Wed, 11/16/2005 - 00:00

Top Shoter chosen as horse of the year

Top Shoter, a 6-year-old gelding whose two stakes victories this season included a sprint in which he carried 130 pounds, has been chosen as the horse of the year at Finger Lakes.

The award was announced Tuesday night during the Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association dinner.

, trained and owned by Charlton Baker, won the $50,000 George Barker Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths on May 30 and captured the $50,000 Wine Country Handicap by six lengths under high weight of 130 pounds on July 16. He also took an overnight handicap in early June.

Wed, 11/16/2005 - 00:00

Hoosier track report

The Hoosier Park meet enters its last full week with the trainers' race up for grabs and Ralph Martinez attempting to win his third straight title. He leads Barb McBride by a 36-34 margin entering the week.

Martinez has moved into second on the list of all-time wins at this track with 167. Gary Patrick, third in the current standings with 20 wins, and the all-time leader with 188, registered a triple last Thursday and continues to send out a large number of starters each night.

Wed, 11/16/2005 - 00:00

Lone Star track report

Si Puede, a Quarter Horse, will attempt to win her ninth consecutive race on Nov. 25, when she starts in the Grade 1, $332,869 Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park. Si Puede picked up her eighth straight win when she won a trial for the race Nov. 11.

During her streak, Si Puede has won five stakes, including the Grade 2, $111,400 Sam Houston Derby. The streak began on May 30, when she won an allowance at Remington Park. Trained by Dave Correll, the filly is 11 for 16 overall.

Wed, 11/16/2005 - 00:00

Turf Paradise track report

Heavenly Ransom not only made it a perfect 2 for 2 in her career when she won last Saturday's $40,000 Chandler Handicap, but the daughter of Red Ransom may well have stamped herself a comer for trainer Tom Bell II.

"We came here because there's no turf racing at Hollywood Park," said Bell, who is based in Southern California. "We have high hopes for this filly."

Heavenly Ransom won her debut at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meet last month. She easily defeated a good group of 3-year-old fillies going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf in the Chandler.

Wed, 11/16/2005 - 00:00

New challenge for Bull Ranch

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Bull Ranch didn't waste much time establishing his credentials at Hastings, finishing second in the British Columbia Derby and then defeating older runners in the Premier's Handicap.

Now Bull Ranch will try his hand at a new venue when he faces seven rivals in Saturday's Grade 3, $164,400 Woodbine Slots Cup Handicap.

Wed, 11/16/2005 - 00:00

Apprentice, 16, dies after spill

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Apprentice jockey Josh Radosevich died following a horrific spill in Wednesday's third race at Beulah Park.

Radosevich, who began his riding career here last month, was aboard pacesetting Nyoka, who broke down entering the stretch of the 4 1/2-furlong race for $3,500 claimers. Radosevich, 16, landed hard on the muddy racing surface and appeared to be clipped in the head or neck by a trailing horse, Wild Dance.

Tue, 11/15/2005 - 00:00

Family Guy sports 2 big wins

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Family Guy found what he needed last month at Turf Paradise in Phoenix - an easy spot. "We brought him over here for a little confidence builder," trainer Eric Kruljac said.

Family Guy responded Oct. 4, winning a first-condition allowance by eight lengths with an outstanding 101 Beyer. And he did it without blowing a condition.

Tue, 11/15/2005 - 00:00

Rock Hard Ten's career in air

Benoit & Associates
Rock Hard Ten will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left ankle later this week at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The results of an arthroscopic procedure this week on Rock Hard Ten's left ankle will determine if he will race in 2006 or be retired to stud. A 4-year-old, Rock Hard Ten was expected to stay in training at age 5, but a precautionary nuclear scan revealed signs of potential trouble.

"We nuked him because we didn't want any surprises," said trainer Richard Mandella on Tuesday. "We found a little something in an ankle."

Tue, 11/15/2005 - 00:00

Recency big factor in sprint

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - "What have you done for me lately?" may be the central theme of Aqueduct's featured eighth race Thursday, a six-furlong allowance in which five sprinters return from layoffs ranging from five months to a year.

Several of the returnees - White Socks, Fortunate Storm, Interline, and Rum Point - have done their best running on the Big A's main track.

Tue, 11/15/2005 - 00:00

No rest for a sharp Esplanade

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dale Romans is an equal odds employer. Although his success and consistency in recent years have made the veteran trainer a perennial favorite among Churchill Downs horseplayers - thus depressing, in many instances, the odds on the horses he runs - Romans still wins with an occasional longshot.