POMONA, Calif. - A come-from-behind victory Saturday by Smooth Performer in the $50,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes at Fairplex Park capped a banner day for trainer Cliff Sise and jockey Martin Pedroza.
The victory by Smooth Performer ($12.60) was the fourth win on the card for Sise, and the sixth for Pedroza. "I thought I could win four," said Sise, whose previous high was three.
ERIE, Pa. - Cherokee Artist rallied from just off the early pace to win the at Presque Isle Downs on Sunday evening.
Trained by Graham Motion, Cherokee Artist was kept to the outside by jockey Jeremy Rose, before rallying on the far turn and into the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths. J's Sundance Halo finished second, a half-length in front of a late-closing The Roundhouse in third. Vacation, the 8-5 favorite was fourth and Motovato, the 9-5 second choice finished fifth.
Ez Dreamer won his second stakes in his last three starts Sunday at Zia Park, when he shuttled to a 3 1/2-length win over highweight and odds-on favorite Native Ruler in the . It was another length and a quarter back in third to Ducky Drake.
The Premiere was the first stakes of the meet at Zia.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Sunday Geisha got up in the final strides to beat Love That Dance by a half-length Sunday in the $70,000 Trenton Stakes for filly and mare sprinters at Monmouth Park.
Scratched from the Endine Stakes Saturday at Delaware Park, Sunday Geisha, the 3-2 favorite, earned her first stakes victory. A 4-year-old trained by Bruce Levine and ridden by Joe Bravo, Sunday Geisha ran the six furlongs on the fast track in 1:09.82.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Odds-on favorite Ghost Fleet outran a persistent filly, Jenny's So Great, to capture the $169,350 for 2-year-olds at Woodbine Sunday.
Ghost Fleet stalked the leaders on the outside, before hooking up with Jenny's So Great at the eighth pole. Ghost Fleet maintained a neck advantage throughout the final furlong, and prevailed by that margin, in a time of 1:23.20 for the seven furlongs. He paid $2.70.
Turf Melody finished a distant third, and was followed by Clear Turbulence and pacemaker Suffoncified.
Rock'n U S A, who was Manitoba's champion sprinter last year, emerged as a bona fide distance runner with a 1 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Gold Cup at Asssiniboia Downs on Saturday night.
Trained by Tanya Lindsay and ridden by Alan Cuthbertson, Rock'n U S A, dueled throughout the opening six furlongs before opening up into the stretch and holding sway in the 1 1/8-mile Gold Cup for 3-year-olds and upward.
No Reply closed for second money while Brinello, who had disputed the pace with Rock'n U S A, held well to finish another 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
Lone Star Cowboy took advantage of a torrid early pace by rallying to a five-length win in the $70,000 Hillsdale at Hoosier Park on Sunday afternoon.
Trained by Joe Petalino, Lone Star Cowboy was making his third stakes appearance, but first against indiana-bred 2-year-olds. Lone Star Cowboy had been campaigning at Lone Star Park and also ran at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A $35,000 colt by Canadian champion Mobil topped the open session at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's yearling sale at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion on Saturday.
Martha Gonzalez purchased the session topper, who is the first foal from the stakes-placed Hong Kong Dancer, from Hill 'N' Dale Sales Agency, as agent.
