Sat, 07/16/2005 - 00:00

Ellis: Kaylan's Rose flies late

Ellis Park Photography
Kaylan's Rose wins her second consecutive stakes in the $75,000 HBPA Handicap at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Kaylan's Rose won her second consecutive stakes, scoring a half-length victory over Strike Me Lucky in the $75,000 HBPA Handicap at Ellis Park.

Under Orlando Mojica, Kaylan's Rose rallied from the back of the pack to outfinish Strike Me Lucky and favored May Gator. She raced a mile in 1:39.05 over a "good" turf course slowed by rain throughout the week. She paid $31.60.

Strike Me Lucky closed strongly to grab the runner-up spot, 1 1/4 lengths in front of May Gator, who had taken the lead in early stretch.

Sat, 07/16/2005 - 00:00

Thistledown: Girlish Giggle rallies

Under Scott Spieth, Girlish Giggle rallied steadily through the stretch to make the lead at the sixteenth pole and draw off to a three-length win over six Ohio-bred rivals in the $75,000 Rose DeBartolo Memorial at Thistledown on Saturday. Barnsy, half of the 3-5 entry with Oh So Easy, finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of the winner's stablemate Golden Tour. Oh So Easy failed to fire and beat one horse.

Girlish Giggle ($7), who was bred by her owner-trainer, John Bourke, got the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.76 over a fast track.

Sat, 07/16/2005 - 00:00

Louisiana Downs: Two for 'Bayou'

J. D.'s Blue Bayou picked up his second consecutive stakes win at Louisiana Downs with a strong rally down the center of the track under C.J. Woodley to win the $54,540 Alpine.

Logan's Draw also turned in a late charge to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths back, followed by Dreamsandvisions in third.

Sat, 07/16/2005 - 00:00

Walkover at Colonial

On Friday morning, the 3-year-old gelding Liveinthepresent looked tough to beat in the second race at Colonial Downs. By Friday afternoon, he couldn't lose.

When all four of his opponents were scratched, Liveinthepresent became the lone horse remaining in the second race, which became the first walkover in track history.

Liveinthepresent, under jockey Horatio Karamanos, toured the one-turn 1 1/16 miles in 1:51.75 - although not without some suspense. According to Clayton Beck, Colonial's director of racing, Liveinthepresent tried to bolt on the backstretch.

Sat, 07/16/2005 - 00:00

Stein wins six at Hastings

Apprentice jockey Justin Stein had the best day of his burgeoning career Friday night at Hastings. Stein won with 6 of his 8 mounts and came close to sweeping the card, as his other two mounts finished second.

Stein won the first race with the 3-2 favorite, Balazo. He followed that up with a stirring ride aboard another favorite, Pickin Pale Gold, who came from well back to get up to win by a half-length. His closest call was in the fourth race with Stormented ($9.70), who won by a diminishing nose.

Sat, 07/16/2005 - 00:00

Wilson takes over as Ky. chief vet

Dr. Gary Wilson began serving as chief veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority on Saturday at Ellis Park, said John Veitch, chief steward for the racing authority. Wilson replaced Dr. Mitzi Fisher, who retired earlier this week.

As chief veterinarian for the Kentucky racing authority, Wilson is responsible for protecting the safety of entered horses and for the testing of racehorses for medications.

Fri, 07/15/2005 - 00:00

Big plans for Isola Piu Bella

Horsephotos
Two Trail Sioux, winning the Fleur de Lis, runs in Sunday's Del Cap.

Come October, trainer Todd Pletcher could be faced with a sticky situation. Pletcher's powerful stable includes Ashado, the defending Breeders' Cup Distaff champion and the 2004 Eclipse Award winner in the 3-year-old filly division. But he now also has Isola Piu Bella, a 5-year-old Chilean import who has already won three nine-furlong stakes at three different tracks this season.

Pletcher avoided an immediate confrontation by entering Isola Piu Bella in Sunday's $1 million at Delaware Park and keeping Ashado in reserve for the Go for Wand Handicap at Saratoga on July 31.

Fri, 07/15/2005 - 00:00

Scratches cut Richards to 5

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Sun King, trained by Nick Zito, will be fitted with blinkers for the first time in Sunday's Leonard Richards.

What shaped up as a showdown featuring a trio of 3-year-olds who last raced in the Preakness suddenly became a duet on Friday with word that the probable favorite for Sunday's Grade 3, $300,000 Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park will be scratched.

, runner-up to Afleet Alex in the second leg of racing's Triple Crown on May 21, was withdrawn from the race because of a minor injury detected during a gallop on Thursday.

According to trainer Robbie Bailes, rider Ramon Dominguez reported that Scrappy T didn't seem to be running comfortably.

Fri, 07/15/2005 - 00:00

Smokume leads Tom Fool seven

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sunday's Grade 2 Tom Fool at Belmont Park lacks the quality it has had in recent runnings. Two of the last three winners were crowned champions the year they won the Tom Fool, including the 2004 winner, Horse of the Year Ghostzapper. Left Bank, the 2002 winner, was named handicap champion the year he won the Tom Fool.

This year's edition of the $150,000 Tom Fool Handicap matches seven useful sprinters, but no standouts.

Smokume and Willy o'The Valley are the co-highweights at 115 pounds.

Fri, 07/15/2005 - 00:00

Runaway Dancer sharp off Murray

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Stretch-runner Runaway Dancer and front-runner T. H. Approval reverse parimutuel roles when they meet for the second time Sunday in the Grade 2 Sunset Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the Hollywood Park turf.

finished a dull fifth at 4-1. In the $150,000 Sunset on Sunday, Runaway Dancer will try to show that win was legitimate; T.H. Approval will try to show his Jim Murray washout was a fluke.

Eight older horses entered the Sunset on closing day of the spring-summer meet at Hollywood.