Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Gun Salute back after layoff of nearly a year

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Gun Salute will make his first start since finishing third as the betting choice in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Breeders' Cup Stakes last February when he tops a strong field of eight turf routers in Tuesday's headliner at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Miss Shop scores for Jerkens

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Rafael Bejarano became the eighth jockey to ride Miss Shop. He might be the last. After working Miss Shop a few days before the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Bejarano came back with an enthusiastic report for trainer Allen Jerkens.

That confidence was rewarded on Saturday, when Miss Shop - ridden in a race for the first time by Bejarano - rallied to win the race by 1 1/4 lengths over Memorette, with Charmsil another half-length length back in third.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Lava Man adds to California streak

ARCADIA, Calif. - The comfort of home has made Lava Man nearly unbeatable in California.

Saturday, the 6-year-old gelding won his 10th career stakes in California in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf for California-breds and Florida-breds at Santa Anita. The victory stretched his unbeaten streak in his home state to eight wins, all of which have come in stakes.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

McCann's Mojave springs Classic upset

Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos
Under Frank Alvarado, McCann's Mojave captures the Sunshine Millions Classic, paying $69.80.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - McCann's Mojave capped off a Sunshine Millions Day full of upsets when he held tenaciously through the stretch to post a well-deserved three-quarter-length victory over fellow longshot Summer Book in Saturday's $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Barkley Sound gets up

Always prominent under Enrique Jurado, Barkley Sound rallied outside pacesetter Steelix through the final furlong and came away with a hard-earned one-length win in the $60,000 Pasco Stakes.

Trained by Joan Scott, Barkley Sound remained undefeated in three outings with his Pasco win and probably earned a spot in the $150,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes with the victory.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Lexi Star upsets Yolanda B. Too

Yolanda B. Too again shipped to Laurel from New York, again was bet down to odds-on favoritism, and again was defeated, this time running third behind second-choice Lexi Star and the 7-1 It's True Love in Saturday's $91,400 Nellie Morse for fillies and mares.

Marco Groom, 9-1, stalked the pacesetting 53-1 shot My Girlie early in the one-mile race, took the lead turning for home, and opened a 1 1/2-length gap. But Lexi Star, under Ryan Fogelsonger, and Yolanda B. Too, under Jeremy Rose, were moving fast side by side and closing in.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Probation Ready wins Black Gold at 4-5

Probation Ready came from off the pace to win the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes under a patient ride from Robby Albarado.

The race was originally carded for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf but was switched to the main track, which was sloppy after heavy rain.

Albarado allowed the 4-5 favorite to settle early as Tainted Money sprinted clear of the field in a 22.47 quarter.

"I figured he'd have some pace in the race, and he did," said Albarado.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Devil House outguns Cat on a Cloud

Devil House outdueled favorite Cat on a Cloud through the stretch to win her fourth straight race in the $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. She won by a half-length over Cat on a Cloud, who finished 2o1/4 lengths clear of third-place runner Time's Mistress.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Smokey Stover stirs memory of Lost in the Fog

ARCADIA, Calif. - Florida-bred sprinters are keeping owner Harry Aleo and trainer Greg Gilchrist at the top of horse racing.

Gilchrist trained the ill-fated Lost in the Fog, who won the 2005 Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding sprinter. Owned by Aleo, Lost in the Fog died of cancer last year.

On Saturday at Santa Anita, the Aleo-Gilchrist team pulled an upset in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint for California-breds and Florida-breds with the improving Smokey Stover.

Sat, 01/27/2007 - 00:00

Buddy Got Even passes 'em all

Buddy Got Even lagged back early before charging past the entire field to post a 9-1 upset Saturday in the $50,000 Forego Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

While Straight Line, the 6-5 favorite, bobbled badly and nearly fell to lose all chance in the far turn, Buddy Got Even was just biding his time under apprentice Alonso Quinonez. Down the stretch, as front-running Yucatan began to tire, Buddy Got Even and Will He Shine both drove past, with Buddy Got Even striding clear in the final sixteenth.