Mon, 02/20/2006 - 00:00

Dyna's Destiny shows stable's depth

Dyna's Destiny may be the second-best 3-year-old turf filly in trainer Todd Pletcher's barn, but that didn't stop her from rallying to a three-quarter-length victory over Delmarva in the $60,000 Gaily Gaily Stakes at Gulfstream.

With her undefeated stablemate J'ray waiting for richer races later in the meet, Dyna's Destiny proved an ample replacement under a well-judged ride by John Velazquez. A daughter of Dynaformer, Dyna's Destiny overcame a slow start to race in midpack before rallying three wide and outfinishing Delmarva for her second straight stakes win.

Mon, 02/20/2006 - 00:00

Big Apple Daddy gets up

On a card where front-runners won 8 of 9 races, Big Apple Daddy stormed home from off the pace to run down Introspect and win the $70,850 Hollie Hughes Handicap by 2 1/4 lengths.

Introspect held second by a head over Melodeeman. Casper Peterson, Bold Decision, Storm Boot Gold, and Oz also ran.

It was the first stakes win in nine tries for Big Apple Daddy, a son of Precise End owned by Ervin Rodriguez and trained by Bruce Levine.

Mon, 02/20/2006 - 00:00

Sunland: Dee Dee's Diner stalks and wins

Eugene O'Neill/Coady Photography
Dee Dee's Diner wins the $50,000 Czaria Handicap for fillies and mares at Sunland Park.

Dee Dee's Diner carried highweight of 121 pounds to a one-length victory in the $50,000 Czaria Handicap for fillies and mares at Sunland. The 6-year-old mare, owned by G. Chris Coleman and trained by Henry Dominguez, chased pacesetter Summer Star through the first half-mile of the six-furlong race, took over into the lane, drew clear, and held sway under Ken Tohill. Water Park got second, almost two lengths clear of Red Lifesaver, the 7-5 favorite, who ran evenly while wide to be third.

Sun, 02/19/2006 - 00:00

Frisco Star captures Novato Overnight Stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Frisco Star ($3.80) made it 3-for-3 in his career, capturing the $42,550 Novato Overnight Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

Although he broke from the rail, Frisco Star was quickly able to get over in the two path between pacesetting Barber and Midwesterner. He pulled within a head of Barber at the quarter pole, and the two dueled for another eighth of a mile as Midwesterner dropped back in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

Sun, 02/19/2006 - 00:00

Proud Tower Too, Siren Lure take features

ARCADIA, Calif. - Proud Tower Too and Siren Lure won sprint stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday, races intended for the hillside turf course but run at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt because of overnight rain.

Proud Tower Too ($6.60) won his second stakes of the meeting in the Sensational Star Handicap for state-breds. Ridden by David Cohen, Proud Tower Too set a quick pace of 21.41 and 43.98 seconds, holding off a persistent Thor's Echo. Red Warrior finished third in the field of seven. The Sensational Star originally had 13 entries.

Sun, 02/19/2006 - 00:00

Brick Fight pulls 41-1 upset

Jack Coady/Coady Photography
Brick Fight upsets in the $125,000 Jim's Orbit division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park.

Brick Fight paid $85.40 on Saturday night when he upset the $125,000 Jim's Orbit division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. He won by three and a half lengths over Gambling Wolfe. It was another head back in third to favorite Upstream.

Brick Fight was prominent throughout, and covered the one-mile for 3-year-olds in 1:40.80. Quincy Hamilton rode the winner for trainer Danny Pish. Brick Fight races for John H. Silverthorne Ranch.

The Jim's Orbit was restricted to the offspring of eligible stallions.

Sun, 02/19/2006 - 00:00

Happy Ticket, Leggio dominate Premier Night

Happy Ticket was supposed to be the star of the show on Louisiana Premier Night, and she did score the easiest kind of victory in the $100,000 Premier Night Distaff, but Happy Ticket's performance was eclipsed by her trainer, Andy Leggio, who won three of the six Louisiana-bred stakes Saturday night at Evangeline Downs.

Sun, 02/19/2006 - 00:00

Esprit du Roi victorious in Dust Commander

Pat Lang
Esprit du Roi wins the $43,500 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday.

Esprit du Roi, easily the longest shot in a scratch-laden field of six older horses, put away favored Storm Surge leaving the half-mile pole when bounding away to a 3 1/2-length victory Saturday in the $43,500 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

A 7-year-old Chilean-bred, Esprit du Roi returned $44.20 after finishing one mile in 1:39.86 under Godofredo Laurente. King of Speed, the second-longest shot at 11-1, finished second, another 4 1/4 lengths before Storm Surge.

Sun, 02/19/2006 - 00:00

Oaklawn cancels Sunday and Monday cards

Oaklawn Park canceled racing on Sunday and Monday because the racing surface was frozen. Track officials canceled the cards one day after a winter storm forced the cancellation of racing Saturday.

Eric Jackson, Oaklawn's general manager, said the $250,000 Southwest Stakes, scheduled for Monday, will be run Saturday.

Two other stakes, the $50,000 Pippin for fillies and mares and the $50,000 Martha Washington for 3-year-old fillies have also been rescheduled. The Pippin will now be run on Thursday, and the Martha Washington on Friday.

Sat, 02/18/2006 - 00:00

Surf Cat rallies to win San Carlos

ARCADIA, Calif. - All Surf Cat needed midway through Saturday's $150,000 at Santa Anita was a wake-up call.

Running in sixth with three furlongs remaining in the seven-furlong sprint, Surf Cat rallied quickly when challenged by fellow closer Imperialism and roared home with a wide kick to win by 2 1-4 lengths.

"It woke him up," trainer Bruce Headley said of the challenge. "He took off."