Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Woodbine: Seaside Retreat comes from behind

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Seaside Retreat wins the $140,950 Display Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Seaside Retreat furnished a strong wide rally two furlongs from home to win the $140,950 Display Stakes by 3 3/4 lengths for red-hot trainer Mark Casse and owner William S. Farish.

A 2-year-old son of King Cugat out of Shes Like Rio, Seaside Retreat settled far off the pace set by longshots Louie Nekia and Bridgecut before launching a four-wide bid on the turn and blowing past for an easy score as the 3-1 third choice.

Ridden by Patrick Husbands, Seaside Retreat kept Ports N Porsches well behind him in second with Bridgecut holding for third, a half-length behind.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Laurel: Celestial Legend still unbeaten

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Celestial Legend wins the $50,000 Toddler Stakes at Laurel on Saturday.

Celestial Legend ran her record to 4 for 4, winning the $50,000 Toddler Stakes at Laurel by three lengths, largely unchallenged through the stretch.

Ridden by Ryan Fogelsonger in the seven-furlong Toddler for 2-year-old fillies, Celestial Legend sat off the early quarter-mile pace of 44-1 Ardmore Prospect, had a head in front after a half-mile, then took control. Sea Pines, the only horse close to Celestial Legend in the stretch, finished second, 7 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Painted Rose.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Golden Gate Fields: Trickey Trevor cruises

Trickey Trevor ($4.80) took the lead out of the gate and proceeded to dominate the $100,000 Forty Niner Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.

What looked to be a speed-laden race changed complexion with the race-day scratches of Bilo and Saint Buddy after overnight rain turned the track to wet-fast.

"Speed is always dangerous," said winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Zia Park: Five stakes in row for Premier Dancer

Premier Dance won his fifth straight stakes in the $82,100 Eddy County for 2-year-olds at Zia Park, a race that served as his first start around two turns. He won by a half-length over Wait in Line, and it was another half-length back in third to Might Be Hooked.

Premier Dance ($3.80) and Might Be Hooked dueled throughout the one-mile race, trading the lead through fractions of 24 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 47.80 for the half-mile, and 1:12.80 for six furlongs. Premier Dance edged clear in the stretch and covered the distance in 1:38.20.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Finger Lakes extends

Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in Farmington, N.Y., has received approval from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board to extend its meeting two days to make up for days it canceled following the death of assistant starter Leon Reed in a gate accident on Nov. 19.

Finger Lakes had been scheduled to close Nov. 29 but will now race on both Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Private Vow gets consolation prize

Four-Footed Fotos
Private Vow, eased to finish last in the BC Juvenile, pulls away to a 2 1/4-length win in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Private Vow erased the memory of his troubled journey in the Breeders' Cup and stamped himself as a horse to watch for the spring classics by dominating the Grade 2, $222,400 on Saturday, closing day of the Churchill Downs fall meet.

Sat, 11/26/2005 - 00:00

Stevens troubled second in final career ride

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Gary Stevens is probably thankful that not all of his mounts were that eventful.

In the last start of his Hall of Fame career, Stevens finished second aboard heavily favored Louve Royale in the 12th and final race Saturday at Churchill Downs. Louve Royale trailed early in a full field of 12, then encountered some traffic trouble before getting clear down the stretch and finishing with great energy. She finished a length short of catching the winner, Moonshine Gal, a 16-1 shot ridden by Jesus Castanon.

Fri, 11/25/2005 - 00:00

Trickey Trevor wires field in Forty Niner Handicap

ALBANY, Calif. - Trickey Trevor ($4.80), took the lead out of the gate and dominated on the pace in winning the $100,000 Forty Niner Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Friday.

What looked to be a speed-laden race changed complexion with the race-day scratches of Bilo and Saint Buddy after an overnight rain turned the track to wet fast.

"Speed is always dangerous," winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said. "Actually, when (Bilo and Saint Buddy) scratched, it changed the race. They would have put more pressure on him."

Fri, 11/25/2005 - 00:00

Fleet Indian poised to win first stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y - After Fleet Indian began her career with four consecutive victories, trainer Jimmy Toner certainly thought she would have won a stakes race by now, the end of her 4-year-old season.

But enters Sunday's $75,000 Montauk Handicap at Aqueduct still in search of that first stakes score, something she looks poised to accomplish in the nine-furlong Montauk, a race restricted to New York-bred fillies and mares. The Montauk, which drew a field of six, heads the final program conducted on the main track. Racing moves to the inner dirt on Wednesday.

Fri, 11/25/2005 - 00:00

Stellar Jayne wins en route to retirement

Horsephotos
Stellar Jayne, Jerry Bailey up, wins the final race of her career in Friday's Grade 2, $150,00 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It wasn't the race her connections hoped Stellar Jayne would win to end her career, but it was a win nonetheless.

Under a persevering Jerry Bailey, Stellar Jayne ran down a game Bohemian Lady to win Friday's Grade 2, $150,00 by a half-length before a chilled crowd of 3,205 at Aqueduct. It was 4 1/4 lengths back to Seeking the Ante in third.

The Top Flight marked the final race for Stellar Jayne, who was scheduled to head to Jonabell Farm on Sunday. Stellar Jayne, owned by Godolphin Racing, will be bred next year.