Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Cause to Believe captures Mill Valley Stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Cause to Believe ($6.80) unleashed another powerful stretch kick to win the $50,600 Mill Valley Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

The victory was his third straight stakes victory.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

French Park just in time

Four Footed Fotos
French Park wins the Grade 2, $222,200 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Under a sensational ride from Mark Guidry, favored French Park ($5.40) rallied from well behind to be up in the last few jumps to remain unbeaten by winning the Grade 2, $222,200 , the sister race to the KJC.

She Says It Best appeared to have the race in her grasp after putting away Beau Dare turning for home, but she couldn't withstand the steady rally that a patient Guidry had commenced aboard French Park leaving the half-mile pole.

Helen Pitts is the trainer of French Park, a gray 2-year-old filly from the first crop of Ecton Park.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Wonder Lady Anne L upsets Demoiselle

Wonder Lady Anne L, third as the favorite in the Tempted Stakes last month, bounced back to win Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 as the longest shot on the board.

Under Cornelio Velasquez, Wonder Lady Anne L stalked a slow pace from fourth position in the five-horse field. She launched her bid leaving the half-mile pole and outkicked Cinderella's Dream in the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

The Pletcher-trained trio of Cinderella's Dream, Wait a While, and Love Locket finished second, third, and fourth. Better Now, the Tempted winner, finished last as the 9-5 favorite.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Purge redeems himself

Horsephotos
After rallying from far back, Purge and Garrett Gomez cruise to a 3 3/4-length win in Saturday's Cigar Mile.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Entering the year, trainer Todd Pletcher felt that Purge could be as good as any older horse in the country. It took 11 months, but Purge finally fulfilled his trainer's promise by rallying from well off the pace to pull a huge upset in Saturday's Grade 1, $350,000 before 4,484 at Aqueduct.

Mass Media, who raced much closer to the pace than usual, held second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Gygistar. Badge of Silver, the 2-1 favorite, finished eighth.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Bluegrass Cat on a roll

Horsephotos
Despite stumbling away from the gate, Bluegrass Cat and John Velazquez win their third straight race together in the Remsen.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The start was the hardest part for Bluegrass Cat in Saturday's Grade 2 at Aqueduct.

Overcoming a stumbling beginning, Bluegrass Cat picked himself up under John Velazquez, then was able to set modest fractions on the front end before repelling a challenge from Flashy Bull to win the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.

Flashy Bull, who stalked Bluegrass Cat from the outset, held second by 4 1/2 lengths over Parkhimonbroadway.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Eventful work for Mia's Reflection

MIAMI - What started out to be a routine gate work in preparation for next Saturday's $100,000 Three Ring Stakes turned out to be anything but routine for the three-time stakes winner Mia's Reflection here Saturday morning.

Mia's Reflection broke out of the gate with five other horses, but within moments one member of the group lost its rider and ran loose with the pack. That prompted the track outrider to spring into action, attempting to catch the riderless horse while Mia's Reflection and the others continued on with their works.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Test Boy goes for two stakes in row

Test Boy has stepped up his game considerably in a short period of time, and on Monday night at Remington Park he will be shooting for his second straight stakes win when he starts in the $40,000 Centennial.

The one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds will close out the meet at the Oklahoma City track.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Genre wins Real Quiet on DQ

Horsephotos
Bob and John is disqualified and placed third after winning the Real Quiet Stakes at Hollywood Park. Stewards ruled that he interfered with Kissin Knight.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In a controversial decision, Bob and John won Saturday's $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes for 2-year-olds by six lengths at Hollywood Park but was disqualified and placed third after track stewards ruled that he interfered with Kissin Knight in early stretch.

The decision resulted in Genre ($18.80) being promoted from second to first.

The incident took place before the eighth pole. Bob and John, who had taken the lead from pacesetter Kissin Knight on the turn, crossed in front of Kissin Knight, who took up under jockey Patrick Valenzuela.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Wire Bound rallies to win Pass the Line

Wire Bound took advantage of a fast pace, rallying from last to register a neck decision over Midwest invader Pulpit Talk in Saturday's $40,000 Pass the Line Stakes at Calder.

Wire Bound, a 4-year-old son of Hesabull, was making only his second start, and his first on turf, since April 9 in the Pass the Line, a 7 1/2-furlong turf race. Unhurried for the opening half-mile, Wire Bound circled five wide around the second turn, took control near the eighth pole, then outgamed Pulpit Talk to the wire.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Fair Grounds: More than Promised delivers

Lou Hodges Jr.
More than Promised captures the Pago Hop Stakes at the Fair Grounds meeting at Louisiana Downs on Saturday.

Even-money favorite More Than Promised ran to her at the Fair Grounds meeting at Louisiana Downs, cruising home three lengths in front of runner-up Enduring Will to capture the Pago Hop Stakes. Leestown Fantasie finished third, 4 1/2 lengths back, followed by Commercialize.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, who has been on a tear this week after sending out three winners on Friday, More Than Promised ($4) negotiated through traffic under clever handling by Luis Quinonez late in the second turn and set her sights on the leaders turning into the stretch.