Mon, 02/06/2006 - 00:00

Sunland: Don't Strike Out tops rival

Eugene O'Neill/Coady Photography
Don't Strike Out wins the $50,000 Curribot Handicap on Saturday at Sunland Park.

Don't Strike Out won his third straight and confirmed himself as the top older horse on the Sunland Park grounds with a game win over rival Broke Sharply in the $50,000 Curribot Handicap, prevailing by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile race. It was his second straight win over Broke Sharply and a carbon copy of their tough Winsham Lad battle at Sunland a few weeks ago.

Don't Strike Out, trained by Ray Carlisle Jr., paid $4.80 as the 7-5 favorite. Ridden by Mark Villa, he traveled the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.68.

Mon, 02/06/2006 - 00:00

Turf Paradise: Muir Beach solid

Muir Beach powered her way to a solid win in the $40,000 Princess of the Palms Handicap at Turf Paradise.

The 5-year-old mare, who also won the Princess of the Palms in 2005, was well back early in the six-furlong event, but under rider Joel Campbell she surged to the lead in midstretch and was actually geared down a bit once the matter was in hand.

Trained by Dan McFarlane, Muir Beach covered the distance in 1:09.31 and paid $3.60 as the favorite.

Sun, 02/05/2006 - 00:00

Baze, Garcia share jockey title

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Apprentice jockey Martin Garcia won the final race of the meeting Sunday and tied perennial leader Russell Baze for the jockey championship of the 31-day Bay Meadows Holiday meeting.

Both riders won twice on the final day to finish with 47 victories. Garcia had 153 mounts during the meet, Baze 168.

Garcia won the second race with All Thee B, a mount he picked up late. Baze was scheduled to ride morning-line favorite Muevette, but she was scratched.

Sun, 02/05/2006 - 00:00

Santa Anita carryover at $751,394

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bettors failed to conquer Sunday's pick six at Santa Anita, leaving a two-day carryover of $751,394 for Wednesday's eight-race program.

Wednesday's card begins at 1 p.m., with the first leg of the pick six, the third race, due off at 2 p.m.

The pick six races include three sprints on dirt, two races on turf and a one-mile race on dirt. The feature race, the $75,000 Thunder Road Handicap at a mile on turf, features 11 runners in an open race.

Sun, 02/05/2006 - 00:00

Spellbinder getting better with age

ARCADIA, Calif. - Spellbinder proved on Sunday that he is improving with age, winning his first stakes in the $250,000 at Santa Anita. The 5-year-old had been third in two stakes in December and January.

The victory earned Spellbinder a start in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 4, which will be his debut in a Grade 1. Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by Richard Mandella, Spellbinder has won 5 of 18 starts and $751,394. Earlier in his career, he worked with notable Mandella-trained runners as Pleasantly Perfect and Rock Hard Ten.

Sun, 02/05/2006 - 00:00

Universal Form shocks Deputy Minister at 50-1

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Universal Form, with Manoel Cruz riding, springs an upset in the $100,000 Deputy Minister Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Sunday.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Universal Form, a winner of only four of his 33 previous starts, saved his best effort for the biggest race of his life when rallying to a stunning one length victory over 4-5 favorite War Front in Sunday's $100,000 at Gulfstream Park. Universal Form, the longest price in the seven horse field, paid $109 to win.

Sun, 02/05/2006 - 00:00

Twilight Vision holds on in Jersey Village

Coady Photography/Jenifer Juelsgaard
Twilight Vision (right) wins Saturday night's $40,000 Jersey Village for Texas-breds at Sam Houston Race Park.

Twilight Vision held for a head win over entrymate Oncearoundtwice to defend his title in Saturday night's $40,000 Jersey Village for Texas-breds at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston. It was another two lengths back in third to favorite Charming Socialite.

Twilight Vision ($6.20) stalked in third early in the Jersey Village, as Charming Socialite led the field through fractions of 23.96 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.30 for the half-mile, and 1:13.04 for six furlongs. Twilight Vision overtook that one and covered the mile and a sixteenth over firm turn in 1:44.85.

Sun, 02/05/2006 - 00:00

Watchem Smokey best in Delta Mile

Making his first start since July and in only his second attempt at two turns, Watchem Smokey stalked the early pace before taking control through the stretch to win Saturday night's $50,000 Delta Mile Stakes at Evangeline Downs. High Strike Zone, the winner of this race a year ago, had to settle for second in this year's edition as he finished two and a half lengths behind the winner and three parts of a length in front of favored Drill Hall, who suffered only his second defeat from eight local starts.

Sat, 02/04/2006 - 00:00

Pick six carryover at $194,429

ARCADIA, Calif. - The pick six carryovers continue at Santa Anita. For the 10th time in the first 30 racing days, the pick six was not hit on Saturday's program, leaving a carryover of $194,429 for Sunday's nine-race program.

The program begins at 11 a.m. to accommodate racegoers who want to watch the program and still catch the Super Bowl, which starts at 3:15 p.m., Pacific.

The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races. Typical of racing at this meeting, the fields have decent sizes.

Sat, 02/04/2006 - 00:00

Carryover at $225,076 for Sunday

There is a $225,076 pick six carryover at Oaklawn Park for Sunday after a $116 winner in the sixth race Saturday knocked out most live tickets at the Hot Springs, Ark., track. The five of six consolation paid $7,657.40.

Silver Wind won the sixth race by three lengths at 57-1. Joe Johnson rode the winner for trainer Maria Pinzon.

Sunday's pick 6 will be held on race three through eight.