Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Frolicing shows Azalea potential

MIAMI - Frolicing likely earned herself a spot in the Grade 3 Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes on July 15 with an impressive three-length victory over favored A Sea Trippi in Friday's Swept Away Stakes, a six-furlong overnight stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Frolicing ($5.10) overcame a slow start and her continued penchant for bearing out into or through the stretch to register her second straight victory and first stakes success. A daughter of Royal Academy, Frolicing earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93 for her effort.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Bit of trouble can't stop 'Affair'

MIAMI - Nightmare Affair earned himself a trip back to the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap on July 15 with a convincing 3 1/4-length victory over Universal Form in Saturday's $45,000 Champali Stakes at Calder.

Nightmare Affair, who finished a troubled third behind Woke Up Dreamin in the 2005 Smile, extricated himself from tight quarters between horses leaving the backstretch and overtook the leaders entering the stretch run of the six-furlong Champali. He quickly drew clear passing the furlong grounds and was never threatened while kept under a drive by jockey Jeffrey Sanchez.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Fleet Indian runs away with Obeah

The key point in the $100,000 Obeah Handicap at Delaware Park came on the far turn of the 1 1/8-mile race, when Jeremy Rose put American Miss into a full-out drive in an attempt to challenge front-running Fleet Indian.

While Rose flailed away with the whip, Jose Santos moved his hands approximately three centimeters aboard Fleet Indian, and the race was over. Fleet Indian instantly opened up by several lengths en route to a 7 3/4-length romp as the 1-5 favorite.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Monmouth: Livermore Valley pounces

EQUI-PHOTO
Livermore Valley with Jose Lezcano riding wins the $60,000 Dearly Precious Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

It might be time for Livermore Valley to step up and face the big girls.

Livermore Valley ($5.40) rallied convincingly to capture the $58,200 Dearly Precious Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Monmouth Park.

The time was 1:10.40 for the six furlongs as Livermore Valley improved her record to 4 wins in 8 career starts.

"We've kind of stayed away from the top horses, but you're only a 3-year-old filly one time in your life," Ryerson said, adding that "maybe it's time to take a chance" at a New York track "in a month or so."

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Colonial: Union Avenue rolls

Jeff Coady / Coady Photography
Union Avenue wins the $60,000 John D. Marsh at Colonial Downs on Saturday.

The $60,000 John D. Marsh at Colonial Downs unfolded exactly as it looked on paper. Union Avenue, sent off at 1-5, dominated the 1 1/16-mile turf race, defeating 5-2 second choice Love Conquers by four lengths. It was another 10 1/2 lengths back in third to Class Vantage, at 13-1 the third choice in the field of seven Virginia-bred 3- and 4-year-olds.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Woodbine: Flaming Heart in Hill 'n' Dale

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Flaming Heart wins the Hill N Dale stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Jockey Todd Kabel won the $100,000 Hill 'N' Dale Stakes for the third straight year at Woodbine aboard New York import Flaming Heart.

Flaming Heart stalked three wide throughout the 1 1/16-mile event, and then held off 26-1 shot Colonial Surprise in deep stretch to win by a half-length. Ballroom Deputy was third in the five-horse field of fillies and mares. She was followed by the 1-2 favorite, Gold Strike, who faded in the final furlong after setting moderate fractions.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Thistledown: P. R. Victory romps

P. R. Victory took advantage of a quick early pace, went up to make the lead when set down by Luis Antonio Gonzalez entering the stretch, and drew off to an easy seven-length win over his five rivals in the $35,000, 1 1/16-mile Black Gold Handicap at Thistledown.

Tri Uimet, who set the fast early fractions was clearly second-best, finishing 4 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Who Slew Who. The 4-5 favorite, Father Art, was another 4 3/4 lengths back in fourth.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

River Downs: Cat Singer comfortably

River Downs
Cat Singer wins the $50,000 Gendelman Handicap at River Downs on Saturday.

Favored Cat Singer was challenged for the lead and forced into setting a fast early pace in the $50,000 Gendelman Handicap at River Downs, but it didn't matter. Cat Singer put away from Only One King after six furlongs in 1:09.40 and ran off to a 4 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for Ohio-breds. Oh Oleg rallied for second with The Potters Hand third in the 12-horse field of 3-year-olds and up.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Rockem Sockem goes after repeat

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Rockem Sockem, the 2005 Michigan horse of the year, heads a field of 10 Michigan-bred runners in Monday's $50,000 Wolverine Handicap, a six-furlong race he won last year.

Sat, 06/17/2006 - 00:00

Plumlake Lady heads shipper parade

The versatile Plumlake Lady goes from the main track to the turf for the $75,000 Golden Sylvia Handicap on Tuesday at Mountaineer Park.

The one-mile Golden Sylvia drew a full field of 12 fillies and mares, plus one also-eligible, Cap and Gown.

Plumlake Lady has run well on a number of surfaces for Louisville-based trainer Martin Rouck. Most recently, she was second in a money allowance on grass at Churchill Downs. Polytrack was not an issue, as she won two allowance races over the winter at Turfway Park.