Sat, 02/26/2011 - 17:59

Flashpoint runs away with Hutcheson

Bob Coglianese
Flashpoint, Cornelio Velasquez up, wins the Hutcheson.

Flashpoint ran himself out of winter racing in New York with a powerful debut victory on Jan. 15. Who knows where, and how high, the colt might be headed now. Flashpoint dueled 3-5 favorite Travelin Man into submission around the far turn and ran off to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 17:48

Soldat draws off in Fountain of Youth; To Honor and Serve third

Soldat put away To Honor and Serve turning for home and stamped himself as a major prospect for the 137th Kentucky Derby when speeding away to a clear-cut victory Saturday in the 65th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 17:39

Choragus wins stretch battle at Tampa

Tom Cooley Photography
Choragus wins the Wayward Lass under Leandro Goncalves.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Ranging up four wide out of the second turn, Choragus dueled through a long drive before coming away with a hard-earned, three-quarter-length win over C C’s Pal in the $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 17:39

Goombada Guska nails speed for Stymie win at Aqueduct

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Goombada Guska, Jose Valdivia Jr. up, wins the Stymie.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Sitting in the garden spot off a speed duel, Goombada Guska rallied outside to collar the spent leaders in the stretch and turned back a late bid from More Than a Reason to win a four-horse renewal of the $61,750 Stymie Stakes by a half-length at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Goombada Guska ($7.10) rated comfortably in third early beneath Jose Valdivia Jr., as 2-5 favorite Remand went to the lead and was pressured constantly from outside by Masala through fractions of 23.16, 48.88 and 1:13.81.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 17:16

R Heat Lightning scores in Davona Dale

Bob Coglianese
R Heat lightning finishes strongly under John Velazquez to win the Davona Dale.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - R Heat Lightning bounced back from the worst performance of her career in the Grade 2 Forward Gal four weeks ago by drawing off to a decisive 7 1/2-length victory over even money favorite Dancinginherdreams in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Davona Dale at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 16:42

R Heat Lightning rallies to Davona Dale victory

R Heat Lightning, with John Velazquez up, rallied up the rail and quickly drew off to a convincing triumph Saturday in the 24th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 15:03

Jockey Joe Farley dies in automobile accident

Joe Farley, a jockey since 2007, died Saturday morning following an automobile accident on his way to work at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pa. He was 20.

Vernon Rings, Farley’s agent, said police suspected excessive speed was the likely cause for the one-car accident. Rings said Saturday afternoon that funeral arrangements were pending. Farley is survived by both parents, one brother, and three sisters. The family is from Jonestown, Pa., according to Rings.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 14:47

Giant Oak, I Want Revenge work at Gulfstream Park

Tom Keyser
Giant Oak works five furlongs at Gulfstream oark on Saturday.

Giant Oak, working for the time since upsetting the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 5, breezed an easy half-mile in 48.48 seconds shortly after the second renovation break here Saturday. Giant Oak posted splits of 11.94, 23.40 and 35.91 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:03 over the fast track.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 14:39

Arch Traveler under consideration for Florida Derby following allowance win

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Arch Traveler stamped himself a potential candidate for the Grade 1 Florida Derby after beating a strong field of first-level allowance horses, including a game runner-up Nacho Business, by three-quarters of a length going a mile and one-eighth for the first time in Saturday’s third race.

Sat, 02/26/2011 - 13:19

Gallagher to take two shots at Santa Anita Handicap

Benoit & Associates
Soul Candy will make his first dirt start in Saturday's Big Cap.

ARCADIA, Calif.– Trainer Paddy Gallagher has two chances to win the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday, with the recent stakes winners Aggie Engineer and Soul Candy. Gallagher will need strength in numbers.

With a field led by the exciting 4-year-old Twirling Candy, Gallagher is banking on stamina to help his runners play an important role in the 1 1/4-mile race, the richest of the Santa Anita meeting for older horses.