Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Smuggler on top again

Horsephotos
Smuggler, under Edgar Prado, pulls away to a 3 1/2-length victory in the CCA Oaks.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Smuggler's 3-year-old campaign got off to a later start than trainer Shug McGaughey would have preferred. But, she has been well worth the wait.

Smuggler continued her ascension in the 3-year-old filly division by beating graded stakes winners Summerly and Spun Sugar in a Grade 1 race for a second time, taking Saturday's $500,000 by a convincing 3 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park. Summerly, third behind Smuggler in the Mother Goose, finished second, a head in front of Mother Goose runner-up Spun Sugar.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Courtly Jazz just needs a little luck

DEL MAR, Calif. - After winning three consecutive races during the winter at Santa Anita, Courtly Jazz has struggled against tougher competition in three starts in the spring and summer.

Bad luck has played a role in two recent defeats, which is why trainer Gary Mandella is optimistic that Courtly Jazz can play a leading role in an optional claimer worth $70,000 over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Monday.

"I'm not worried about his effort," Mandella said. "He tries hard every time."

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Hendricks, Ernsts win three-way shake for $125K claimer

DEL MAR, Calif. - The demand for $125,000 claimers in Southern California is apparently higher than anyone imagined.

Friday, Smoocher, the runner-up in an optional claimer at seven furlongs, was taken by owners John and Allegra Ernst and trainer Dan Hendricks. To gain ownership of the 4-year-old colt, they had to prevail in a three-way shake with owners represented by trainers Mike Machowsky and Doug O'Neill.

The price broke a track record of $100,000 for a claim that had been achieved five times from 1995 to 2003.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Bellamy Road to King's Bishop

ELMONT, N.Y. - Bellamy Road, who injured a splint bone while running seventh as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, is being pointed to a return in the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga on Aug. 27, trainer Nick Zito said Saturday.

The seven-furlong King's Bishop is also scheduled to be the next start for the undefeated Lost in the Fog. Roman Ruler, who won the Dwyer and is scheduled to run next in the Haskell, is also possible for the King's Bishop.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Dynamic Cat rallies to take Mrs. Penny

EQUI-PHOTOS
After running in 11th place early, Dynamic Cat overtakes All Dolled Up to win the Mrs. Penny.

Dynamic Cat, far back early, closed with a rush to overtake pacesetter All Dolled Up just before the wire in the Mrs. Penny, one of six stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on Saturday's program at Philadelphia Park.

The 4-year-old Dynamic Cat ($4.20), ridden by Victor Molina for trainer Jonathan Sheppard, was 11th of 12 after the first quarter-mile of the 1 1/16-mile Mrs. Penny and still had only two horses beaten a half-mile into the turf race for fillies and mares.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Silver Moose worth far more than $30K now

Eddie Broome was hoping to pick up a solid racehorse when he claimed Silver Moose back in March at Gulfstream Park.

Broome got his wish, and more.

Silver Moose ($8.40) became a stakes winner when he took the $55,000 Anderson Fowler for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

The $30,000 investment by owner-trainer Broome has produced two wins in four starts for the new barn, and the latest was the sweetest.

Julian Pimentel gave Silver Moose a patient ride in the five-furlong sprint on firm turf.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Colonial: Bright Gold much the best

Bright Gold ($5.80) got the jump on heavily favored With Patience and drew off to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $60,000 Somethingroyal Stakes at Colonial Downs.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Delaware: Euro Code romps to first stakes win

Euro Code ($3.80) easily handled his first stakes assignment by leading wire to wire in a 7 1/2-length victory over four other 3-year-old sprinters in the $58,100 Oh Say at Delaware Park.

Ridden by Jeremy Rose for trainer Scott Lake, Euro Code had scored a similarly easy victory to clear his first allowance condition two races ago, but was narrowly beaten by Pointsman five weeks ago in a two-other-than allowance.

Pointsman, the 8-5 second choice after winning back-to-back races, was edged out for second this time, finishing a head behind Captain Corelli.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Louisiana Downs: Sixteen Grand still perfect

Sixteen Grand improved her record to 2 for 2, finishing strongly under leading rider John Jacinto to capture the $50,000 Southern Belle Stakes for Louisiana-bred 2-year-old fillies at Louisiana Downs. Tortuga Flats finished second with 6-5 favorite Kourtneysfirst third.

Jacinto placed Sixteen Grand ($8.40) three wide and with the pace early in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint before asking for some run when straightening for home. She responded well and drew clear by almost two lengths in a time of 1:05.64 over a fast strip.

Sat, 07/23/2005 - 00:00

Woodbine: Mild surprise by Edenwold

Edenwold ($9.60) outran 2-5 favorite Key West Breeze in the stretch to notch his first stakes in the $135,650 Colin for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Edenwold dueled inside on the lead with Top Authority and Key West Breeze through fractions of 22.47 and 45.48 seconds in the six-furlong sprint.

Key West Breeze had a slim lead exiting the turn, but then began to lug in badly. Edenwold took control in the final furlong, and won by a length in a final time of 1:11.04. Top Authority finished another three lengths back in third in the six-horse field.