Turf Paradise track report

Sandra Schleiffers has been on the cutting edge for some time. Back on April 12, 1969, Schleiffers became one of the nation's first female jockeys when she rode her first winner at Turf Paradise. The then 22-year-old would ride for another seven years, and become the first female jockey admitted to the Jockeys' Guild, this after first being a member of the Sisters of St. Francis in Clinton, Iowa.

Schleiffers, now 59, lives at the Lazy J Bar S Ranch in Loveland, Colo. Having earned her doctorate in exercise science, Schleiffers teaches equestrian show jumping. Schleiffers will be a guest Sunday on Turf Paradise's "Riders Up," a one-hour weekly radio program with hosts Bill Straus and Vince Francia. The show airs from 10-11 a.m. Mountain on KXAM 1310 AM.

"She's absolutely delightful," said Francia, director of marketing for Turf Paradise, who spoke with Schleiffers recently. "And she's led quite a life. When I asked her why she left the contemplative life for that of horse racing, she replied, 'The nuns didn't take too kindly to sneaking smokes in the woods.' "

* Chris Landeros, with apprentice of the meet honors likely secured, swept last Sunday's daily double by guiding Sky Emerald ($7.80) and John's Kinda Girl ($6.40) to victory. That pushed his win total to 42 for the meet. Landeros will head to Hollywood Park just before the end of this meet May 21.

* Showing no signs of slowing down with age, 11-year-old Full Moon Madness ($7.80) scored a head decision over Aza in last Sunday's $25,000 Blaze O'Brien Stakes.

Ridden by Jorge Carreno, Full Moon Madness covered the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.43. It was Full Moon Madness's 18th win in 64 career starts, and pushed his career bankroll to $1,236,053.