Raging Fever controls race

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Unlike Friday's Comely Stakes in which odds-on choice Storm Flag Flying was upset, Saturday's $150,000 Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct went the way most figured.

Taking advantage of her early speed in a paceless race, Raging Fever led gate to wire to record a half-length victory over a game Smok'n Frolic in the Grade 3 race. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Nonsuch Bay in third.

In breaking a career-high five-race losing streak, Raging Fever joined Straight Deal (1966-67) and Lady D'Accord (1992-93) as the only repeat winners of the Bed o' Roses, which was run for the 47th time.

Raging Fever, a multiple Grade 1 winner, assumed control under jockey Aaron Gryder soon after the start and ran an opening half-mile in 47.05 seconds. She then turned back a challenge from a chasing Smok'n Frolic. Raging Fever, owned by Edward Evans and trained by Mark Hennig, covered the mile in 1:34.86 and returned $3.80.

"Forty-seven is about as slow as she's ever been a half in her life," Hennig said. "I was a little worried that it was almost too slow. Sometimes a horse that's that quick lulls them to sleep and it's hard to get them started again when they're going that easy. Aaron did a great job."

Todd Pletcher, trainer of 120-pound highweight Smok'n Frolic, knew his filly was in trouble when the opening half-mile went so slow.

"At that point everything we hoped wouldn't happen had happened," Pletcher said. "We still gave her a run for her money."

Hennig said Raging Fever would likely be pointed to the $200,000 Shuvee Handicap May 17 at Belmont.

Shine Again wins return

Shine Again, winner of the Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap in 2001 and 2002, made a successful 6-year-old debut Saturday, winning a money allowance race by three-quarters of a length. Shine Again, trained by Allen Jerkens, covered six furlongs in 1:10.40 under Jean-Luc Samyn and pushed her career earnings to $1,028,620 for Bohemia Stable.

* Trainer Joe Orseno recorded his 2,000th career victory when Jolly Roll Romp ($61) won Saturday's nightcap. Shaun Bridgmohan rode the winner, his fourth on the card.

* Jockey Richard Migliore had to take off three mounts Saturday when he was struck in the head by his mount Concorde's Term during the post parade for the second race.

Migliore was not seriously injured and expected to return Wednesday. Adding insult to injury, Concorde's Term won the second race and, Lid, Migliore's mount in the third race, also won.