Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

King's Drama wins off bench

King's Drama ended a layoff of nearly seven months with a gritty win over Railroad in Sunday's $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita.

The victory was the third stakes win for trainer Bobby Frankel in the first five racing days of the meeting.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

Jazil to return in Aqueduct allowance

Belmont Stakes winner Jazil will make his long-awaited return to the races in a second-level allowance race over Aqueduct's inner track on Friday. Seven horses were entered against Jazil in the 1 1/16-mile race, which carries a purse of $48,000.

Jazil has not run since winning the Belmont on June 10. He was sidelined for two months with bruising to a hind cannon bone and did not return to training until early September. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is hoping to use Friday's race as a prep for the Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 3.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

A hothouse for talent to bloom

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. - Palm Meadows is where Barbaro and Bernardini trained last year on their way to superstardom. That pretty much says it all about how the 1 1/8-mile training center, now in its fifth year of operation, is the flash point for a winter circuit that frequently is a fertile spawning ground for top 3-year-olds.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

Half Famous survives pace battle

Half Famous caused a reshuffling among the 2-year-old elite at Turf Paradise on Sunday as he beat the best juvenile males around in Sunday's $50,000 Lost in the Fog Juvenile.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

Sir Five Star hangs on by neck

Sir Five Star held off a late surge from Song of Navarone to win the $136,499 Riley Allison Futurity by a neck Sunday at Sunland Park. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to The Zipster.

The Riley Allison was one of two stakes on the card. Tempting Date ($14.40) led throughout to win the $50,000 Bold Ego.

Sir Five Star ($5.20) raced with Kit Jr. through an opening quarter in 21.96 seconds in the Riley Allison, then went on to cover the 6 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-olds in 1:17.72. Glen Murphy rode the winner for trainer Scott Blasi.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

Ky's Quest cruises in Red Hedeman

Ky's Quest proved much the best in the $125,000 Red Hedeman Mile at Sunland Park on Saturday, when he stormed to a six-length win in the race for 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico. Band Champ finished second, two lengths clear of third-place finisher Blazing Rockstar.

Ky's Quest ($4.20) was with the pace throughout and covered the distance in 1:40.22. Casey Lambert rode the winner for his father, Cliff Lambert Sr., who bred, owns, and trains Ky's Quest.

The Red Hedeman was the third stakes victory for Ky's Quest, who has won 4 of 10 starts and $213,620.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

Excellerant surprises heavy favorite

Excellerant ($14.40) put away 4-5 favorite Country Diva at the top of the stretch and drew off to earn her first stakes victory, scoring by 3 3/4 lengths in the $75,000 New Year's Eve at Mountaineer Race Track.

Ridden by Hector Rosario Jr. for trainer William Connelly, Excellerant ws coming off a troubled trip last time out in the Holiday Inaugural at Turfway Park. Her previous best performance in a stakes came when she was a distant second in the $100,000 OBS Championship for fillies at the Ocala Training Center.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

Torrance upsets Against the Law

Torrance whipped the best juvenile fillies around in Turf Paradise's $40,000 Arizona Juvenile Fillies on Saturday.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

King's Drama wins San Gabriel

ARCADIA, Calif.-King’s Drama ended a layoff of nearly seven months with a gritty win over Railroad in Sunday’s $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita.

The victory was the third stakes win for trainer Bobby Frankel in the first five racing days of the meeting.

Mon, 01/01/2007 - 00:00

$160K carryover Sunday at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – The 2006 racing year in California will end on Sunday with a pick six carryover of $160,453 at Santa Anita. The bet was too tricky for bettors on Saturday, a day that featured two longshot winners in the pick six.

Sunday's pick six covers the fourth through ninth races on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.