Hawthorne Race Course bucked declining national handle trends, eking out a slight year-to-year increase in total average daily handle during a fall-winter race meet that concluded Jan. 12.
That increase, though, was accompanied by a continued erosion of ontrack customers betting on Hawthorne races, the type of wagering that generates the highest percentage returns for track operators and horsemen.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Not all of jockey Alan Garcia s best horses went south for the winter. So, Garcia decided to come north Monday for the one that stayed behind.
Garcia s one-day visit to Aqueduct was well worth it as he guided Taqarub to a dominating 8 1/4-length victory in the $70,045 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes for 3-year-olds. His final time of 1:09.26 was the fastest six-furlongs run at the inner track meet.
Excessive Victory took control soon after the start in Saturday's $125,000 La Senora Handicap at Sunland Park and cruised to a 1 1/4-length victory in the sprint for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies. Winter Mist rallied for second followed by Devonairre.
Trained by Carlos Sedillo and ridden by Ricardo Jaime, Excessive Victory ($6) won for the third time in four starts. She covered the six furlongs in 1:10.80 over a fast track, and the $75,000 winner's share increased her career bankroll to almost $103,000.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The Monday program at Santa Anita features a pick six carryover of $141,431.
The nine-race program begins at 12:30 p.m., with two stakes included in the pick six races the $70,000 San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-olds sprinters and the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes for older horses over 1 1/4 miles on turf.
The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races, with four sprints and two races on turf.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Garrett Gomez did not realize how talented Life Is Sweet is until Sunday s $150,000 El Encino Stakes was well underway
On the backstretch, Life Is Sweet was farther off the pace than Gomez would have preferred. Any concern ended quickly.
When Life Is Sweet reached the turn, she swept into contention, going from ninth to second by the eighth pole. Life Is Sweet ran past 6-5 favorite Country Star in the final furlong to win the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes by a convincing 2 1/2 lengths.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Todd Pletcher's confidence in Game Face in Sunday's $100,000 First Lady Handicap was well founded as his talented filly rallied to an easy 2 3/4-length victory over Any Limit in the Grade 3 dash for older fillies and mares.
Yet Again, the longest shot in a scratched-reduced field of four, rallied from well off the pace under Orlando Bocachica to win Sunday's $66,120 Affectionately Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.
Are We Dreamin finished second, 11 1/2 lengths ahead of Spritely, the 3-5 favorite who set the early pace. Rap Tale was last.
Originally drawn with six, the Affectionately lost Successful Sarah and Point Me To It to scratches. Point Me To It scratched after showing signs of developing colic, according to the stewards.
ALBANY, Calif. - Odds-on Chocolate Candy ($3.60) lived up to his advanced billing, capturing the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
Making what announcer Michael Wrona called "a mouth-watering move" into the lane, Chocolate Candy pulled clear through the stretch, winning the 1 1/16-mile race by 1 3/4 lengths over Axel Foley in 1:43.98. Both runners were coming out of the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park on Dec. 20.
Previously undefeated Merus Miami was third another 2 1/2 lengths back.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Nownownow was one of the more promising members of Patrick Biancone's stable when he began a one-year suspension for possession of an illegal substance in October 2007.
Nearly 15 months later, Biancone is back in training, and Nownownow remains at the top of that list.
Saturday, Nownownow gave Biancone his first winner since he returned from suspension last fall in the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita. The victory was a surprise to bettors, who sent off Nownownow as an 18-1 outsider.
Bingham dominated Saturday's $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Handicap at Turf Paradise.
Owned by Dennis Weir and trained by Kevin Lewis, Bingham, a 4-year-old son of Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, stalked the pace in the mile turf event, took over into the lane, and drew clear to win by three lengths under Glenn Corbett. Highland Games rallied to be second, while Canard came from last in the field of nine to get third. Majestic Diamond, a well-regarded Southern California invader, sat back, made a run into the lane, but flattened out to finish seventh.