Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Zensational bound for King's Bishop

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The striking 3-year-old sprinter Zensational has trainer Bob Baffert dreaming of the Breeders' Cup Sprint - five months from now.

Zensational won an optional claimer going 6 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park on Friday that had Baffert planning a start in the $300,000 King's Bishop Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds at Saratoga on Aug. 29. The King's Bishop is a Grade 1, and would serve as a vital prep for the BC Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 7. There is a possibility that Zensational would have a start in the interim.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Well Monied continues quick ascent

Benoit Photo
Well Monied wins her stakes debut in Sunday's Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood under Joel Rosario.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Well Monied began the spring as a maiden, winless after three starts. Two months later, after a three-race winning streak, she is the leading 3-year-old turf female in California.

Well Monied won her stakes debut in Sunday's Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap at Hollywood Park, a victory that could lead to two appearances in Grade 1 stakes for the division this summer.

The options for owner C.T. Grether and trainer Howard Zucker are the $700,000 American Oaks here on July 5 and the $350,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 22, or both.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Hezamazing takes first stakes in Arapahoe Sprint

Hezamazing became a stakes winner on Sunday, when he drew out to a 5 1/4-length win over Get Thee Hence in the $22,000 Arapahoe Park Sprint. It was another 6 3/4 lengths back in third to Locomotion.

Hezamazing ($5.20) stalked the pace early, then went on to cover six furlongs on a track rated good in 1:10.04. Quyet Bui was aboard the winner for owner Carly Lee Rollins and trainer Rick Houghton. Hezamazing was making his first start since a March allowance win at Turf Paradise.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Eye of the Leopard up by neck in Plate Trial

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Eye of the Leopard overcame a four-wide trip to land his first stakes Sunday at Woodbine in the $152,000 Plate Trial, an important prep for the $1 million Queen's Plate on June 21.

Eye of the Leopard, trained by Mark Frostad for Sam-Son Farm, was rated about three lengths off the lead on the backstretch under Eurico Da Silva. Costalivin set moderate fractions in the nine-furlong route, before giving way to a stalking Southdale at the head of the stretch.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Love That Dance wires Open Mind

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Love That Dance flew out of the starting gate and never relinquished that advantage Sunday, beating Love for Not by 3 /-2 lengths in the $60,000 Open Mind Handicap for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.

Joe Bravo hustled the lone 3-year-old in the race right to the front and they were never challenged during the six furlongs run in 1:09.59 on the fast track.

"She broke very sharp," trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said. "Joe got her out there in good order and she relaxed really well. She had plenty left."

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Willis sends out all four in Heritage superfecta

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Ragazzo, winning for the third time in four starts, captured the Grade 1, $1,107,000 Heritage Place Futurity for Quarter Horses at Remington Park on Saturday night. A sorrel juvenile colt by Shazoom, Ragazzo won by a head over Streakin Down in a time of 17.585 seconds for the 350 yards. The Hiway was third and Happy Trick was fourth to account for an Eddie Willis-trained superfecta in the richest race on the card of seven stakes races. Willis also trains Too Tiny to Quit, who finished sixth as the favorite.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Unreachable Star uncorks strong late run

Unreachable Star unleashed a powerful run in the stretch to win the $70,000 William Henry Harrison at Indiana Downs on Saturday night. Ridden by leading rider Orlando Mojica, Unreachable Star was last in the early going. Mojica angled the 5-year-old out on the turn, and when asked, Unreachable Star blew past the filed of 12 Indiana-bred and -sired horses to win by two widening lengths.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Native Ruler takes Prairie Express with wide move

A beautiful spring night attracted a large crowd to the Prairie Meadows apron to witness a pair of $50,000 stakes races, the Prairie Express and the Prairie Rose, both contested at six furlongs.

The Prairie Express, reduced to a field of four by the defection of six-furlong track record holder Coach Jimi Lee, was taken in convincing fashion by 3-10 favorite Native Ruler, who showed no ill effects from a foot injury that had sidelined him since winning Oaklawn Park's King Cotton Stakes on Jan. 31.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Ordway Falls Nlove captures Bluegrass at Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. - Ordway Falls Nlove pulled off a mild upset with her $15.40 win over a field of five other older fillies and mares in the $15,720 Bluegrass Stakes at Lincoln on Saturday.

Sun, 05/31/2009 - 00:00

Spring House squeezes through on rail

ALBANY, Calif. - Odds-on Spring House ($3.20) made a quick rail move to gain position and unleashed a strong stretch run to win the $100,000 Grade 3 Golden Gate Fields Turf at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

The 7-year-old gelding, nearing millionaire status after notching his sixth stakes victory, avoided getting boxed in on the final turn of the 1 3/8-mile race. When the field hit the stretch, he easily wore down pacesetting Yacht Spotter, pulling clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 2:19.62. Sir Dave rallied to be second by one length over Yacht Spotter.