Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Good head start to Derby trail

With a good chunk of graded change now under their belts, the top three finishers from Friday night's Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot will be freshened before targeting a variety of Kentucky Derby preps. Z Humor and Turf War, who dead-heated for the win, each earned $400,000 on Friday, while Golden Yank, who was a neck back in third, picked up $100,000.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Gold Rush among Sierra Sunset's options

ALBANY, Calif. - Two-year-olds remain in the Golden Gate Fields spotlight this week with 21 nominated to Saturday's $75,000 Gold Rush Stakes at one mile.

Juvenile fillies were spotlighted last weekend with La Mina capturing the $75,000 Corte Madera Stakes, also at one mile.

Among the nominees to the Gold Rush are multiple stakes winners Sierra Sunset and Run Brother Ron for trainer Jeff Bonde, who also nominated multiple stakes-placed Deputy Bertrando, stakes-placed Orientate Me, and Bradford Falls.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Block enjoys 1-2 finish in Debutante

STICKNEY, Ill. - So, maybe it's not quite the same as winning the Kentucky Derby, but sweeping the exacta in a stakes race has got to feel good for a trainer, even if it happens on a dark December afternoon in an Illinois-bred race at Hawthorne.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Half Heaven repeats in My Charmer

Half Heaven reaffirmed her fondness for the Polytrack surface at Turfway Park, successfully defending her championship in the $50,000 My Charmer Stakes.

With Dean Sarvis riding for trainer Dale Romans, Half Heaven raced in midpack early in the 1 1/16-mile race before taking command in the upper stretch. She finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Marquee Delivery and returned $7.40 as the slight favorite in a field of 10 fillies and mares, finishing in 1:43.34.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Tap Dancing Mauk defends title

Tap Dancing Mauk defended his title in the $186,960 Zia Park Distance Championship, rallying for a 1 1/4-length win over Red Rock Creek. The 1 1/8-mile race was one of two stakes on the card. The $186,460 Zia Park Distance Championship for Quarter Horses was won by Ketel Won ($8.40).

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Torquay scores in Valedictory

Torquay swept by the leaders the second time they rounded the far turn en route to a comfortable score in the $126,200 Valedictory Stakes, Woodbine's closing-day feature.

Torquay ($10.70) banked $75,000 for owner-trainer Nick DeToro, who claimed him for just $12,500 two years ago. He covered 1 3/4 miles in 3:01.08, while making his stakes debut under jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Favored Pellegrino pressed Love Dubai through dawdling fractions, as Torquay was rank while being rated at the back of pack.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Giant Moon prevails in Runyon

Giant Moon passed his first test around two turns, shaking off a prolonged pace challenge from Spanky Fischbein in the final furlong to win the $80,450 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred juveniles by 1 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.

Spanky Fischbein, who dueled head and head outside of Giant Moon for more than six furlongs, held second by 1 3/4 lengths over Alexandros in third. Coastal Drive and Russian Sage completed the order of finish.

The victory kept Giant Moon unbeaten from three starts and more than likely earned him a New York-bred juvenile championship.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Lady Gamer remains unbeaten on Cushion Track

Lady Gamer's love affair with synthetic tracks continued Sunday at Hollywood Park, when she proved a deserving favorite and captured the $83,985 Playa Dey Rey Stakes for older female sprinters.

Lady Gamer ($3.40) shot to the front under jockey Garrett Gomez and set fractions of 22.51 seconds for a quarter-mile and 45.42 for a half-mile en route to a final time of 1:08.99 for six furlongs on Cushion Track.

Mon, 12/10/2007 - 00:00

Grace Anatomy starts over in Starlet

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Good fortune seemed to abandon Grace Anatomy in October.

She was a troubled third in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 5, losing by 1 1/4 lengths to the highly regarded Country Star, and appeared to want nothing to do with a sloppy main track in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Monmouth Park on Oct. 27.

Sat, 12/08/2007 - 00:00

Heatseeker pays $63 in Native Diver

INGLEWOOD, Calif.- A testing distance was no hindrance to the longshot Heatseeker in Saturday's $111,800 Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Making his first start at 1 1/8 miles, Heatseeker rallied wide through the final half-mile to win the Grade 3 Native Diver by 1 1/4 lengths over Racketeer. Isipingo finished third in the field of 10, with Ravel, the 6-5 favorite, only fourth.Heatseeker paid $63.40 to win in the 10-horse field.