OZONE PARK, N.Y. - When War Pass finished last as the 1-20 favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby, it stood to reason that the number of starters for Saturday's Wood Memorial at Aqueduct would swell considerably.
After all, the Wood is a Grade 1 race worth $750,000 run at 1 1/8 miles over a regular dirt surface four weeks before the Kentucky Derby. The Wood has produced a bevy of Kentucky Derby winners, including Fusaichi Pegasus, Monarchos, and Funny Cide this decade alone.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. Trainer H. James Bond picked a good time to win his first race of the meet, sending out Hostess to a 1 1/4-length victory over 9-5 favorite Mauralakana in Sunday's $150,000 Orchid Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
Hostess, a 5-year-old daughter of Chester House, rallied from last after the opening mile of the 1 1/2-mile Orchid. With John Velazquez sitting patiently until nearing the stretch, Hostess slipped along the hedge and with a late burst of speed overtook Mauralakana in the final sixteenth of a mile to win going clear.
Bandido ($6.20) got two turns in his first attempt Saturday when he rolled to a 3 1/2-length win in the $50,000 Cocodrie for Louisiana-breds on the final card of the meet at Delta Downs. John Charles finished second in the race restricted to horses who had never won a stakes. Also on the program, Coach Mike ($5.40) led throughout for a 6 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Gardenia for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana.
Frankenbean got back on track as he powered home to win the $100,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap on Saturday at Sunland Park.
Owned by Sammy Means and David Ratliff and trained by Emmitt Burelsmith Jr., the 4-year-old gelding stalked the early pace in the 4 1/2-furlong event for New Mexico-breds, pounced into the lane, got the lead by midstretch, and gamely held on to win by a length. Boom Boom rallied from well back to be second, a neck ahead of Gulchrunssweet.
Frankenbean covered the distance in 50.79 seconds under Miguel Perez and paid $5 as the favorite.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Ginger Punch's odds just dropped. The champion will be an even stronger favorite Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park with the Monday defection of one of her chief rivals, Hystericalady.
By STEVE ANDERSEN
ARCADIA, Calif. Mondays eight-race program at Santa Anita features a pick six carryover of $182,385. There were no winning favorites in Sundays pick six.
In addition, there is a carryover of $99,757 in the $1 Super High Five, a wager that requires bettors to correctly select the first five finishers of the final race.