Sun, 03/10/2013 - 11:32

Fonner Park cancels Sunday card

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - The Sunday card at Fonner Park was called off in midmorning as a winter storm moved into the area.

Saturday's card started off with temperatures in the 60's and a fast track. By late in the card the temperature had dropped to 38 with rain downgrading the track to muddy. Freezing temperatures overnight and heavy snow Sunday morning was making travel difficult and officials made the decision to call off the card.

Fonner Park also lost its opening day program on Feb. 22 due to snow.

Sun, 03/10/2013 - 10:22

Delta Downs: Hero Force adds Pelican to his stakes haul

Hero Force won the third stakes of his career Saturday night, when he was prominent throughout for a two and a quarter length win in the $75,000 Pelican at Delta Downs. Heitai finished second in the race restricted to 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana, while it was another neck back in third to Unbridled’s Score.

Hero Force ($5.20) prompted the pace through a half-mile in 47.13 seconds, then overtook the leaders and went on to win the seven and a half furlong race run around two turns in 1:33.36. Colby Hernandez was aboard for Robbie Norman and trainer Bret Calhoun.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 20:12

Golden Gate Fields: Hidinginplainsight wins Camila Urso

Hidinginplainsight ($10) turned what looked to be a contentious race into an easy, front-running victory in the $51,650 Camila Urso Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

The Elusive Quality filly broke a step slowly from the rail but quickly claimed the lead. She never was seriously challenged and extended her margin through the stretch, winning the six-furlong race by two lengths over Distinctive Yolie, who rallied from seventh in the field of eight.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 19:59

Sunland Park: Lester’s Echo wires Mt. Cristo Rey

Coady Photography
Lester’s Echo, with Isaias Cardenas riding, wraps up victory in the Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap.

Lester’s Echo used his good speed to wire the field in the $85,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap at Sunland Park on Saturday, winning by three-quarters of a length over Kiss My Hennessy. The 4 1/2-furlong race was restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 19:48

Santa Anita: Birdlover wires China Doll Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – One race later than hoped, a 3-year-old trained by Doug O’Neill led throughout to win a stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Goldencents set a quick pace in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes and faded to finish fourth. In the next race, Birdlover ($22.80) set a modest pace and held off 8-1 Magnificent Shirl to win the $77,870 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

“We were hoping to get an easy lead in the seventh race,” O’Neill said, referring to the San Felipe.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 19:23

Turf Paradise: Jaws n' Paws repeats in Mesa Handicap

PHOENIX – E Z Kitty may be the leading lady routing at Turf Paradise these days, but Jaws n’ Paws let it be known Saturday that the distaff sprint division still belongs to her, as the 6-year-old mare dominated the $35,000 Mesa Handicap for the second straight year.

Owned by Stateside Racing and trained by Robertino Diodoro, the daughter of Onebadshark romped by eight lengths in an optional claimer here Feb. 8, her first start in more than seven months. That race apparently served her well.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 19:09

Oaklawn Park: Cyber Secret by a head in Razorback Handicap

Coady Photography
Cyber Secret (No. 3) beats Golden Ron by a head in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap, his third win at the Oaklawn Park meet.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cyber Secret on Saturday remained perfect at the Oaklawn Park meet put on by his owner, Charles Cella, when he edged Golden Ron by a head to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap.

It was the third local win this season for Cyber Secret, who had taken a pair of allowances leading up to what served as a prep for next month’s Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap.

“It’s always nice when you win for the boss,” said winning rider Robby Albarado.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 19:03

Santa Anita: Hear the Ghost upsets in San Felipe

Barbara D. Livingston
Hear the Ghost (5), with Corey Nakatani riding, beats Flashback in the San Felipe.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There were eight horses in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, but Flashback and Goldencents acted as if the race was theirs, and theirs alone, and it cost them.

Hear the Ghost ($13.80), benefiting from a silly speed duel between the 3-year-old colts heretofore acknowledged as the best Kentucky Derby prospects on the West Coast, rallied from fifth the final half of the 1 1/16-mile race and nailed Flashback near the wire to score a half-length win in this final major prep for next month's Santa Anita Derby.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 18:58

Fair Grounds: Delaunay wins Kenner to complete sweep of sprints

Lou Hodges Jr.
Delaunay won the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes to improve to 6 for 7 since being claimed last May.

NEW ORLEANS – Delaunay completed a sweep of the sprint stakes at the 2012-13 Fair Grounds meet with yet another easy victory Saturday in swift time in the $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes.

With jockey Rosie Napravnik having no problems whatsoever after her mount broke sharply from the outside post, Delaunay won for the fifth straight time after securing the lead down the backstretch and rolling on to finish 4 1/2 lengths clear of Gantry.

Sat, 03/09/2013 - 18:55

Tampa Bay Downs: Old Tune takes Hillsborough on front end

John Duca/Tom Cooley
Old Tune, with Joel Rosario riding, wins the Hillsborough Stakes.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Brazilian-bred Old Tune proved her initial win on U.S. soil was no fluke Saturday when she scored her second straight win in this country with a front-running victory over 11 rivals in the 15th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes.