Mon, 12/21/2009 - 00:00

Hollywood figures down but not disastrous

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park completed its 27-day fall meeting on Sunday with a drop in average all-sources handle and ontrack handle, track president Jack Liebau said.

The track did not release detailed attendance and handle figures after Sunday's program, but track officials said that overall handle was down 4.3 percent, to approximately $7.8 million, and that ontrack handle was down 11 percent, to $935,000. Average ontrack attendance was down 3 percent, according to Liebau.

Liebau said he anticipated a decline in major business categories.

Mon, 12/21/2009 - 00:00

Derby and Oaks tickets to go on sale Jan. 6

Three weeks after a computer glitch led to a postponement, Churchill Downs will begin selling ticket packages to the 2010 Kentucky Derby and Oaks, officials with the Louisville, Ky., track announced Monday.

A total of 3,000 seats for both days will go on sale Jan. 6 at noon Eastern on the website tickets.churchilldowns.com. The online sales by Churchill, the first in Derby history, were scheduled to begin last Wednesday, Dec. 16, but a "potential data error," as track officials described it, caused the delay.

Mon, 12/21/2009 - 00:00

Blind Luck has Starlet runway to herself

Benoit & Associates
Blind Luck and jockey Rafael Bejarano cruise to a seven-length victory in Sunday's Hollywood Starlet.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Blind Luck left trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer nearly speechless with her seven-length win in the on Sunday.

When he watched the replay of her last-to-first move around the final turn and into early stretch, Hollendorfer just shook his head with amazement. "That's very nice," he said.

Sun, 12/20/2009 - 00:00

Sunland stakes to odds-on King's Water Lilly

King s Water Lilly lived up to her 1-5 billing on Sunday, when she won her two-turn debut by 3 1/4 lengths in the at Sunland Park. The one-mile race was restricted to 2-year-old fillies bred in New Mexico.

Sun, 12/20/2009 - 00:00

Favorite son Good and Lucky does it again

The love affair between Good and Lucky and the Fair Grounds main track goes back several years, but shows no sign of waning. Winning for the sixth time in 10 Fair Grounds starts, Good and Lucky captured the by 1 3/4 lengths on Sunday in New Orleans.

Sun, 12/20/2009 - 00:00

Lookin at Lucky back at top of the class

Benoit & Associates
Lookin at Lucky (center) and Garrett Gomez capture Saturday's Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lookin at Lucky clinched an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male, set himself up to be one of the leading contenders for next year's Kentucky Derby, and gave trainer Bob Baffert his fourth win of the day, all with 2-year-olds, when he captured the on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Sat, 12/19/2009 - 00:00

Ez Dreamer easy winner at Turf Paradise

PHOENIX - Despite coming off a poor race and toting 128 pounds, heavy 2-5 favorite Ez Dreamer was a comfortable winner of Saturday's at Turf Paradise.

Sat, 12/19/2009 - 00:00

Tiz Chrome pulls away to win Stuka

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tiz Chrome remained unbeaten after two starts with an impressive four-length win in Saturday's $53,500 Stuka Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Bob Baffert, Tiz Chrome ($5) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.56, stalking pacesetter Camp Victory for the first half-mile before pulling clear. Domonation closed from fifth to finish second, a neck in front of Shudacudawudya in the field of six.

Baffert said the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 15 would be Tiz Chrome's next goal.

Sat, 12/19/2009 - 00:00

Rapid Racer rolls in Gowell Stakes

Rapid Racer rebounded off a poor effort on dirt when forcing all the pace and emerging victorious Saturday in the at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

With John McKee aboard, Rapid Racer returned $15.80 after finishing 1 3/4 lengths clear of Henry's Posse in a field of 12 2-year-old fillies. Offlee Funny rallied late to be third, another 4 3/4 lengths back.

Sat, 12/19/2009 - 00:00

Star Guitar dominates Champions Day Classic

Louis Hodges Jr.
Star Guitar, ridden by Curt Bourque, won the Louisiana Champions Day Classic by 7 3/4 lengths.

NEW ORLEANS - Star Guitar earned his third career Louisiana Champions Day victory, winning the by 7 3/4 lengths and improving his record to 11 for 14.

Jockey Curt Bourque settled Star Guitar in third behind early pacesetter Takin' the Bullet, then sent him forward at the turn. Star Guitar was never challenged in the stretch.

"I put him where I wanted him to be," said Bourque. "And then I was just the pilot."