ALBANY, Calif. - Jockey Roberto Gonzalez rode back-to-back winners on Monday's Golden Gate Fields card to record his 4,000th career victory.
Gonzalez got win No. 3,999 with a wire-to-wire victory aboard favored Barbecue Bob in the sixth race, a $4,000 claimer at 1 1/16 miles.
He then won the seventh race aboard Peek a Bootrando for his longtime friend, trainer Jeff Bonde, returning $64.80 in a $50,000 optional claimer at six furlongs.
ALBANY, Calif. - Buzzards Bay ($6) sat just off Trickey Trevor's fast pace and pulled away late to win the $150,000 Grade 3 on Monday at Golden Gate Fields.
Buzzards Bay broke nicely but was no match early for Trickey Trevor, who got an early jump on the six-horse field. He sat second outside Trickey Trevor under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr.
As the field turned for home, he spurted past Trickey Trevor and lengthened his lead, winning the 1 1/8-mile race by four lengths over Melanyhasthepapers in 1:47.11. Ace Blue was third, another three-quarters of a length back.
ARCADIA, Calif. - There is a massive one-day pick six carryover of $231,863 for Thursday's eight-race program at Santa Anita.
A string of tricky longshots were too difficult for bettors to find on Monday at Santa Anita.
Thursday's pick six consists entirely of sprints, covering the third through eighth races.
The pick six begins with a $10,000 claimer over 5 1-2 furlongs, which drew nine runners. Flying Bearcat, who won at this level on Jan. 15, must beat the class droppers Trish's Diamond, Beau, and Love That Red, a former Grade 1 winner.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A strategy of follow-the-leader gave Silver Cup her second graded stakes win of the year in Monday's $150,000 at Santa Anita.
Silver Cup broke from the outside in post 11, but jockey Victor Espinoza hustled her toward the inside in the first quarter-mile and into a stalking position behind Elusive Diva, who broke from post 10.
Silver Cup was third until the final furlong when she engaged Elusive Diva, taking the lead five strides before the finish. Silver Cup won by three-quarters of a length over Elusive Diva.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Wednesday's ninth race at Gulfstream Park will be decided at a mile under first-level allowance conditions for a mere $33,000 purse. But the race has drawn a stakes-quality field - one that could have a major impact on the 3-year-old division on the road to this year's Kentucky Derby.
, Strong Contender, and Storm Treasure will all be making their 3-year-old debuts in Wednesday's race, while the undefeated Roamin Murphy and the improving Ice N Lemon each will have the advantage of a race over the track here this winter.
About a year and a half ago, Grant Hofmans moved from Southern California to Kentucky with the hopes of faring better in the horse business. Discouraged by the prevailing trends of short fields and the high costs of conducting business on his home circuit, he was looking to attract more clients and win more races.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Todd Pletcher reported Monday that Bluegrass Cat came back well from his record-setting win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs and that he remained on target for the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 18.
"He came back excellent," said Pletcher. "The race seemed to take nothing out of him, and his energy level has been good since the race. It was just what we were looking for, so we'll stick with the plan and go back to Tampa next month and see how that goes.
The Maryland Jockey Club has decided to cancel the General George and Barbara Fritchie handicaps this year because of the ongoing problems associated with the outbreak of the equine herpesvirus that has hit the state this winter.
The two seven-furlong races, each a Grade 2 worth $300,000, were the marquee events of the Laurel Park winter meet. Originally scheduled for Presidents Day weekend, the Barbara Fritchie had been rescheduled for March 4 while the General George had been moved to March 18.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A poor start by odds-on favorite Silvestris helped Ring True post a big upset in Monday's $68,745 at Aqueduct.
Breaking alertly under Norberto Arroyo Jr., Ring True stalked pacesetting Pure Disco, took over from that rival turning for home, and held off a late charge from Vasa to take the Dearly Precious by one-half length. Vasa was second by 6 1/2 lengths over Pure Disco.
Silvestris, the 1-2 favorite, finished fourth of five after breaking slowly and then being rushed up by Eibar Coa. Cinnamon Charlie finished fifth. Oprah Winney was scratched.
Horacio Parisi worked for years as a horse trainer in his native Chile before coming to the United States about 20 years ago. Parisi, 63, said he won "lots of races" back home, but until Esprit du Roi stunned Turfway Park horseplayers on Saturday by winning the Dust Commander Stakes at 21-1, Parisi had labored in obscurity in this country.
"The racetrack is my life," said Parisi, who speaks limited English.
