Douglas wins seven on card

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Jockey Rene Douglas rode seven winners on Arlington's Thursday card, the biggest day for a rider here since Pat Day won eight of nine races on Sept. 13, 1989.

Douglas was unstoppable early Thursday, winning the first five races. Douglas won the first with Stormy Rosa ($5.20), the second with Excellabet ($7), the third with Uncontrollable ($6.20), the fourth with Quest for Truth ($4.20), and the fifth with Willow Cove ($7.40). The streak stopped when favored One More Moondance ran fifth in the sixth race, but Douglas came back with Red Mimi ($3.20) in the seventh and Chirimoya ($3.80) in the eighth.

"My agent, Dennis Cooper," said Douglas, "told me this morning we were going to have a good day. He didn't say how good."

Douglas was on the narrow favorite, Marnita, as he tried to tie Day's mark in the ninth. Stalking a moderate pace on Marnita, Douglas found room on the rail turning for home, but Marnita could not quicken and wound up third.

Douglas extended his lead to 75-48 over Eddie Razo in the rider standings.