Mon, 02/16/2009 - 00:00

Quality Road eyes rebound in stakes

J.B. Falconer
Beethoven will make his next start in the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 28. He worked five furlongs in 1:04.94 on Sunday in preparation for the race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The prospective starting lineup for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 28 - a formidable group to begin with - got even stronger after trainer Jimmy Jerkens confirmed he is pointing Quality Road for the one-mile event.

Mon, 02/16/2009 - 00:00

Song of Navarone breaks track record

Song of Navarone picked up his third stakes win in a row in Sunday's $50,000 Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park, lowering the track record for 1 1/16 miles in the process. Early pacesetter One Lucky Buck held on stubbornly for the place spot and it was Quiet Again reporting home third.

Mon, 02/16/2009 - 00:00

Gozzip Girl gives Albertrani stakes sweep

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tommy Albertrani completed a sweep of the weekend turf stakes at Gulfstream Park, sending out Gozzip Girl to a 2 1/4-length victory over Oilgonewile in Sunday's $125,000 Coconut Grove for 3-year-old fillies. Albertrani won the open division of the same race, the $125,000 Hallandale Beach, the previous afternoon with Duke of Homberg.

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Rachel Alexandra romps by eight lengths

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Rachel Alexandra enhanced her reputation as one of the nation's top 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, when she waltzed home by eight lengths in the $50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park. It was her first start since a powerful win in the Grade 2 Golden Rod last November at Churchill Downs, and she covered the one mile in a meet-best time of 1:36.40.

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Life Is Sweet gets there on time

ARCADIA, Calif. - As Life Is Sweet ran down the stretch of Sunday's $200,000 La Canada Stakes, her chances seemed dim to jockey Garrett Gomez. Then, she displayed her brilliance.

Life Is Sweet rallied from last into a slow pace to win the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Magical Fantasy.

The rally stunned, and delighted, Gomez.

"I knew she could lengthen her stride and quicken, but I didn't know if she could lengthen her stride and catch them," he said. "It takes a tremendous filly to do that with the fractions they set."

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Valid Stripes takes his second stakes of the winter

Valid Stripes continued his strong meet at Retama Park when he tracked the pace en route to a 2 1/2-length win in Saturday night's $125,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile. It was his second stakes win during the current winter season, his first coming in the $50,000 Groovy in December.

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Not for Silver stays perfect in Capossela

Not for Silver stepped up in class and stepped up his game with a very professional-looking 1 1/4-length victory in Sunday's $69,850 Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

The victory was Not for Silver's third from as many starts and showed that he might be more than just capable of beating up on Maryland-based horses.

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Any Limit has enough to turn back Game Face

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Any Limit avenged her recent setback at the hands of Game Face in the First Lady Handicap when she outgamed that rival through the stretch en route to a 1 1/4-length tally in Sunday's $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The victory was the second in the Hurricane Bertie for Any Limit, who also won the Grade 3 event in 2007.

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Stealth Cat scores in Santa Teresa

Stalking the early pace under confident handling by Luis Contreras, Stealth Cat kicked clear in the late going to capture Saturday's $50,000 Santa Teresa Handicap at Sunland Park. R Charlie's Angel finished 2 1/2 lengths back in second, followed by Petition the Lady. Highweight Goodbye Norma Jean got caught up in a spirited pace duel early and tired to report home seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong headliner for fillies and mares.

Sun, 02/15/2009 - 00:00

Chocolate Candy holds on in El Camino Real

ALBANY, Calif. - Chocolate Candy, asked to move earlier than normal, dug in when challenged late to capture the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Aquicksting took command of the 1 1/8-mile race early, opening a four-length lead after the opening quarter. He maintained his advantage to the half-mile pole, but Chocolate Candy, the 1-2 favorite, and second-choice Axel Foley put him away approaching the quarter pole.