Sun, 11/19/2006 - 00:00

Hollywood first post delayed

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park was scheduled to begins its Sunday card at 1:15 p.m. Pacific time Sunday, 45 minutes later than originally scheduled, after jockeys gave their approval to the Cushion track surface after work was done on the track Sunday morning.

One horse worked and three galloped over the track at 12:30 p.m. Jockeys Victor Espinoza, Aaron Gryder, Tyler Baze, and Garrett Gomez said the surface was much improved, though both Espinoza and Baze said it was not perfect.

"It's not 100 percent, but it's good," Espinoza said.

Sun, 11/19/2006 - 00:00

Costa Rising captures Gold Cup

He's back. Costa Rising returned to the win column Saturday night at Delta Downs, where he rolled to a four and a half length win over Badtotheboneandrew in the $100,000 Gold Cup. It was another four and a quarter lengths back in third to Belle City Boy.

The Gold Cup was the richest of four Lousiana-bred stakes on the card, with purses for the races worth a cumulative $275,000. The program was designed to offer prep races for some of the stakes to be run during Louisiana Champions Day at Fair Grounds.

Sun, 11/19/2006 - 00:00

Nice Inheritance best in Cimarron

Nice Inheritance became a stakes winner Saturday night at Remington Park, when she closed for a length and a half win over Katys Gold Touch in the $50,000 Cimarron. It was another length back in third to favorite Round Lake.

Stage Stop was scratched from the Cimarron.

Sun, 11/19/2006 - 00:00

Wrenice wins Houston Chronicle

Wrenice ran to her 1-5 odds Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park, with a nine-length romp in the $45,000 Houston Chronicle Stakes. It was the fourth straight win for the filly, who finished well clear of runner-up Foolish Girl.

The Houston Chronicle was the first stakes of the meet at Sam Houston.

Wrenice ($2.40) broke on top and led the field through fractions of 22.46 seconds for the opening quarter, and 45.32 for the half-mile mark. She drew out through the stretch, covering the six furlongs for 2-year-old fillies in 1:10.19.

Sat, 11/18/2006 - 00:00

Pick six carryover at $148,201

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A 57-1 upset winner of the final race at Hollywood Park on Saturday helped produce a $148,201 carryover in the pick six into Sunday's card.

There are nine races at Hollywood Park on Sunday, so the pick six will begin with the fourth race. Post time for the fourth is 2:03 p.m. Pacific time.

The pick six fields are challenging. There are 11 or more runners in three of the races, and eight in the other three races. The only morning-line favorite less than 5-2 is Incredible, a class dropper who is 9-5 in the fourth race.

Sat, 11/18/2006 - 00:00

Belgravia remains unbeaten in Prevue

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - He cost $2 million, and now he's 2-for-2. Belgravia, a high-priced purchase at a 2-year-old-in-training sale in Florida earlier this year, remained unbeaten on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over Dilemma in the Grade 3, $100,000 at Hollywood Park.

Belgravia ($6) nosed out the fast-closing Dilemma, and those two finished three lengths clear of Notional, the 6-5 favorite. The race was fast -- 1:22.42 for seven furlongs on Cushion track -- and bodes well for a rematch between the top two in the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 16.

Sat, 11/18/2006 - 00:00

Stallion Acceptable sells for $75,000

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A $75,000 stallion brought the highest price Saturday at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale’s penultimate session.

Acceptable, a 12-year-old Capote horse, was the top-priced horse at the 13th session. He is a Grade 3 winner with more than $713,000 in earnings and has so far sired more than 150 winners, included such stakes winners as Jewels N Gems, My Misty Princess, and Argentine Grade 2 winner Cissy, among others. Acceptable is out of the Woodman mare Ms. Teak Wood, making him a half-brother to stakes-winner Military Major.

Sat, 11/18/2006 - 00:00

Apprentice wins with first mount

Eulices Gomez, 22, guided Neiman the Saint to a three-length victory in Saturday's first race at Bay Meadows, winning aboard the first mount of his career.

A Los Angeles native, Gomez has been galloping horses for three years, including runners for trainer Keith Craigmyle, who saddled Neiman the Saint ($6.40) in the $16,000 claimer for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

Sat, 11/18/2006 - 00:00

Catlaunch controls pace

Catlaunch ($6.60) controlled the pace throughout and scored a 2 3/4-length victory over defending champion Count on My Word in Saturday's $50,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap for Ohio-breds at Beulah Park.

Jockey Ivan Gonzalez rated Catlaunch through a half-mile in 48.68 seconds and the 122-pound starting highweight had plenty left in the tank through the stretch while stopping the timer in 1:51.30 for the 1 1/8 miles over a fast track. Count on My Word rallied from next to last in the eight-horse field to finish second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of Go Johnny Go.

Sat, 11/18/2006 - 00:00

Gin Rummy King shows grit

Gin Rummy King proved as tenacious as he is talented, holding on gamely in the face of several challenges to post a well deserved one-length decision over Dry Martini in the $45,000 Gizmo's Fortune Stakes at Calder.

Gin Rummy King, a bit rank in the early going, dragged jockey Manoel Cruz to the lead after the opening half-mile of the 1 1/16-mile Gizmo's Fortune. A son of Double Honor, Gin Rummy King then repulsed bids from 6-5 favorite Big Lover and Guapeton before withstanding a final surge from Dry Martini.