Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

DQ sours Zito's good mood

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hesanoldsalt's final prep for the Grade 1 Donn Handicap should have put nothing but a smile on the face of trainer Nick Zito after the son of Broad Brush turned in a courageous effort to edge a dead-game Better Than Bonds in Friday's featured ninth race at Gulfstream Park.

Instead, Zito had all he could do to control his anger after the stewards disqualified Hesanoldsalt and placed him second for interfering with Better Than Bonds through the stretch of the $57,500 allowance race.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Notional wins San Rafael, with assist from blinkers

ARCADIA, Calif. - Trainer Doug O'Neill and owner Paul Reddam don't need blinkers to know the goal this spring. But Notional needed them.

After a pair of disappointing races, Notional got back to the winner's circle on Saturday at Santa Anita by making up five lengths in the final half-mile to capture the Grade 2, $150,000 San Rafael Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Hard Spun takes it up a notch

NEW ORLEANS - Undefeated Hard Spun took a giant step on the Triple Crown trail Saturday with an impressive 6 1/2-length score in the Grade 3, $100,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, the first race in this track's series for 3-year-old colts leading up to the March 10 Louisiana Derby.

Jockey Mario Pino was a happy passenger aboard the Danzig colt, who went right to the lead and galloped along without ever being seriously challenged to score his fourth victory in four starts. The Lecomte was his first attempt around two turns.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Ackel likes high on Skyward Exchange

NEW ORLEANS – Thad Ackel is best known for training Great Communicator to win the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Now an owner, Ackel has a promising prospect in Skyward Exchange, the probable favorite in Monday’s feature race at Fair Grounds, a second-level $35,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile and 40 yards.

“She’s got a lot of quality in her,” said Ackel. “She seems to be sitting ready for this race.”

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Roman Candles stalks, wins

Roman Candles, content to sit just back of a blistering pace duel for a half-mile, vaulted to contention swinging into the stretch, then emerged from a long duel for a half-length victory over Wonone in the $60,000 Pelican Stakes.

Under Jose Martinez Jr., Roman Candles covered the six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.88 for the fourth win of his career and his second straight at this track.

Trained by Lynn Scace, Roman Candles returned $24.60 while earning $34,500 for the win.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Judiths Wild Rush wins by DQ

Your Bluffing beat Judiths Wild Rush in the $62,200 Native Dancer at Laurel, but he couldn't defeat the stewards. Your Bluffing and Judiths Wild Rush ran one-two the length of the stretch of the one-mile race, and Your Bluffing held on by a nose. But the stewards ruled that Your Bluffing, under jockey Jose Caraballo, had drifted out into Judiths Wild Rush and Julian Pimental, and they reversed the order of finish.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Mary Delaney holds off Mocha Queen

Mary Delaney took command entering the stretch, then held on gamely to defeat Mocha Queen by a diminishing half-length in the $50,000 Wishing Well Stakes.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Eddie Kenneally, Mary Delaney returned $4.60 as the favorite in a field of 11 fillies and mares. She finished six furlongs in 1:09.37 over Polytrack.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Glorification spring wire job

Glorification ($14.80) jumped to the lead and was never headed, beating stablemate Storming Starlet by two lengths in the $50,650 Tiburon at Golden Gate.

In winning her second straight start, Glorification stayed clear of Storming Starlet as the pair ran one-two every step of the six-furlong race. The time was 1:09.34. Odds-on Quite a Rush was third, four lengths behind Storming Starlet.

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

Bright Abundance wins for Clement

Trainer Christophe Clement took exception to a comment from the crowd after his 6-1 Bright Abundance defeated 3-5 stablemate Naissance Royale by a half-length in the $75,000 Marshua's River Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

"Somebody said to me I won with the wrong horse," Clement said in the winner's circle. "But that's not true. Bright Abundance is a very good filly who got a great trip today, while the other filly didn't have such a great trip. Sometimes horses run well and don't win."

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 00:00

River Savage earns shot at Grade 1

ARCADIA, Calif. - River Savage earned a trip to the $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap on Feb. 10 after a front-running win in Friday's $79,100 Paseana Handicap at Santa Anita.

When she makes her Grade 1 debut in the Santa Maria over 1 1/16 miles, it is likely that jockey Omar Berrio will have her on the lead and well off the rail. River Savage cannot see well with her left eye and does not react well if a horse is along her inside, according to trainer A.C. Avila.