sir Bear worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds here Friday morning.

Fri, 09/06/2002 - 00:00

Atto to be test of Nuclear energy

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nuclear Debate has racked up plenty of miles throughout his career, racing in England, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Dubai, the United States, and Canada.

But Nuclear Debate will be confronted with a new type of journey here Sunday: The Atto Mile will be the longest distance he has yet attempted.

Despite being a 7-year-old veteran of 44 starts, Nuclear Debate has not raced farther than 6 1/2 furlongs. He finished seventh and third in two trips over Santa Anita's hillside course earlier this season, both at 6 1/2 furlongs.