Mon, 03/24/2008 - 00:00

Lovesablumin makes it two in a row

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Lovesablumin ($4.80), under a smartly timed ride by Beth Butler, scored her second straight

stakes win of the meet with a 1 1/2-length score

over four others in Saturday's $11,320 Runza Stakes at

Fonner Park.

Butler, riding Lovesablumin for the first time,

shadowed the pace set by Rare Crystal for about five

furlongs before making her move into the stretch. She

collared Rare Crystal entering the lane and shook off

Mon, 03/24/2008 - 00:00

Ex-claimer Boule d'Or steals San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. - The race for claimer of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting is over. Boule d'Or, taken for $50,000 on Jan. 20, won his first stakes in his 48th start in Saturday's Grade 2 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita.

Boule d'Or took control of the $200,000 San Luis Rey Handicap after a half-mile, led by as many as 10 lengths on the backstretch, and held off a late rush from Porfido to win by three-quarters of a length. Porfido finished a nose in front of Warning Zone in the field of seven. On the Acorn, the 6-5 favorite finished sixth, never threatening the leader.

Mon, 03/24/2008 - 00:00

Adriano wins Lane's End under wraps

FLORENCE, Ky. - Adriano, heretofore a turf specialist, was an easy winner Saturday in the 37th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park.

With Edgar Prado riding for breeder-owner Courtlandt Farms and trainer Graham Motion, Adriano was fourth early, then made his winning move entering the far turn of the 1 1/8-mile race. He returned $11.60 as third choice after prevailing by an eased-up 2 1/2 lengths for his third win from seven career starts.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Candy Ball gets perfect trip

NEW ORLEANS - Candy Ball stalked Elliecat for most of the race, drew even on the turn, and then pulled clear by 1 1/2 lengths to win Saturday's $58,200 Fortin Handicap at Fair Grounds.

The Fortin, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares, was among five stakes on the next-to-last card of the meet, which was to end on Sunday.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Graham sweeps both stakes on card

Jockey James Graham swept the two $100,000 stakes run Friday night at Delta Downs when he guided Good and Lucky to victory in the Gulf Coast Classic and Unforgotten to a dominant win in the Goddess.

Good and Lucky ($5.80) went wire to wire in the Gulf Coast, and covered the 1 1/16 miles for 4-year-olds and up in 1:44. He won by 2 3/4 lengths over Crossword. It was another head back in third to 4-5 favorite Beta Capo.

Josie Carroll trains Good and Lucky for James and Alice Sapara.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Desert Code rebounds in Joe Hernandez

Desert Code salvaged an otherwise dismal meeting with a slight upset in the $76,850 Joe Hernandez Stakes at Santa Anita.

After finishing 14th in the Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 and 11th in the Daytona Handicap on Feb. 17, Desert Code wore blinkers for the first time in the Hernandez and won the hillside turf sprint by two lengths over pacesetter Tenga Cat. Ridden by Richard Migliore, Desert Code ($12) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12.36.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Double or Nothing successfully stretches out

Double or Nothing ($10.20), stretching out beyond six furlongs for only the second time in his 12-race career and making his first start in a stakes, held off Regal Solo by a half-length in the $64,600 Private Terms Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.

Claimed out of a maiden race for $50,000 last August by trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., Double or Nothing came into the one-mile Private Terms off a string of six straight starts against starter allowance company in New York.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Junior College repeats in Hot Springs

Junior College won the $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes for the second straight year on Saturday when he swept past his dueling rivals in the stretch to win in front of an Oaklawn Park crowd of 16,818. Indian Chant finished 2 3/4 lengths back in second, while it was another three lengths back in third to Lovango.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Rite Moment exceeds expectations

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Rite Moment, Rajiv Maragh riding, gets the lead late en route to winning the Distaff Handicap.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Perhaps no horse typifies the meet trainer Gary Contessa and owner Winning Move Stable have had this winter more than Rite Moment.

Like her connections, Rite Moment can succeed long or short, on wet ground or fast, and just keeps coming at you with no signs of regression.

Sat, 03/22/2008 - 00:00

Gulfstream cancels after race 6 due to rain

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- Saturday's live racing program at Gulfstream Park was canceled after the sixth race because of unsafe track conditions brought about by steady rains that struck the area just before the running of the first race. Among the four races canceled was the Grade 2, $200,000 Shirley Jones Handicap.

The cancellation was the second of a racing card already in progress during the meet. Racing was canceled after the first race on Feb. 15 due to heavy rains.