Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Storminbayoubabe can take the heat - and she'll have to

Storminbayoubabe is 2 for 2 on the turf, both races sprints, which is probably enough to make her the favorite in a five-furlong turf event for optional-claiming distaffers at Bay Meadows Sunday. Storminbayoubabe has four rivals, and every one of them has enough speed to give her trouble.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Distance, post position hurdles for Instantly

Instantly rallied strongly despite early traffic trouble to win the six-furlong Diamondback Handicap at Yavapai Aug. 13. On Sunday he moves to a route for the $15,000 Mile Hi Handicap at Yavapai, a race in which he finished third last year.

It isn't going to be easy. Not only is he winless in three starts at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Mile Hi, he has an outside post and must deal with the Southern California shipper Gospodin and nine others.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Shadow Cast upsets Ashado

Horsephotos
Shadow Cast, Robby Albarado up, races to a 2 3/4-length victory in Friday's Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga. She paid $31 for the win.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - What a difference a day makes.

On Thursday, trainer Neil Howard watched his 4-5 favorite Reunited finish third in the Victory Ride Stakes. But Howard bounced back in a big way 24 hours later, sending out Shadow Cast to register a 2 3/4-length upset victory in the Grade 1 in a field that included division leader and reigning Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Ashado.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Adieu makes amends for flop on opening day

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The handicappers gave up on Adieu way too soon.

After finishing fourth as the 6-5 favorite in the Adirondack here on opening day, Adieu rebounded with a strong performance Friday, winning the Grade 2, $250,000 by one length over Adirondack winner Folklore. It was three lengths back to Along the Sea, who was third. Sent off at 7-1 in the field of seven, Adieu returned $17.40 to win.

Sensation finished fourth, followed by Effectual, the 7-5 favorite, Wonder Lady Anne L, and Fifth Avenue.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Giacomo gets green light to train

DEL MAR, Calif. - Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo will soon start light exercise after recently being given a clean bill of health following surgery in June to have bone chips removed from his left front ankle and right knee.

Unraced since finishing seventh in the Belmont Stakes on June 11, Giacomo is expected to begin tack-walking at trainer John Shirreffs's stable at Del Mar in coming days.

"We can start back anytime," Shirreffs said. "He will just tack-walk in the morning. He can start jogging when he goes back to Hollywood."

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

New strategy for Who's Cozy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In 1998, owner Richard Golden and trainer Linda Rice won both the Lake Placid and Lake George handicaps here with the 3-year-old filly Tenski. So, it's only fitting that when Saratoga runs the $65,000 Tenski Stakes on Sunday, Golden and Rice send out one of the top contenders in Who's Cozy.

Fourteen 3-year-old fillies were entered for the Tenski, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon Turf Course. Only 10 will be permitted to run.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Network will try Pa. Derby

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Owner-trainer Eddie Broome will pass the easier pickings in Sunday's Choice Stakes at Monmouth with Network and take a bigger swing in the Grade 2, $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day at Philadelphia Park.

"I am going for the big money," Broome said. "Every time we've asked him, he's stepped up and done what he had to do."

Broome said he hopes to have Joe Bravo aboard. Monmouth's leading rider, Bravo is still recovering from a broken collarbone suffered last month and has targeted the holiday weekend for his comeback.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Mykindasaint lone stakes winner in Princess

Leading trainer Cole Norman knows exactly what he's up against with his two starters in the $50,000 Princess Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Sunday: the undefeated Mykindasaint.

Trained by Bubba Cascio, the talented Mykindasaint should go favored in the Princess, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies that drew 12.

"Bubba's filly is definitely the one to beat," said Norman, who will start Love the Beach and Kat Nan Do. "She's the class of the race. So we hope to run good on Sunday. We'd like to win. We'll try."

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Decew Falls not exactly outclassed

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Fourth in a first-level allowance last time out, Decew Falls would appear to be moving into deeper water Sunday, when he makes his stakes debut in the $125,000 Vice Regent. Of his eight rivals, though, only a couple are proven stakes performers, and Decew Falls deserves a long look.

The Vice Regent is a one-mile turf race for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.

Fri, 08/26/2005 - 00:00

Brinello has an opportunity to step up

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - The absence of Manitoba Derby winner Prime Time T.V., sidelined for the season because of an ankle injury, has opened the door for another horse to step to the forefront of the Assiniboia Downs 3-year-old division in Sunday's featured $40,000 Harry Jeffrey Stakes at 1 1/8 miles.