Karen Black considers herself more of a handicapper than a hunch player, but she's not ashamed to admit her sensational superfecta score was pure luck.
Black, who regularly goes to Penn National Race Course to play simulcast races, took down the entire superfecta pool of $27,389.40 on a dime bet placed at Penn National on the eighth race at Lone Star Park on July 16.
When the Sonoma County Fair opens Wednesday, it will have something that no other fair track in California has ever had: a turf course.
Racing secretary Greg Brent has carded a pair of 1 1/16-mile races on the course for opening day, and he said he hopes to run two turf races a day throughout the 12-day meet. Later in the meet, Brent plans to offer a pair of five-furlong sprints.
The new turf course at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa will be seen far and wide on Aug. 6, when TVG will telecast live from the fair.
The feature that day, to be run on the new turf course, is the $100,000 Joseph T. Grace Handicap, the first - and only - $100,000 Thoroughbred race on the fair circuit.
Of perhaps more interest to those watching on television will be a workout between races by Lost in the Fog. The colt's regular rider, Russell Baze, will be aboard for the work.
VALLEJO, Calif. - Country Vision ($16.20) got up in the final strides to edge first-timer Sierra Sweetie to win the $52,300 Solano County Juvenile Fillies on Sunday at the Solano County Fair.
Francisco Duran had Country Vision sitting behind a three-way duel early. He moved out into the lane and wore down the debuting Sierra Sweetie to win the 5+-furlong race in 1:04.78. Sierra Sweetie dueled with Wager of Gold and favored Aloha Mangos Kitty early. She took the lead in the lane but couldn't hold off Country Vision.
AUBURN, Wash. ? Celtic Crown took command of the 2-year-old filly division at Emerald Downs with a three-quarter length victory over Nite Moon in Sunday's $43,650 Angie C. Stakes at six furlongs.
Celtic Crown, one of two maidens in a field of nine, came from sixth position under rider Jennifer Whitaker to take a clear lead with a furlong remaining, then dug in to hold off the late charge of Nite Moon, who broke well behind the field. Fergie's Fantasy closed for third.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Give Sweet Return an inch and he'll take more than a mile. For the third time in his career, and the second race in succession, Sweet Return was left alone on the lead in a Grade 1 race, and his rivals never stood a chance.
On Sunday, in the Grade 1, $400,000 at Del Mar, Sweet Return dawdled through the first six furlongs in 1:12.70, then stormed through the final three furlongs in 33.83 seconds to win to score a 1 1/2-length victory under Alex Solis in the 1 1/8-mile grass race.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Edgar Prado wrapped up a sensational spring/summer meet by guiding Yankee Mon to a front-running, 1 1/2-length victory over West Virginia in Sunday's $109,900 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds on closing day at Belmont Park.
The victory was the 85th of the meet for Prado, the most by a leading rider here since Angel Cordero rode 92 winners in 1982. Prado swept the weekend stakes, taking Saturday's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Prado won nine stakes at the 60-day meet.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Slewpy's Storm, cleverly handled by Carlos Gonzalez, led every step of the way Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in capturing the Delicada Stakes for fillies and mares. Favored Red Lifesaver loomed boldly in the second turn but had to settle for second followed by Boomboomgirl.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Deputy Cures Blues, bursting between horses in the final strides, was up in time to capture the $125,000 Rainbow Connection by a head here Sunday.
Cricket Wicket re-rallied to take second in the five-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares while On Silent Wings, who had opened up a two-length lead with just a furlong to run, ended another half-length back in third.
Choctaw Nation successfully defended his title in the $250,000 , rallying from last in a field of six to score his first stakes win of the year.
Sent off as the favorite, Choctaw Nation ($5.40) finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.40. He made a sustained half-mile rally to win by a length over 6-1 Ace Blue. Preachinatthebar, another 6-1 shot, finished third.
The victory was even more impressive considering that Choctaw Nation made up nearly eight lengths in the final five furlongs despite a slow pace of 23.90 and 47.81 seconds set by Bear in the Woods.