Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Cattleman Prospect gets up in Jamison

Cattleman Prospect avenged his loss as the favorite in last month's New Mexico Cup Sprint with a sharp, nose win over Gold Asure in the at Sunland Park on Sunday.

The 6 1/2-furlong race was one of two sprint races on the card for statebreds. In the $125,000 New Mexico Racing Commission, Happy Me ($20.80) upset Negotiablafections.

Cattleman Prospect ($8.80) tracked pacesetter Gold Asure through fractions of 23.08 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.94 for the half-mile before going on to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:17.19.

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

She's Funomenal stays perfect in first stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - She's Funomenal rallied past pacesetter Excellent News in the final furlong to win Sunday's $52,735 Ifyoucouldseemenow Stakes at Hollywood Park, remaining unbeaten after two starts.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, She's Funomenal ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.96. She's Funomenal ($2.60) stalked Excellent News through early fractions of 22.96 and 45.91 seconds and won by three-quarters of a length. Excellent News finished a head in front of Seriously in the field of four 2-year-old fillies.

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Santa Anita cancels Sunday training

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Santa Anita cancelled training on its main track Sunday after more than three inches of overnight rain led to inadequate draining on the synthetic main track.

"We just got battered," track president Ron Charles said. "From Saturday night into Sunday, it was almost three inches of rain. Earlier in the week, we were doing fine, but the last three inches was too much."

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Jockeys hurt in Turf Paradise spill

Jockeys Jake Barton and Carl Williams suffered injuries in a spill in Saturday's eighth race at Turf Paradise.

The incident occurred on the far turn in the 1 1/16-mile race when Barton's mount, It's the Captain, was racing between horses and fell. Williams, aboard Red Neck Bill, could not avoid the fallen horse and went down as well.

Barton suffered a broken jaw and was scheduled for surgery Sunday.

Williams suffered three cracked ribs and two bruised vertebrae. Williams was kept in the hospital Sunday for observation and was expected to be released Monday.

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Freaky extends streak in Champion of Champions

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - He had to work harder than in previously races, but Freaky clinched the 2009 Quarter Horse World Champion title with a half-length win in Saturday's $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.

The victory in the prestigious 440-yard race for 3-year-olds and up was Freaky's fifth consecutive victory, four of which have come in major stakes.

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Fair Grounds cancels Sunday card

Fair Grounds has cancelled its Sunday racing program, citing continuing problems with the track surface in the wake of heavy rain Saturday.

The New Orleans track was forced to abandon Saturday's Louisiana Champions Day card with four races left to run when powerful storms hit the area late in the afternoon. The National Weather Service recorded 5.28 inches of rain falling at the New Orleans International Airport during a 30-hour period ending at 6 a.m. Sunday.

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Mast Track ends losing streak in Native Diver

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A day after being privately acquired by Frank Stronach, Mast Track ended a nine-race losing streak in Saturday's $100,000 Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The winner of the 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup, Mast Track used his customary front-running style to win the by 1 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Mast Track ($8.20) ran 1 1/8 miles on the main track in 1:50.53.

"When he gets the lead, he gets real brave," trainer Humberto Ascanio said. "Rafael did a good job."

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Fair Grounds cancels midway through rich card

NEW ORLEANS - Fair Grounds was forced to cancel the last four stakes races of its Louisiana Champions Day card Saturday as heavy rains washed away a section of the track and made racing impossible.

After an afternoon of drizzle, lightening, and then torrential rains, the horses were saddled in the paddock and awaiting the ninth race, the $100,000 Champions Day Turf, when the decision to halt the card was made.

Sun, 12/13/2009 - 00:00

Rodman eyes Donn after romp

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Rodman, with Javier Castellano up, dominates Saturday's Grade 3 Queens County Handicap at Aqueduct, winning by 5 3/4 lengths.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Six months ago, Rodman ran in a $35,000 claiming race. In two months, he may be running in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap.

Rodman possibly punched his ticket to the $500,000 Donn at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 6 with a dominant, front-running 5 3/4-length victory in Saturday's at Aqueduct. Researcher, the defending Queens County champion, was second by a head over longshot More Than a Reason.

Sat, 12/12/2009 - 00:00

Sourdough Sam glitters in Gold Rush

Sourdough Sam ($4), second in his stakes debut while suffering the first loss of his career in his previous start, handled his first try around two turns, edging clear of stakes winner Our Minesweeper in the lane to win Saturday's $61,400 Gold Rush Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Sourdough Sam, who usually has to make a big late move when sprinting, had a perfect stalking position in the one-mile Gold Rush, sitting third early behind pacesetting Swiss Memo. He made a strong four-wide move on the second turn as he and Our Minesweeper closed ground on the leader.