Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Malika's Gold best in Lyrique

Bossier City, La. - Malika's Gold ran to her highweight assignment in Saturday's Lyrique Handicap at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, besting nine fellow 3-year-old fillies in determined fashion. Longshot Prospectors Spirit outfinished heavy favorite Where's Bailey for the place spot with Counterpoise reporting home fourth.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Most of All American field in 2 barns

With six of the 10 qualifiers in their barns, trainers Paul Jones or Heath Taylor might well be on the verge of a first win Monday at Ruidoso Downs, N.M.

A $1.9 million race, the All American Futurity is for 2-year-old Quarter Horses and is run at the classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

On Day's advice, Key West Breeze goes long

CINCINNATI - Even in retirement, Pat Day is still impacting the way trainer Pat Byrne conducts his business.

Day, who partnered with Byrne as the regular rider of such top horses as Favorite Trick and Awesome Again, rode Key West Breeze in the colt's first two starts. Byrne said last week that before Day retired last month, he repeatedly told Byrne that Key West Breeze stood an excellent chance to improve with distance.

"Pat said this colt would only get better when he went long," said Byrne.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Sea Dub dangerous if he's able to stalk

Sea Dub paid $109 the last time he raced in a stakes at 1 1/8 miles. He again races in a 1 1/8-mile stakes on Monday, when he will be one of the favorites in the $125,000 DeBartolo Memorial Breeders' Cup Handicap at Remington Park.

The turf race is one of three stakes on a holiday card that will have a first post of 2:30 p.m. Central. The DeBartolo will be supported by the $40,000 Ricks Memorial for fillies and mares on turf, and the $40,000 Clever Trevor for 2-year-olds.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

'Cindy' in fine form

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Cindy Embers looks for her second restricted stakes win this year in Monday's $40,000 Distaff here at Assiniboia Downs. The Distaff, a one-mile race for Manitoba-bred fillies and mares, attracted a field of nine.

Claimed for $9,375 by trainer Blair Miller for the Pain in the Aces Stable in her first start of the year, Cindy Ember won her maiden in the restricted R.C. Anderson Stakes three start ago. A 3-year-old daughter of Incinderator, Cindy Embers followed up that race with a win over first-level allowance foes.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Mining Gold faces 11 in futurity

Mining Gold put up the best qualifying time but still has something to prove Monday as he heads a field of 12 juveniles ready to go six furlongs in the $15,000 Yavapai Downs Futurity. The race goes as the seventh race on a nine-race card, as the meet winds down with closing day on Tuesday.

Mining Gold, owned by Jack Whyman and trained by Kevin Lewis, did some good work at Turf Paradise in the spring, enough to warrant a trip to Santa Rosa in northern California for a stakes try there Aug. 7. He stalked the pace but tired to end up fifth of nine at 19-1.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Beware of Bluesbdancing

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - When Bluesbdancing, injured early this year and out of serious action for several months, won an overnight stakes race here Aug. 13 in her first start of the season, she paid $41.60 to win. She also marked herself as a horse who could boss Illinois-bred female stakes horses for years to come.

"We got a late start this year, and we're looking and hoping she really turns into an extra-special filly," said Terrel Gore, who trains Bluesbdancing for owners Bob and Nancy Bartels.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Poznansky better bring a towel

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Owner Robert Elkins started a tradition 10 years ago when, on Labor Day, he dove into one of the Fort Erie Racetrack's infield lakes. His Dancing for Beans had just captured the Puss N Boots Stakes and Elkins was making good on a vow.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Indy Groove takes Matron

Benoit Photo
Indy Groove wins the Arlington Matron Handicap by 4 1/2-lengths on Saturday.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Miss Terrible was favored at even-money Saturday in the , but jockey Mark Guidry seemed to know right away that the favorite was shaky.

Sat, 09/03/2005 - 00:00

Elle Runaway wins first stakes

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Elle Runaway captures the $165,700 Ontario Colleen Handicap on Saturday at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Elle Runaway ($9.80) overtook 11-1 shot Count to Three in midstretch to capture the $165,700 Ontario Colleen Handicap on Saturday at Woodbine.

Elle Runaway stalked the pace in the one-mile turf event and loomed into serious contention early in the stretch. She went on to prevail by three-quarters of a length. The winning time was 1:36.11.

Count to Three, who set fractions of 22.71 seconds, 45.90, and 1:11.09, finished two lengths clear of Playwild, the third-place finisher in the 13-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.