Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Stormy Express prevails in three-horse photo

Stormy Express picked up her third straight stakes win on Saturday, when she held on to defeat Came West by a neck in the $50,000 El Dario for fillies and mares at Sunland Park. It was another head back in third to Miss Dolce.

Stormy Express ($13.60) tracked the pace in second in the early stages and went on to cover the 6 furlongs in 1:17.02. Jockey Anthony Cruz was aboard for Connie and Richard Snyder and trainer Jimmie Claridge.

Stormy Express had won the La Fiesta and the Fair Queen at the Downs at Albuquerque leading up to the El Dario.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Ez Dreamer confims status as top Turf Paradise sprinter

Ez Dreamer may not have the six-furlong world record like rival Twin Sparks, but he proved nonetheless he's the best sprinter and best horse on the Turf Paradise grounds Saturday when he captured the meet's marquee event, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

First stakes wins for Forest Attack, Lady's Laughter

Forest Attack and Lady's Laughter posted mild upsets when rallying from just off the pace to capture twin $50,000 stakes Saturday at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Forest Attack, ridden by Tommy Pompell, captured the Dust Commander Stakes about an hour before Lady's Laughter, with John McKee aboard, won the Likely Exchange Stakes. Both races were run at a mile on Polytrack.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Decelerator gives Lukas third win of day

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- The rail is the shortest way home and Decelerator took advantage of her inside post on Saturday, when she drove to a one-length win over Eve Giselle in the at Oaklawn. It was another length and a quarter back in third to Bell's Shoes.

The Martha Washington, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, was the first of two local preps for the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Rule Grade 1-bound after Sam Davis score

Rule further enhanced his already lofty status in the 3-year-old division with a professional three-length victory over a game but overmatched Schoolyard Dreams in Saturday's at Tampa Bay Downs. The previously undefeated Uptowncharlybrown never threatened the leaders while finishing a well beaten third in the Grade 3 event.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Clear Sailing rallies from last in Pelleteri

NEW ORLEANS - Jockey Shane Sellers piloted Clear Sailing from last to first to win the $60,000 Pelleteri Stakes by a neck on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

On a day when speed seemed to be holding, Sellers took Clear Sailing far back, while longshot Fighter Wing set slow fractions of 24.45 and 48.84 seconds.

"I made up my mind I was going to be a hero or a zero," said Sellers. "I took her back and let her make one run. She was picking off horses left and right."

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Emerald stakes trimmed by $255,000

The Emerald Downs stakes schedule took a little trim for the 2010 season, with four fewer stakes and $255,000 less in purse money than in 2009. But most of the major stakes will be brought back this year, including the meet's annual marquee race, the Grade 3 Longacres Mile.

Emerald Downs, located in the Seattle suburb of Auburn, will race 90 days, April 9 to Sept. 26.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Roman Chestnut connects at 45-1

Adam Cognialese
Roman Chestnut stretched out around two turns for the first time in Saturday's Busher St akes at Aqueduct and the result was a $93 win payoff.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Roman Chestnut was not among the original nominees for Saturday's $65,000 at Aqueduct. But her connections' desire to run her long, combined with a fortuitously-timed illness, led to the filly being supplemented to the race.

That $650 investment paid huge dividends Saturday for owner Ellen O'Connell and trainer Leah Gyarmati when Roman Chestnut wore down the seemingly home-free Anchorage to win the 1 1/16-mile Busher by one length. Anchorage, who set the pace under Fernando Jara, finished second, 5 1/2 lengths ahead of Speightful Affair, the 8-5 favorite.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Fountain, Risen Star compete for same horses

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The decision by Fair Grounds to rearrange its stakes schedule and push the Louisiana Derby back to March 27 did much more than simply motivate Gulfstream management to move the Grade 1 Florida Derby up a week to March 20 to avoid a potential head-to-head conflict between the two races. It has also put both tracks in competition for the plethora of outstanding 3-year-olds stabled in south Florida this winter.

Sat, 02/13/2010 - 00:00

Golden Gate cuts purses, cancels stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Golden Gate Fields announced Friday that due to declining handle it would cancel the Grade 3 Golden Gate Fields Turf and two other stakes and will reduce purses by an average of 7.5 percent when racing resumes next Thursday.