Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Buzzards Bay points to Affirmed 'Cap

Horsephotos
Buzzards Bay will work Monday for an expected start in the Affirmed.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Buzzards Bay, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby in April and the fifth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will make his next start in the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park next Saturday.

Bill Bianco III, the son of co-owner Bill Bianco and the racing manager for Fog City Stable, said Buzzards Bay will use the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap over 1 1/16 miles as a prep for the $400,000 Swaps Stakes on July 9.

"It will be a good catalyst for bigger things," Bianco said.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Rey de Cafe wins despite bump

Horsephotos
Rey de Cafe and jockey Javier Castellano come through between Prince Rahy (outside) and Classic Campaign to score a nose victory in Friday's Hill Prince at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Following a blanket finish and a bumping incident steps before the finish line, Rey de Cafe emerged a nose winner over Prince Rahy in the Grade 3, $114,700 for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park on Friday.

As the wire loomed, Prince Rahy, with Eibar Coa aboard, was racing to the outside of Rey de Cafe and Classic Campaign. When Coa hit Prince Rahy right-handed, Prince Rahy bumped with Rey de Cafe, who was in the middle of the trio. Rey de Cafe then bumped Classic Campaign into the rail. Prince Rahy finished second, a neck in front of Classic Campaign.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Flash: Beacon Shine wins three-way photo

The experience gained in two prior starts served Beacon Shine well in Friday's Grade 3, $105,100 for 2-year-olds at Belmont Park. After breaking poorly from the rail in his previous start at Churchill Downs, Beacon Shine left the gate alertly from an outside post in the Flash, and that made the difference, but just barely.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

This crown jewel is over jumps

ELMONT, N.Y. - Steeplechase racing in New York hits its peak during the Saratoga meet, but fans will get a taste of it this Sunday when the Grade 2 Meadow Brook is run at Belmont Park.

The 2 1/2-mile Meadow Brook, run over 10 jumps, drew a maximum field of 14, plus two also-eligibles, and will be run as the third race. The $75,000 Meadow Brook is the third leg of the steeplechase triple crown for novice jumpers.

Sunday's well-matched field includes the winners of the first two legs of the triple crown, Toughkenamon and Mixed Up.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Irvin bemoans one that got away

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Robert Irvin admits that watching Cee's Irish excel in stakes this year has sometimes been a bittersweet experience.

Last fall, facing a tax bill, Irvin sold Cee's Irish privately to Merv Griffin. At the time, Cee's Irish was a promising 2-year-old maiden filly who had just finished a close second in a one-mile race at Santa Anita.

Since then, Cee's Irish has won 4 of 8 starts, including three stakes. She has earned $375,480. Irvin and his wife, Betty, have been rewarded with breeder awards, but owning Cee's Irish would have been more of a thrill.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Sensibly Chic may finally beat nemesis

ELMONT, N.Y. - After twice getting bested by Bank Audit in graded stakes in New York, Sensibly Chic will take one more crack at that rival in Sunday's $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park.

A field of 10 was entered for the Grade 2 Vagrancy, run at 6 1/2 furlongs, including five from the Genuine Risk, which Bank Audit won by a nose over Sensibly Chic. In March, Bank Audit defeated Sensibly Chic by 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

It's no Foster, but Bindner would take it

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was one year ago Sunday that Walt Bindner Jr. got his biggest thrill in nearly 40 years in horse racing. Colonial Colony gave Bindner the lone Grade 1 victory of his training career when he pulled a 62-1 upset in the $810,750 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 12, 2004.

"You think back to things like that, and you pinch yourself to see if you're dreaming," said Bindner. "That was an unbelievable day. I may never do anything like that in racing again."

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Queenledo sets sights on another

AUBURN, Wash. - Queenledo will concede from four to eight pounds to five rivals on Sunday, when she attempts to extend her domination of the 3-year-old filly division to a mile in the $40,000 Irish Day Handicap.

Queenledo, a daughter of Slewdledo trained by Tim McCanna, earned an impost of 122 pounds with authoritative wins in the six-furlong U. S. Bank Stakes in April and the 6 1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap in May. She carried 121 pounds to a 5 3/4-length victory over No Fences in the Federal Way, and she was extending her lead through the final furlong.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Rindanica should get right setup

CALGARY, Alberta - Sunday's $50,000 Herald Gold Plate at Stampede Park is a 1 1/16-mile allowance stakes matching five of the best older horses on the grounds, plus four invaders from Hastings.

The West Coast contingent figures to supply plenty of pace in the Herald Gold Plate, with Lethal Grande, Treasured Friend, and Five Point Star figuring prominently in the early going. Their arrival does not bode well for Deputy Country, horse of the year on this circuit last year, who drew the rail but has yet to regain his spectacular front-running form of last season.

Fri, 06/10/2005 - 00:00

Favorites seek elusive victory

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Neither Joyride nor Cariboo Prospector won a race in 2004, but either of them can break through in the second race at Hastings Sunday, an entry-level allowance race for 3-year-olds and up that drew six horses. Won Handsome Devil should also attract a lot of attention in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Joyride and Cariboo Prospector have each started 16 times. Joyride won the Ascot Graduation as a 2-year-old and has banked $112,797. Cariboo Prospector picked up a large share of his $90,901 bankroll by finishing third in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby.