Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Sandburr takes paceless Louisiana BC

Sandburr stalked a walking pace set by Jonesboro and took over in the stretch Saturday to win the $75,000 Louisiana Breeders' Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Jockey James Graham sent Sandburr, who normally runs from off the pace, right after Jonesboro and Donnie Meche at the start of the race.

The tandem loafed through a 25.31-second quarter-mile and a half-mile in 49.40 seconds while the 4-5 favorite, Patriot Act, lingered in last until jockey Robby Albarado asked him for run a half-mile from home.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Come on Chas seeks to rebound

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Come on Chas, who won 4 of 10 outings last season, capped off by an eight-length romp in the 1 1/2-mile Mac Diarmida Stakes at Arlington, will attempt to end a three-race losing streak in Tuesday's optional claiming feature at Tampa Bay Downs.

Trained by Larry Rivelli, Come on Chas finished seventh on the turf here Dec. 31 in his first start since July. He will return to the main track for this 1 1/16-mile race and will be ridden by Luis Gonzalez at 118 pounds.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Kelly's Landing takes Mr. Prospector

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Kelly's Landing, whose chance to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint ended at the post position draw, opened his 2007 campaign on Saturday with a 1 1/4-length victory over High Finance in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Four-allowance card looks tempting

NEW ORLEANS - With the nation's other major tracks dark, Fair Grounds has the opportunity to dominate Monday's simulcast betting. To that end, the track has carded four allowance races, two for turf runners.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Riders sore, but apparently okay after spill

ARCADIA, Calif. - Jockeys Agapito Delgadillo and Ramon Guce apparently escaped serious injury following a terrifying accident in Saturday's fifth race at Santa Anita.

Delgadillo's mount, Winrwinrchickndinr, broke down badly in his left front leg at the top of the stretch of the 6 1/2-furlong race for $10,000 claimers while in third place in the 14-horse field. Guce's mount, Sabalucious, could not avoid the prone Winrwinrchickndinr and fell over both he and Delgadillo. Guce was thrown in front of Sabalucious, who appeared to hit Guce as he galloped by.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Busy work tab at Fair Grounds

NEW ORLEANS - Several horses scheduled to compete in next Saturday's five-stakes Fair Grounds program - headed by the Grade 3, $100,000 Lecomte for 3-year-old colts and geldings and the $100,000 Tiffany Lass for 3-year-old fillies - turned in workouts for those races Saturday morning at Fair Grounds.

Who Let the Cat In ran a bullet three furlongs from the gate in 35 seconds in preparation for the Lecomte. Meteor Impact tuned up for the $100,000 Colonel Power with a bullet five furlongs in 58.80.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Chatain outgames seasoned rivals

Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos
Chatain (right) held off a stretch bid from Sir Greeley (left) after overtaking Sweetnorthernsaint (rail).

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Chatain, who had only three previous careers starts and just one race under his belt since leaving south Florida last March, proved talented enough to overcome his relative inexperience for a well-deserved head triumph in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Hal's Hope Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

He outgamed the Grade 1 stakes-placed Sir Greeley and Preakness runner-up Sweetnorthernsaint to earn the narrow score.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Paragallo calls audible in Count Fleet

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - With the abundance of speed entered in Saturday's Count Fleet Stakes, Norberto Arroyo Jr., the jockey of Pink Viper, thought he would use his rail post position to give his horse a ground-saving, off-the-pace trip.

Ernie Paragallo, the authorized agent for his family-owned Paraneck Stable, had a different idea.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

Straight Faced comes off three-month break

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Three-year-old racing is traditionally the cornerstone of the Gulfstream Park winter meet and this season will be no exception, with the action kicking off Sunday with the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes. The six-furlong Spectacular Bid is the first in a series of 3-year-old stakes that culminates with the $1 million Florida Derby on March 31.

Sat, 01/06/2007 - 00:00

E Z Warrior faces two who look sharp

ARCADIA, Calif. - E Z Warrior has the reputation. Desert Code and Noble Court have the sharp recent form. The classic question of class versus form will come into play Saturday in the $75,000-added San Miguel Stakes at Santa Anita, when those three colts, plus three others, square off going six furlongs.