Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

All Giving takes Conniver

All Giving took advantage of a major class drop and a wayward pacesetter to win the $60,000 Conniver at Laurel Park.

Coming into the race off a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap last month at Laurel, All Giving was in the second tier of horses as Now It Begins led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.94 seconds in the seven-furlong Conniver. Unchallenged on that lead under Julian Pimentel, Now It Begins bore out drastically on the backstretch and effectively forfeited the race, with Pimentel pulling her up.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

High Blues takes advantage

High Blues couldn't catch Self Made Man when they met in the one-mile Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park on Feb. 16, rallying for third, beaten a length. But aided by a quick pace and an extra furlong with which to race, he turned the tables in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile, $50,000 Tejano Run Stakes at Turfway.

With Self Made Man somewhat headstrong in the early stages, setting opening splits of 24.03 seconds and 47.89, the race set up for the late-running High Blues.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Storm Treasure rallies in Lacombe

It was like old times Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Allen Lacombe Memorial Handicap. Sure, trainer Steve Asmussen winning a stakes race in New Orleans is no new thing: Asmussen set a record for stakes wins by a trainer at a Fair Grounds meeting a couple months ago. But aboard Storm Treasure for his victory in the $60,000 Lacombe was Donnie Meche, who used to pilot much of Asmussen's top stock, but has long since been relegated to a more minor role in the operation.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Gottcha Gold wins from off the pace

Gottcha Gold showed his class by running second to Corinthian in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last year. Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Skip Away Handicap at Gulfstream Park, his class, as well as his versatility, was displayed.

Normally a horse who goes immediately to the lead, establishing quick splits, Gottcha Gold changed tactics in the Skip Away, mostly out of necessity. When stretch-out sprinter Mr. Umphrey broke alertly and set blazing splits, Gottcha Gold had little option but to rate off the lead.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Suicide pace sets up Bonfante

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bonfante sat in a perfect spot as Vicarino and Tribesman dueled each other into submission, then pulled away in the stretch to score an easy 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $125,000 Bay Meadows Sprint on Saturday.

Tribesman, who had won five straight, and Vicarino, coming off a track-record performance, went head-and-head from the instant the gate opened. Vicarino had his head in front at the half-mile pole through an opening quarter of 21.72 seconds.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Dreaming of Anna dominates

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Trainer Wayne Catalano always maintained Dreaming of Anna was a better horse on turf than on dirt, even after her victory in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Thus far, it's been hard to argue with that assessment.

Dreaming of Anna ($4.40) once again validated Catalano's long-standing opinion by notching her seventh win in nine career starts on grass, a convincing 6 3/4-length victory over Lady Digby, in Saturday's $175,000 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Mr. Soul shows his potential

STICKNEY, Ill. - After a subpar race last out at Oaklawn Park, Mr. Soul was shipped to Chicago to start at Hawthorne. Trainer Hugh Robertson hoped a change of scenery would help boost the fortunes of Mr. Soul, who had shown promise a year ago at Oaklawn but failed to develop much during the remainder of 2007, though he did win a summer allowance race over Arlington's Polytrack before going on the shelf.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Pick-six carryover into Wednesday

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The pick six went unhit Saturday for the second consecutive card, creating a $236,310 carryover entering Wednesday's card at Aqueduct.

There is no racing Sunday due to the Palm Sunday holiday and Monday and Tuesday are dark days.

There was a carryover of $49,820 entering Saturday's card. The carryover into Wednesday was assured when longshot Prince of Peace ($48.60) won the $67,500 Instant Friendship Stakes. McLovin ($22.60) and First Commandment ($29.90) were other longshots in the sequence.

Sat, 03/15/2008 - 00:00

Carolyn's Cat a runaway Cicada winner

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In addition to being good, Carolyn's Cat was lucky to win Saturday's Grade 3 $108,000 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct.

Though Carolyn's Cat was much the best winning the Cicada in front-running fashion by 3 3/4 lengths, she was fortunate to remain the winner after bumping hard into Throbbin' Heart at the break, nearly unseating jockey Stewart Elliott and eliminating any chance Throbbin' Heart had to be competitive.

Fri, 03/14/2008 - 00:00

$97K carryover at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. - A strong Saturday card at Santa Anita will be enhanced by a pick six carryover of $97,494.48, which resulted from no one sweeping the bet on Friday.

Saturday's card begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific. There are 10 races, so the pick six will encompass races 5-10.

The sequence includes the Grade 2, $200,000 San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds, which goes as the ninth race. Such accomplished runners as Georgie Boy, Gayego, and Bob Black Jack are in the nine-horse field.