MIAMI - Trainer Nick Zito couldn't wait until the opening of Gulfstream Park to begin his winter assault on south Florida racing.
Zito got the season off to a big start by sweeping the top two positions in Saturday's Grade 3 with Andromeda's Hero and Seek Gold. He also sent out four 2-year-old winners between Saturday and Monday, including Doc Cheney on Saturday and Hemingway's Key on Monday.
When Julien Leparoux climbs aboard Little Boot in the featured ninth race Wednesday night at Turfway Park, he will do so as the hottest young rider at the Florence, Ky., track.
Leparoux, 22, rode a career-high four winners Sunday at Turfway, putting him in a tie for third in the jockey standings at the holiday meet that began Nov. 27. Leparoux won three straight races, the second through fourth, before also winning the eighth.
One of the best performances by a 2-year-old this meet at Sam Houston Race Park was turned in by Annie Savoy in the $50,000 Bara Lass in November. With her dominant win, she remained undefeated in three career starts and could be headed next to Oaklawn Park, according to her trainer, Kari Craddock.
Craddock said Annie Savoy will likely make her next start in the $50,000 Dixie Belle at six furlongs on Jan. 28.
"She's a nice filly," said Craddock, who trains Annie Savoy for her breeder, Hal Browning. "We know we've got potential there."
Portland Meadows canceled racing Saturday, Sunday, and Monday because of a frozen track surface.
The Oregon Championship Day program, scheduled for this past Saturday, will now be run when racing resumes on Saturday, Dec. 31. No live racing had been scheduled before that date.
There will be a pick-six carryover of $183,730 awaiting handicappers when racing resumes at Aqueduct on Dec. 28, and Banjo Picker's upset of Sunday's $112,000 was the catalyst.
Banjo Picker, the longest shot on the board in the 10-horse field at 47-1, outsprinted four other speed types to the lead, then came again after being headed by 45-1 shot Pioneer Empire in deep stretch to win the Grade 3 Gravesend by a head. It was a neck back to Saay Mi Name, who rallied along the rail.
North Beach Combo ($4.60), claimed out of his last start for $25,000, quickly returned dividends for new owner Nick Sanna and trainer Mike Pino with a 3 1/4-length victory in the $50,000 Tyson Gilpin Stakes for Virginia-bred 2-year-olds at Laurel Park.
Mario Pino rode North Beach Combo for his brother. A week earlier, Mario Pino won the fillies division of the Virginia-bred stakes with Cinnamon Charlie.
Latenite Band dueled for a head win over Matchstick Man in the $125,000 Red Hedeman Mile for 2-year-old New Mexico-breds at Sunland Park. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to Manolito in third.
Latenite Band ($15.40) raced close throughout and covered the one-mile distance in 1:39.05. Joe Martinez rode the winner for trainer Lorence Lucero, who registered his biggest career win in the race. It was the second stakes win for Latenite Band, who has now won 5 of 8 starts and $124,127.
Hollywood Gone was prominent throughout for a neck win over La Mamie in the $125,000 La Coneja Handicap for statebred fillies and mares at Sunland Park. It was another two lengths back in third to Windy Storm'n Rose.
Hollywood Gone ($10) covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.27. Alfredo Juarez Jr. rode the winner for trainer Fred Danley.
Hollywood Gone has now won 6 of 12 starts and $238,974.
Miss Hester pulled a 25-1 upset in the $40,000 Mesa Handicap at Turf Paradise, when she was up for a neck win over Kresgeville. Miss Hester paid $52.
Glenn Corbett rode the winner for trainer Don Mills.
Miss Hester covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.65. The win was her first in a stakes and improved her record to seven wins from 27 starts for earnings of $110,844.
