Sun, 06/08/2008 - 00:00

Rain causes Stampede cancellations

Stampede Park canceled its last two races on Saturday and its entire card on Sunday after heavy rainfall created an uneven surface that could not be properly maintained. Saturday's Duchess of York and Sunday's Teeworth Plate were postponed by one week and will be redrawn and run next weekend, the last two days of the meeting.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Jockey arrested, said to be in U.S. illegally

Jockey Marco Ccamaque, a 35-year-old native of Lima, Peru, was arrested Friday night by the U.S. Border Patrol at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa. According to Jim Perfetto of the Pennsylvania Racing Commission, Ccamaque was arrested because he had no working papers and was in the country illegally.

“He will be held in the Erie County holding facility and then taken to York for a hearing before an immigration judge,” Perfetto said.

Ccamaque has hired an attorney, George Cramaco, who was unavailable for comment.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Oelectra wins closing-day feature

Oelectra ($10), ridden by Rosie Napravnik, held off even-money favorite Circuit Breaker by a neck to win the closing-day feature at Pimlico, the $50,000 Whimsical, for filly and mare sprinters.

* Josue Arce, 22, who was brought to Maryland from South Florida by trainer Scott Lake at the beginning of Pimlico's meet in April, finished as the meet's leading rider.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

True Metropolitan prevails

True Metropolitan held off Sterwins in the stretch for a determined victory in the Grade 3, $153,400 Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine.

True Metropolitan ($4.80), Canada's champion older runner in each of the past two years, set slow fractions of 24.39 and 47.84 seconds under Jim McAleney, while being pressed by Good and Lucky in the 1o1/16-mile race.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Major Rhythm hangs on in Rossi Gold

First the Rossi Gold Stakes was delayed by a thunderstorm, and then when the Belmont Stakes went off. A half-hour later, 9-year-old Major Rhythm held off Rumor Has It to win the $50,000 overnight stakes by a half-length.

Major Rhythm, ridden by Trey Agilar, and Telling caught the pacesetter Rumor Has It after turning for home, but Telling didn't go on, and Rumor Has It re-broke along the rail. Major Rhythm, winning for the 13th time in 59 starts, had enough left to hold on.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Rosinka repeats in Rooney

Rosinka showed no signs of rust from an eight-month layoff when she returned to Delaware Park on Saturday to win the $75,000 John Rooney Memorial Stakes for the second straight year.

Allowed to set soft early fractions of 26.59 seconds, 51.29, and 1:15.02 while opening up by three lengths, the 5-year-old Rosinka ($3.20) held off 10-1 longshot Royalties by three-quarters of a length. It was another length back to Shytoe Lafeet.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Indy Wind romps in Frisk Me Now

Indy Wind provided further proof that he's extremely fond of Monmouth Park when he returned from a 2 1/2-month layoff to capture Saturday's $70,000 Frisk Me Now Stakes for the second straight year.

A three-time stakes winner in New Jersey last year, including the Skip Away at Monmouth and the Alysheba at the Meadowlands, the 6-year-old Indy Wind ($9) was only the third choice in a field of seven older horses at 7-2. He made that price seem generous by cruising to a 7 1/2-length victory under Stewart Elliott.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

U.S. return likely for Casino Drive

ELMONT, N.Y. - We'll be back.

That was the proclamation of the Japanese connections who were forced to scratch Casino Drive from Saturday's Belmont Stakes due to a stone bruise in his left hind foot that was first noticed Friday morning. Casino Drive is by Mineshaft out of the dam Better Than Honour, making him a half-brother to Belmont Stakes winners Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007).

Casino Drive, who had won both of his starts, including the Grade 2 Peter Pan here on May 10, was the second choice on the Belmont morning line behind Big Brown.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Dancing Forever wins head bob

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rene Douglas hadn't experienced such a thrill on Belmont Stakes Day since he notched arguably the greatest victory of his career 12 years ago aboard Editor's Note in the Belmont.

Sat, 06/07/2008 - 00:00

Artiste Royal gets another Grade 1

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The conditions of the $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday were an ideal fit for Artiste Royal, and gave the 7-year-old his second Grade 1 win in the last year.

Artiste Royal ($8.40) outfinished Monzante and a game pacesetter in Lava Man to win the Whittingham by a neck. The victory was Artiste Royal's first of 2008, and first since the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship at Santa Anita last fall. The Whittingham and the Hirsch are run over 1 1/4 miles on turf.