Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

A juvenile and apprentice offer signs of big things to come

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - The fair circuit is often a place where rising stars can develop, and the just-concluded Sonoma County Fair offered two. One is a talented juvenile, the other an apprentice jockey.

Trainer Greg Gilchrist and owner Harry Aleo unveiled their latest potential star on Saturday, the 2-year-old Vicarino.

Last year, the Gilchrist-Aleo tandem sent out Frisco Star and Victorina, both Ocala purchases like Vicarino, to win their debuts at Santa Rosa. Frisco Star is unbeaten but has been sidelined by injury, and Victorina is a Grade 3 stakes winner.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Colonial: Bastille takes Polynesian

Bastille ($8.80) overtook 8-1 shot Running Tide in the stretch to post a one-length victory in the $60,000 Polynesian Stakes at Colonial Downs.

Foufa's Warrior, the 2-5 favorite in a field reduced to six older turf horses by eight scratches, finished third.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Calder: Formal Miss easily

Formal Miss ($4.80) took command entering the stretch and scored a two-length victory over 2-1 second choice Tiger Belle in the $60,000 restricted Georgia Peaches at Calder.

Ridden by Manoel Cruz for trainer Paul Maxwell, the 6-year-old Formal Miss had not won since December 2004.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Charles Town: Tactical Brush just up

Tactical Brush ($6) prevailed by a neck in a three-horse photo with 3-2 favorite Donald's Pride and Miner Moss to win the nine-furlong HBPA and West Virginia Racing Commission Stakes at Charles Town.

In three other stakes on the card, Rain Song ($4) dominated the 4 1/2-furlong Horsemen's for fillies and mares, Miss Hamma ($7.80) romped by 7 1/4 lengths in the seven-furlong West Virginia, and the 3-year-old Flying Past Fast ($18.60) upset older horses in the 4 1/2-furlong Dash.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Prairie: 'Coach Jimi' scores again

Coach Jimi Lee ($2.40) took the lead entering the stretch and went on to score a 2 1/4-length victory over Dragooner in the $75,000 Prairie Meadows Sprint Stakes.

Coach Jimi Lee is undefeated in three starts this year with all of his victories coming in stakes races locally. Jimmy DiVito trains and co-owns coach Jimi Lee, a 6-year-old who has won 15 of 37 starts and $817,068.

More than $73,000 was wagered on Coach Jimi Lee in the show pool, resulting in a $22,529 minus pool.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Canterbury: 'Dontbother' delivers

Under patient handling from rider Derek Bell, Dontbotherknocking ($9.60) bested nine rivals to capture the $75,000 John Bullit Stakes for the second time in three years at Canterbury Park.

Sitting in sixth as the field approached the final turn, Dontbotherknocking swept by rivals racing four wide into the stretch and edged away from favored Gin and Sin in the final sixteenth to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths.

Bernell Rhone trains Dontbotherknocking, whose win in the John Bullit was his seventh over the Canterbury turf.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Remington: Distinguish likes turf

Distinguish ($43), making his turf debut, overtook Sweepingly nearing the wire for a half-length win in the $50,000 Brother Brown Stakes at Remington Park.

Justin Shepherd rode the winner for trainer Martin Lozano. Distinguish races for Gary Owens, who won the owner title last year at Remington.

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Louisiana: Kalyrra much the best

Kalyrra ($12.80) unleashed a powerful rally down the stretch under Luis Quinonez to easily win the $50,000 Senorita Stakes at Louisiana Downs.

Specific, part of a two-horse entry trained by Pat Mouton, finished second, almost eight lengths behind the winner, followed by Maria Pia and 8-5 co-favorite Sweet Idea. Aly's Vow, also 8-5, finished fifth.

Jill Parrott was the winning trainer of record. She has taken over the string of Kalyrra's regular trainer, Bret Calhoun, who is serving a brief suspension for an infraction in Texas earlier in the summer. - Jeff Taylor

Mon, 08/07/2006 - 00:00

Pletcher, Romans not committing just yet

While both Haskell winner Bluegrass Cat and West Virginia Derby winner Bright One will most likely end up running in the $1 million Travers on Aug. 26, the connections of both horses on Monday wanted a little more time before declaring their horses definite.

Both Todd Pletcher, trainer of Bluegrass Cat, and Dale Romans, trainer of Bright One, said they are concerned about having to face Jim Dandy winner Bernardini on just 20 days' rest.

Sun, 08/06/2006 - 00:00

Remarkable News best in Fourstardave

Horsephotos
Jockey Javier Castellano guides Remarkable News to a 2 1/2 length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga on Sunday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Remarkable News, taking advantage of a paceless field and a vulnerable favorite, scored a front-running victory on Sunday in the Grade 2, $150,000 at Saratoga Race Course, a race in which Artie Schiller, last year's Breeders' Cup Mile winner, finished fourth, beating only one horse.

Sunday's crowd, enhanced by a T-shirt giveaway, was announced as 60,948.