Mon, 07/17/2006 - 00:00

Hough duo sweeps turf stakes

Trainer Stanley Hough swept both turf stakes Sunday at Monmouth Park with the favorites as Brunilda won the $61,800 Politely for fillies and mares and Terrific Challenge took the $55,000 John McSorley.

The Hough winners employed very different tactics. Brunilda ($3.80) set the pace under Eddie Castro and won by two lengths over Smart N Classy.

The time was 1:40.88 for 1 1/16 miles on the firm turf. Terrific Challenge ($4.40), with Joe Bravo aboard, rallied from seventh to win the five-furlong McSorley by 1 3/4 lengths over Bingobear.

Mon, 07/17/2006 - 00:00

Fleet Indian dominates Del Cap

The Delaware Handicap has been run 69 times since 1937, and its companion stakes, the Delaware Oaks, has been contested 55 times since 1938. Until Sunday, no trainer had ever swept the two most prestigious races on Delaware Park's stakes schedule.

Todd Pletcher pulled off the unprecedented feat, and jockey Jose Santos made it look easy, as Fleet Indian cruised to her sixth straight victory and fourth consecutive stakes in the Grade 2, $1 million .

Mon, 07/17/2006 - 00:00

Silver Train necks War Front in Tom Fool

Silver Train remained the king of Belmont Park with a hard-fought neck victory over War Front in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 .

Sensing his horse wasn't happy racing on the inside of two other horses, jockey Edgar Prado took a hold of Silver Train at the half-mile pole to get him an outside run. Silver Train rallied three wide around the turn, put away Anew in upper stretch, and was able to run down War Front, who made his first start since February.

Mon, 07/17/2006 - 00:00

Judicature best in Angie C. Stakes

AUBURN, Wash. - Judicature made her maiden win count, posting her first score in the $40,500 Angie C. Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Sunday at Emerald Downs.

In her second career start, Judicature got six furlongs in 1:09.80 to post a 2 3-4 length victory over Jacolatt. The latter?s entrymate, Welken, ran third in the field of 10.

Judicature, a daughter of Tribunal from the barn of trainer Bill Tollett, paid $43.40 to win and earned $22,275 for owners David and Elaine Parks and Ramer and Clare Holtan. She was ridden on Sunday by Leslie Mawing.

Sun, 07/16/2006 - 00:00

Vaca City Flyer wins fourth straight stakes

Heavily favored Vaca City Flyer ($2.60) recorded her fourth-straight stakes victory, leading a parade of runners home through the stretch in the $49,350 Vacaville Handicap at the Solano County Fair on Saturday.

The 5-year-old mare sat just behind Cut the Mustard during a brisk 21.41 opening quarter but opened a two-length advantage over her three rivals by the quarter pole. She increased her margin in the stretch, defeating Royal Kleven by seven lengths. Beezer was third another five length back 1 1/2 lengths in front of a tiring Cut the Mustard.

Sat, 07/15/2006 - 00:00

Me My Mine captures Claiming Crown Jewel

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Me My Mine held off heavily favored Sinners N Saints by a head in the by a nose.

On a brutally hot evening, but with a lively crowd of 11,644 on hand, Al's Dearly Bred won the Emerald for the second time, but with an amazing five-year gap between victories. Now 9, Al's Dearly Bred missed more than a year of racing, made it back June 11, and promptly was claimed out of a narrow comeback win by trainer Marvin Johnson.

"We took a chance, and it worked out," said Johnson amidst a raucous winner's circle.

Sat, 07/15/2006 - 00:00

Radiant Avie wins Lady Canterbury

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Radiant Avie cruised to a clear early lead and had far too much left to be caught in the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeders' Cup Stakes, winning by two lengths over defending champion Rue des Reves, with 3-2 favorite Stretching third.

Sat, 07/15/2006 - 00:00

Nightmare Affair takes Smile

Jim Lisa Photos
Nightmare Affair cruises to a two-length victory in the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap on Saturday at Calder after a wide rally into the stretch.

MIAMI - Nightmare Affair, in the best form of his career entering the $500,000 , took advantage of a fast pace to register a come-from-behind two-length victory over Pomeroy on Saturday at Calder. The Grade 2 dash was the highlight of the $2 million Summit of Speed program.

Lost in the Fog, the reigning Eclipse Award-winning sprinter, was never in serious contention and finished ninth as the even-money favorite in a full field of 13 sprint specialists.

Sat, 07/15/2006 - 00:00

Go Deputy gets stakes in Bowling Green

ELMONT, N.Y. - Go Deputy overcame a wide trip and a pedestrian pace to win the first stakes of his career, taking Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 by one-half length over longshot Crown Point before 7,047 at Belmont Park.

It was three lengths back to Leadwithyourchin in third. Gigli and Rochester completed the order of finish. Request for Parole scratched.

Sat, 07/15/2006 - 00:00

Go Between sets course record in derby

Jeff Coady / Coady Photography
Go Between wins the Grade 2, $1 million Virginia Derby on Saturday at Colonial Downs.

Go Between shook loose in the lane to win the Grade 2, $1 million on Saturday at Colonial Downs in course-record time.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Garrett Gomez, Go Between drew clear to score a 1 3/4-length victory over Seaside Retreat.

The time was 1:59.74 for the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf, lowering the mark of 1:59.97 set by Phi Beta Doc in 1999.