Sun, 05/22/2005 - 00:00

Gold Strike pulls upset in Selene Stakes

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Gold Strike wins the $280,400 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Gold Strike ($12) upset previously unbeaten Lemon Maid in Sunday's $280,400 at Woodbine.

Gold Strike tracked Lemon Maid, the 3-5 favorite, throughout the mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-old fillies. Lemon Maid set rapid fractions of :22.87 and :46.89 seconds, before Gold Strike drew evenly with her on the far turn, after three-quarters in 1:12.28.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Storm Wolf captures Laz Barrera Memorial

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Storm Wolf overcame a slow start to win his stakes debut in Saturday's $150,000 , giving jockey Alex Solis his fifth win of the day at Hollywood Park.

Storm Wolf ($2.80) won the Grade 2 Barrera by six lengths, finishing seven furlongs in 1:22.26. Breaking from the rail, Storm Wolf broke last but quickly reached the front. He set fractions of 21.96 and 44.80 seconds before pulling away on the final turn. Solis tapped Storm Wolf once with a whip in early stretch, but mostly hand rode Storm Wolf to the finish.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Rhome Magic wins JEH Stallion Station

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Rhome Magic led throughout for a neck win in the $50,000 JEH Stallion Station Stakes on Saturday at Lone Star Park.

Sheza Lucky Son'so rallied up the rail for second, but was disqualified for interference with Expectant Diva near the eighth pole and placed seventh. The action moved third-place finisher Hay Madison to second place, giving trainer Cole Norman a sweep of the top two spots in the JEH.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Sir Ray puts on a show winning Calder stakes

JIM LISA PHOTOS
Sir Ray wins the $50,000 Maryland My Maryland Stakes at Calder on Saturday.

MIAMI - Sir Ray turned Saturday's inaugural running of Calder's $50,000 Maryland My Maryland Stakes into a memorable event.

Sir Ray bolted around the clubhouse turn of the 1 3/16-mile stakes, dropped to the rear of the eight-horse field and raced up against the outside fence for nearly the entire length of the backstretch. He reasserted himself approaching the second turn, overtook Perspicacious in early stretch, then edged away to an amazing 2 1/2-length victory.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Delaware: Annika Lass gets up

Annika Lass and jockey Daniel Velazquez took advantage of a speed duel in the $76,200 Sweet and Sassy Handicap at Delaware Park, rallying along the rail for a nose victory over the 6-5 favorite, Fortress Hill. The victory was the first in a stakes for Annika Lass, who returned $12.60 and brought her record to 6 for 10.

Fortress Hill dueled for the lead with Umpateedle and put her away in the stretch of the six-furlong Sweet and Sassy. Fortress Hill finished two lengths clear of Storm Minstrel in the field of nine fillies and mares.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Woodbine: Shipper gets money

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Unbridled Energy wins the Grade 3, $166,700 Marine on Saturday at Woodbine.

Kentucky shipper Unbridled Energy overtook Wholelottabourbon in the final strides to win his first stakes in the Grade 3, $166,700 on Saturday at Woodbine.

Unbridled Energy assumed a stalking position under Todd Kabel, as Wholelottabourbon set moderate fractions in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. Wholelottabourbon had a one-length lead at the eighth pole, but Unbridled Energy dug in through the final furlong to prevail by a neck.

Palladio finished another neck back in third in the seven-horse field. Lakeville Rush was scratched. The final time was 1:46.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

River Downs: Flip Side upsets

Longshots dominated the first stakes of the River Downs meet, with 8-1 shot Flip Side registering a length victory over the 13-1 Marketable in the $45,000 Tomboy for Ohio-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Flip Side saved ground near the back while All for Mandy held a precarious lead through fractions of 23.40 seconds, 48.00, and 1:12.80. Flip Side commenced her bid approaching the far turn, swung wide turning for home, and drew off under jockey Rodney Prescott. It was 2 1/2 lengths back to Nitty Gritty in third.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Monmouth: More Smoke all the way

Ryan McAlinden/EQUI-PHOTO
More Smoke, and jockey Clinton Potts, win the $60,000 Select Stakes at Monmouth Park.

More Smoke, the 2-5 favorite, made short work of his four rivals in the $60,000 Select Stakes at Monmouth Park, jumping out the lead at the start and cruising to a five-length victory under Clinton Potts. Lieutenant Danz rallied for second in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds, with 3-1 second choice Miracle Man taking third.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Louisiana Downs: No surprise

The heavily favored Ketchme-whereyoucan ran to her price Saturday afternoon as she captured the $50,000 Dixie Miss Stakes at Harrah's Louisiana Downs by 1 1/4 lengths. Risen Empress, at 21-1 the longest shot in the field, rallied from last to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of by Kera's Kitty Cat.

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 00:00

Belmont mutuel clerks call in sick Preakness Day

Approximately 80 of 200 mutuel clerks scheduled to work at Belmont Park on Saturday called in sick as part of an apparent job action.

The mutuel clerks are working under a collective bargaining agreement with the New York Racing Association. NYRA and the mutuel clerks have been operating under the terms of an agreement that expired at the end of 2003.

Charles Hayward, NYRA's president and CEO, said management was "shocked" that the mutuel clerks staged the action.