Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

The Daddy's looking Classic

Reed Palmer Photography
The Daddy (8), under 17-year-old apprentice Pablo Morales, holds off late-charging A.P. Arrow to win the Grade 2 Super Derby.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Owner Greg Norman had said prior to Saturday that depending on The Daddy's performance in the Grade 2, $750,000 at Louisiana Downs, the New York-bred would probably be heading to one of two Classics: the Breeders' Cup, or the Empire for horses bred in New York.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Nothing But Fun by nose in thriller

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Jockey Richard Migliore drives Nothing But Fun (left) to victory over Yolanda B. Too and Brian Peck in the $300,000 Cotillion Handicap at Philadelphia Park.

Nothing But Fun, 4-1 under Richard Migliore, edged Yolanda B. Too, 6-1 under Brian Peck, by a nose in a thrilling finish to the the Grade 2 for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Philadelphia Park.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

New Yorkers invade for World Appeal

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - A wide-open field of 11 juveniles takes aim at the $50,000 World Appeal Stakes at The Meadowlands on Tuesday. Over half the field is trying turf for the first time, and only one horse, the likely favorite Last Best Place, has won on grass.

The World Appeal, at one mile and 70 yards, had initially been scheduled for opening night on Friday. The race did not fill then, but garnered a large field when rescheduled for Tuesday. First post on Tuesday is 1:10 p.m., and the World Appeal is carded as the eighth race.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Ashado holds on in Beldame

Horsephotos
Ashado and jockey John Velazquez charge down the stretch en route to a half-length win in the Grade 1 Beldame.

ELMONT, N.Y. - For the second time this year, Ashado overcame doubts to prove that she's still the No. 1 mare in racing.

Bouncing back from the worst performance of her career in the Personal Ensign Handicap, Ashado held off a late surge from Happy Ticket to win Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 by a half-length at Belmont Park. Happy Ticket finished second, 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Society Selection.

Sweet Symphony finished fourth as she suffered her first career defeat. Personal Legend, Dream of Summer, and Island Sand completed the order of finish.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Riskaverse triggers big pick four

Those savvy enough to come up with longshot Riskaverse in Saturday's Flower Bowl Invitational were rewarded nicely in the pick four Saturday at Belmont Park.

The pick four on the Beldame Stakes, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Flower Bowl returned $1,726 for $1. The winning combination of 6-7-3-9 consisted of Ashado ($5.40), Shakespeare ($3.80), Borrego ($10.60), and Riskaverse ($73.50). The New York Racing Association guaranteed a pool of $500,000 and the wager handled $536,361.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

'Paradise' finds track to his liking

Horsephotos
Taste of Paradise, Garrett Gomez up, draws clear to a two-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Gary Mandella always wanted to run Taste of Paradise at Belmont Park, he just couldn't find the right time or spot. Saturday, he finally found it.

Unleashing a powerful stretch kick under Garrett Gomez, Taste of Paradise drew clear to a two-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 to earn a spot in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint here on Oct. 29.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Shakespeare handles the distance

ELMONT, N.Y. - Showing tremendous determination, Shakespeare stretched his unbeaten streak to five with a gutsy head victory over English Channel in the Grade 1, $750,000 on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Shakespeare ($3.80) ran the 1 1/2 miles over a firm course in 2:27.22.

The 4-year-old, who suffered a potentially career-ending knee injury last season, passed several important tests in the Hirsch by proving he was a Grade 1-caliber horse who could handle this distance.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Pick six carryover at $526,640

ELMONT, N.Y. - With longshots Taste of Paradise ($55) winning the Vosburgh and Riskaverse ($73.50) taking the Flower Bowl Invitational the Pick 6 at Belmont Park went unhit for the third consecutive day.

Thus, there will be a Pick 6 carryover of $526,640 entering Sunday's card. Those who had 5 of 6 on Saturday's card received $5,553.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Dancing Master wins by neck

Jim Lisa
Dancing Master rallies to win the $100,000 Flying Pidgeon Handicap by a neck at Calder.

A yielding turf course and an honest pace helped Dancing Master rally to a neck upset over Keep Cool in Saturday's $100,000 Flying Pidgeon Handicap at Calder.

Dancing Master likes running on a grass course that has some give to it. Earlier this year the 7-year-old Irish-bred ran second in the Band Is Passing Stakes over a "good" strip, and in his previous start came within a neck of upsetting Bobs Proud Moment over a "yielding" course in the Grade 3 Miami Mile Breeders' Cup Handicap.

Sat, 10/01/2005 - 00:00

Delaware: Trapped Again sets mark

Trapped Again and jockey Joe Rocco took advantage of a lack of pace in the $100,900 Kelso Handicap, going wire to wire and setting a track record for 1 3/16 miles.

Trapped Again set fractions of 24.49 seconds and 49.49 while being hounded by Navesink River. He began to shake clear after six furlongs in 1:13.28 and was long gone by midstretch, winning by 8 3/4 lengths and finishing in 1:55.41, more than a second faster than the old mark of 1:56.60.

Navesink River held second by a half-length over Separato, the 2-1 favorite in the field of eight 3-year-olds and up.