Tue, 04/15/2008 - 00:00

Shes All Eltish to Calder Oaks

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Shes All Eltish, upset winner of the Grade 2 Bonnie Miss Stakes here earlier in the session, is on her way to the Oaks. Not the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, but the Grade 3, $200,000 Calder Oaks, to be decided at 1 1/8 miles over the turf on April 26.

Tue, 04/15/2008 - 00:00

Tomcito gets last shot at Derby

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dante Zanelli Jr. and his father are Peruvian trainers with an obscure claim to fame in American racing: They mentored Rafael Bejarano. Now the Zanellis would like to make a far greater impression with a colt named Tomcito, one of the contenders Saturday in the Grade 2, $325,000 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

Tue, 04/15/2008 - 00:00

Five hit Santa Anita pick six for $146K

ARCADIA, Calif.-A mix of favorites and a few outsiders led to a pick-six payoff of $146,744 to five ticketholders at Santa Anita on Monday, a program that began with a carryover of $176,150.

Bettors added $997,461 to the pool on Monday, and many tickets were knocked out of contention after the first leg, which was won by Kailee Rush ($33). The other winners of the pick-six races were Silent Kitten ($6.80), Secret Shuttle ($7.60), Robscarvic ($42.80), Street Boss ($5.80), and Rail Dancer ($5.80).

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Wait nearly over for Golden Dawn

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Golden Dawn was so dominant winning the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel on Feb. 16 that no one would have quibbled had her connections opted to run her back in the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on March 22.

But trainer Mike Hushion knew that wouldn't be the prudent thing to do and did not even nominate for that race, opting instead to point to this Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Bed o' Roses Handicap over Aqueduct's main track. The Bed o' Roses, like the Fritchie, is at seven furlongs.

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Monmouth backstretch opens

Horses returned to the Monmouth Park backstretch Monday morning, the first being Foreverness, trained by Greg Sacco. The 99-day Monmouth meet is scheduled to run from May 9 to Sept. 28.

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Adriano earns shot at Derby

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A decision by trainer Graham Motion to go straight to the Kentucky Derby with Adriano has made things a bit easier for those trying to make the Derby by coming in the back door Saturday in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes.

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Strong colony fails to slow Centeno

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Last season, Daniel Centeno rewrote the Tampa Bay Downs record books when he booted home 125 winners. This season, with the addition of several veteran riders and some talented newcomers to the local riding colony, many observers felt there was little chance Centeno would threaten his own mark and that he would have a battle on his hands just to repeat as leading rider.

Wrong.

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Woodbine: Verdana Bold wins at 22-1

Verdana Bold, a 22-1 outsider ridden by Emile Ramsammy, overtook the 3-5 favorite, Authenicat, in deep stretch to capture the $160,400 Star Shoot Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Verdana Bold awaited room behind the leaders on the turn in the six-furlong dash, as Forestry's Magic led through a half-mile in 45.44 seconds. Authenicat had a wide stalking trip, and she took control nearing the eighth pole, but Verdana Bold wore her down and won by a length in 1:10.59 on Polytrack. Wonderful Luck finished third in the six-horse field.

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Aqueduct: Sweep of Stallion Stakes

Steve Sigler's Winning Move Stable and trainer Gary Contessa swept the pair of New York Stallion Stakes run Sunday at Aqueduct.

In the $100,000 Times Square for 3-year-old colts and geldings, Fort Drum overcame an adventurous trip to win by a half-length over longshot Express to Thewest. Thirty minutes earlier, Like a Rose won a thrilling three-way finish to nose out Study Abroad in the $100,000 Park Avenue for 3-year-old fillies. Both races were restricted to progeny of New York-based stallions.

Mon, 04/14/2008 - 00:00

Santa Anita: Lightmyfirebaby put up

Lightmyfirebaby was promoted from second to first in the $112,700 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita after the first-place finisher, Bahama Mama, was disqualified for causing interference in the Grade 3 race.

Bahama Mama, who led from the start on the hillside turf course, drifted to her outside when the field crossed over the dirt onto the main turf course, affecting Lightmyfirebaby and Super Freaky, who were racing to her outside.