Mon, 05/07/2007 - 00:00

Jiggs Coz much the best

Jiggs Coz ($7.90) overcame a slow pace and a wide trip to win the $151,200 Queenston Stakes going away at Woodbine.

Jockey David Clark placed Jiggs Coz near the back of a tightly bunched eight-horse field early, as Catsimile set fractions of 23.49 and 46.78 seconds in the seven-furlong race for Ontario-breds.

Jiggs Coz made a four-wide bid into contention on the turn, then overhauled Markdale at the eighth pole en route to a 3 1/4-length victory. After going five wide on the turn, favored Dancer's Bajan wound up three-quarters of a length behind Markdale in third.

Mon, 05/07/2007 - 00:00

Rebel Yeller takes to turf

Rebel Yeller ($17.60), a sprinter stretching out to a mile and trying turf for the first time, nailed 6-5 favorite Encaustic by a nose in the $80,000 Woodlawn Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico.

Ridden by Erick Rodriguez for trainer Rodney Jenkins, Rebel Yeller was expected to go to the lead in a six-horse field left without much speed following the scratches of Longlegged Beastie and Starvinsky. Instead, Rodriguez was content to sit second with Rebel Yeller behind a modest pace set by Encaustic.

Mon, 05/07/2007 - 00:00

Power by Leigh earns first stakes win

Power by Leigh ($21.80), making his first start in 2 1/2 months, earned the first stakes victory of his career in the $60,000 Lyman Sprint Handicap for Pennsylvania-breds at Philadelphia Park.

Ridden by Jose Flores for trainer Anthony Correnti, Power by Leigh broke sharply from the rail, outdueled 2-1 favorite Songofthesailor, took control in midstretch, and scored by two lengths over Banjopicker. The New York-based Songofthesailor, who had won his previous two starts at Philly Park, held on for third.

Mon, 05/07/2007 - 00:00

Therecomesatiger draws clear

Saving ground every step of the way, Therecomesatiger slipped through along the rail on the second turn to gain the lead and went on to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Chris Thomas Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs.

With Luis Gonzalez taking his second stakes win on the program, Therecomesatiger covered the nine furlongs of the Thomas over a firm course in 1:49.53. The favorite, Revved Up, challenged for the lead on the second turn and then held on to save the place by three-quarters of a length over Puppeteer.

Mon, 05/07/2007 - 00:00

West Coast Flier uses speed to win LaBelle

West Coast Flier, the longest shot in a field of five 3-year-olds, withstood a challenge from Cherokee Country in the stretch to upset the $75,000 Francis "Jock" LaBelle Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Delaware Park.

Bill Place, the 2-5 favorite on the basis of his win in the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct last month, was 15 lengths off the early pace and had to settle for third, 1 1/2 lengths behind runner-up Cherokee Country.

Sat, 05/05/2007 - 00:00

Molengao takes another step forward

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Molengao won his second Grade 2 stakes of 2007 in Saturday's $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, a victory that left him on the list of leading contenders for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 30.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Molengao ($4.60) rallied wide on the final turn before pulling away under a hand-ride to win by 4 1/2 lengths, finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.86. The LeRoy was Molengao's first start since a second-place finish in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap. He won the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap in February.

Sat, 05/05/2007 - 00:00

Dream Rush ends run of longshots

On a day of improbable results that included a $144,358 pick four, a $76,652 superfecta, and an average win mutuel of $37.40 through the first seven races, Dream Rush restored order with a thoroughly comprehensive victory as a prohibitive favorite in the $206,600 Nassau County Breeders' Cup for 3-year-old fillies.

Sat, 05/05/2007 - 00:00

Fort Prado still going strong

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The owner Avers Wexler won the inaugural Illinois Owners Stakes, a race that in 2006 happened to be named - the Avers Wexler. The winner in 2007 made sense, too. Fort Prado, one of the best Illinois-breds in recent years, won the $100,000 Russell Reineman Illinois Owners Stakes on Saturday at Arlington for a perennial leading Illinois owner-breeder, Team Block.

Sat, 05/05/2007 - 00:00

Poor start, then flying finish in Woodford

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sky Conqueror, the champion turf male in Canada last year, proved Saturday he also ranks among the best grass horses in the United States, winning the Grade 1, $561,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

After stumbling to his knees at the start, Sky Conqueror was given a patient ride from Javier Castellano, who rated him in ninth early, as Shake The Bank surged ahead to a commanding lead with fractions of 47.33 seconds and 1:11.52 in the 1 1/8-mile turf contest.

Sat, 05/05/2007 - 00:00

Silverinyourpocket rallies to win La Troienne

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A return to a conventional dirt surface helped Silverinyourpocket return to her best form as she rallied from far back to take the Grade 3, $182,850 La Troienne Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday's Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs.