Kudu, a deep closer who had been beaten more than 24 total lengths in his last two starts, rallied from far back to upset Saturday's $75,000 Docent Handicap at Philadelphia Park.
Ridden by Stewart Elliott for trainer Keith Lebarron, Kudu ($19.80) was last of eight after the first half-mile of the 1 1/8-mile race for Pennsylvania-breds and still had only one horse beaten after six furlongs in 1:12.06.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Phil Sims has been based at Keeneland during the vast majority of his 30 years of training racehorses. Saturday, Sims didn't have to go anywhere to get the thrill of his career when Hot Cha Cha, ridden by James Graham, stormed through an inside opening when straightening for home and drew clear to a 4 1/2-length romp in the 26th running of the Grade 1, at Keeneland.
Hot Cha Cha, a daughter of Cactus Ridge, returned $19 as fourth choice in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies. She completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.09 over a turf course rated soft.
Going Ballistic is on top of his game right now, and he could soon be taking his show to New Mexico. The $200,000 Zia Park Distance Championship on Dec. 6 is a possible target for the Remington Park based horse, said his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.
Going Ballistic has put up two of the best Beyer Figures of his career in his last two starts. He won the $150,000 Governor's Cup at Remington on Sept. 7 with a 96, then equaled the number earlier this month when he closed from 15 lengths back to finish third to Awesome Gem in the Grade 2, $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It was obvious by his comments on Saturday that trainer Tim Ice is not based in California.
After Summer Bird breezed five furlongs in 1:02 for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, Ice said a slow clocking was not a major issue.
"That's the last thing on my mind," Ice said. "If they go fast, I get mad."
Last month a tentative winter campaign was laid out for Star Guitar, who is arguably the top male Louisiana-bred in training. Friday night at Delta Downs, he accomplished his first objective by rolling to a two-length win in the $100,000 Gold Cup.
From here, the plan is a start in the $150,000 Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds on Dec. 12. Further down the road, the goal for Star Guitar is a return trip to Delta for defense of his title in the $200,000 Premiere Night Championship on Feb. 6.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - One career moved to a new level in the Grade 2, while another concluded with a final gallant effort.
Etched dug in to hold off Kiss the Kid by a neck Friday night on a sloppy, sealed track in the biggest event of the Meadowlands season.
The talented but fragile Etched, a 4-year-old colt, improved to an impressive 5 for 6 in his brief career.
Alan Garcia was aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as Etched ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:45.93, breaking the stakes mark of 1:46 set by K. J.'s Appeal in 1998. He paid $5.40 to win.
Jockey Yuri Yaranga reached a personal milestone Friday, getting his 1,000th victory by winning 5 of the 7 races on the Beulah Park card.
A native of Peru, Yaranga won the first four races of the live card and then the final event. They were the only five mounts he had on the day.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dubai Majesty, with Jamie Theriot aboard, got a perfect stalking trip from just behind front-running Libor Lady before moving along to a 1 1/4-length victory Friday in the $116,700 Franklin County Stakes over a soft Keeneland turf course.
Sent away the favorite in a field of 11 fillies and mares, Dubai Majesty returned $6.20 after finishing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.64. Nadeshiko finished third, another 8 1/4 lengths back.
A petition drive to allow casino-type gambling at Pinnacle Race Course and four other Michigan tracks won approval from the state canvassing board on Wednesday. A group known as Racing to Save Michigan, based at Hazel Park Harness Raceway, will now be allowed to circulate petitions in order to place their initiative on the 2010 ballot. They will have 180 days to collect 380,126 signatures.
