CHICAGO - Happy Ticket came out of the Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday in significantly better shape than her trainer, Andy Leggio.
"Man, am I tired," Leggio said after returning to his summer base at Louisiana Downs on Monday morning. "It took eight hours to get back here."
Happy Ticket was scheduled to depart for Louisiana Downs sometime Monday. Leggio might have been worn out by shipping, but he said Happy Ticket had skipped merrily out of her first graded stakes win.
ALBANY, Calif. - Although trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was willing to give first-timer Cousins Lew credit for winning the $75,000 Malcolm Anderson at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, he won't be trying to work a trade with winning trainer Brian Koriner any time soon. Hollendorfer was pretty impressed with the colt he saddled, Cause to Believe, who finished second.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Josie Carroll couldn't have written a better script than the one that actually played out here in Sunday's $135,000 .
Carroll sent out Vibank and Edenwold, an uncoupled entry both owned by Jim and Alice Sapara, to a one-two finish in the five-furlong Victoria, the first stakes of the meeting for 2-year-olds.
"And, they're both Canadian-bred," said Carroll, "which is really nice."
Vibank got his second win in three starts here.
Houseofroyalhearts rallied from last to defeat T.D. Vance by a nose in the $60,000 Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trained by Clifford Sise Jr., Houseofroyalhearts ($15.60) ran the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:42.07. All Trumps, the 4-5 favorite, finished third.
In the day's other stakes, Upturn ($3.80) pulled away to a 6 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 Bernie Dowd Handicap for New Jersey-breds.
In her seventh straight victory of 2005, Rue des Reves won the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeders' Cup Stakes at Canterbury.
Under brisk handling from Bobby Walker Jr., Rue des Reves just edged Ghostly Gate by a nose at the wire, stopping the timer in 1:36.25. Noisette, the favorite, finished a length behind in third. Rue des Reves ($8.80) is trained by Dwight Viator.
AUBURN, Wash. - Mr. Makah and rider Gary Baze pulled off a stunning upset in Sunday?s $75,000 Budweiser Emerald Handicap at Emerald Downs, coming from last place in a field of seven to catch the heavily favored Sabertooth near the wire. Mr. Makah, a 5-year-old son of Majesterian trained by Bonnie Jenne, won by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:35.80 for the mile and returned $33.40 to win.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Vibank and Edenwold, both owned by Jim and Alice Sapara and trained by Josie Carroll, ran one-two in Sunday's $135,000 Victoria Stakes at Woodbine.
Vibank pressed front-running Ballado Dancer through the turn in the five-furlong dash for 2-year-olds, and seized control at the eighth pole before edging away for a length and three-quarter triumph. Kentucky Invader Fifty Seven Flat, the 3-5 favorite, finished another length back in third in the five-horse field. The final time was :59.26 seconds.
Bossier City, La. - Breaking alertly under leading rider John Jacinto, odds-on favorite Southern Surprise made every pole a winning one in capturing Sunday's Fleur de Lis Stakes at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.
Longshot Salzurita pressured the winner throughout but was unable to do much with that foe in the late going so she settled for second followed by Boomboomgirl.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Indian Ocean scored his first stakes win and third consecutive victory in Saturday's $102,998 for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park.
Ridden confidently by Jon Court, Indian Ocean ($12.40) outfinished a determined Surf Cat to win by a neck, finishing 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.53. Dover Dere finished third, five lengths in front of Buzzards Bay in the field of four. Buzzards Bay won the Santa Anita Derby in April and was fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
