Sun, 12/04/2005 - 00:00

Our Madison best in Ontario Lassie

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Our Madison wins the $162,550 Ontario Lassie at Woodbine on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Longshot Our Madison, a $40,000 claim, won her first stakes Sunday at Woodbine in the $162,550 Ontario Lassie, a mile and a sixteenth route for Ontario-foaled 2-year-old fillies.

Our Madison ($27.10) earned $97,290 for owner Kenneth Sawatzky and trainer Red Johnson, who took her from a fourth-place finish in August. The win boosted her bankroll to $170,186.

Emma Wilson, riding without her apprentice allowance, had Our Madison in a stalking position along the inside, while Heaven?s Symphony and favored Sugar Swirl vied through moderate fractions.

Sun, 12/04/2005 - 00:00

Thompson injured at Louisiana Downs

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Jockey Terry Thompson suffered a possible broken arm in Sunday's first race of the Fair Grounds meeting at Louisiana Downs on Sunday when his mount broke down and fell in deep stretch. Thompson had just collared the early leader and drawn clear while on board Fast Baby when the incident happened with a sixteenth of a mile to run in the five and a half furlong $15,000 claimer. Thompson was transported to nearby Willis Knighton Medical Center also complaining of pain in his abdomen. No other horses or riders were involved.

Sun, 12/04/2005 - 00:00

Indigo Girl wins Louisiana HBPA Stakes

Longshot Indigo Girl broke on top and did not look back as she upset six rivals in Saturday's Louisiana HBPA Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Shes Dixies Eskimo chased the winner in vain throughout and had to settle for second, four and a half lengths behind and four and a quarter lengths in front of Living Lavida Lisa in third. Zarba the Great finished fourth followed by favored Hello Lucky, who faded after racing forwardly early. Shakopee was a late scratch.

Sun, 12/04/2005 - 00:00

Real Dandy wins Zia Park Derby

The consistent Real Dandy picked up his second derby win on Saturday, when he closed for a two and three quarter length win over Lumbre in the $107,600 Zia Park Derby in Hobbs, N.M. Earlier this year, Real Dandy won the Grade 3, $750,000 West Virginia Derby.

Broke Sharply finished third in the Zia Park Derby. Hope For Peace and Military Major were scratched on Saturday.

Sun, 12/04/2005 - 00:00

Thrilling Victory prevails in Angel Island

ALBANY, Calif. - Thrilling Victory ($6.20) lived up to her name, making up 7 1/2 lengths in the final quarter mile to catch favored Lunachick at the wire in the $59,050 Angel Island Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Thrilling Victory, who won the Albany Handicap sprinting against older earlier in the meet, just did get up against the odds-on Lunachick in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, winning by a nose in 1:09.32 over a track labeled "good."

Sat, 12/03/2005 - 00:00

Surprise scenario lifts Snowdrops

Jim Lisa Photos
Snowdrops, Brice Blanc up, rallies to score a half-length win in Saturday's Grade 3 My Charmer.

MIAMI - The entire complexion of the $100,000 changed when 3-5 favorite and projected pacesetter Sand Springs broke last in the field of nine filly and mare turf specialists. Sand Springs's slow start left the door open for Snowdrops to outfinish La Reina and Ticker Tape to win the My Charmer, the first of the four stakes races on Saturday's Grand Slam I program at Calder. Sand Springs finished fourth.

Sat, 12/03/2005 - 00:00

Lilah proves she can still fire at 8

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though she is nearing her ninth birthday, Lilah showed she still has a little spring in her step, as she rallied to outfinish Bank Audit and hold off longshot Secret Forest and win the $84,300 Garland of Roses Handicap by a head at Aqueduct.

Secret Forest, who was forced to alter course in the stretch, rallied for second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bank Audit, the even-money favorite.

Sat, 12/03/2005 - 00:00

Bordonaro leads throughout in Underwood

Horsephotos
Bordonaro and Patrick Valenzuela win the Grade 3, $98,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Bill Spawr had the option of keeping Bordonaro against California-breds in the On Trust Handicap on Sunday or going for bigger game in the Grade 3, $98,000 on Saturday. A little more than 68 seconds after Bordonaro broke out of the gate, Spawr's decision to aim high was proven correct.

Sat, 12/03/2005 - 00:00

Silver Crown wins first stakes in Leggio

Lynn Roberts Photo
Silver Crown wins the $75,000 Dr. A.B. Leggio Memorial at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs on Saturday.

Silver Crown drove up the rail in the stretch for a two-length win over Red Lifesaver in the $75,000 Dr. A.B. Leggio Memorial at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs on Saturday.

It was another half-length back in third to favored Josh's Madelyn.

The Leggio, which had been held at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf since 1992, was run at seven furlongs on the main track this year.

Sat, 12/03/2005 - 00:00

Turfway: Three in row for Hot Storm

Hot Storm easily notched her third straight victory by drawing clear for a 2 3/4-length win in the $43,500 Holiday Inaugural, the first of five stakes at the holiday meet at Turfway Park.

Ridden by Jesus Castanon, Hot Storm returned $3.60 as the heavy favorite after finishing six furlongs in 1:11.60 over Turfway's weather-resistant Polytrack surface. Dewey's Trick, who led most of the way before being overtaken at the top of the stretch, finshed second, another three lengths before Mocha Queen in a field of nine fillies and mares.