Mon, 05/16/2005 - 00:00

Golden Commander sets course mark

Perhaps now trainer Phil Serpe won't have to hear how much Golden Commander doesn't like Belmont Park. After losing his first eight starts here, Golden Commander set an inner turf course record Sunday, when he won the $113,100 Kingston Handicap for New York breds by four lengths.

Sun, 05/15/2005 - 00:00

Queenledo triumphs in Federal Way

AUBURN, Wash. - Queenledo made it two stakes wins in a row with an authoritative 5 3-4 length victory in Sunday's $50,000 Federal Way Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Queenledo, a 3-year-old daughter of Slewdledo from the barn of leading trainer Tim McCanna, stalked the pace of No Fences through a half-mile in 45.20, then moved to take command turning for home and drew out to reach the wire in 1:16 for 6 1-2 furlongs. No Fences held second by a neck over the fast finishing Debbie's Assault.

Sun, 05/15/2005 - 00:00

Lil' Sister Swiss victorious in Nursery Stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lil' Sister Swiss scored her first win, and first stakes win, in Sunday's $98,625 for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park.

The win marked the first stakes success for trainer Patricia Harrington, who primarily assists her husband, Mike.

Lil' Sister Swiss ($3.40) finished five furlongs in 58.42 seconds. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Lil' Sister Swiss was always near the front. She raced along the rail on the turn, put away a brief challenge from Nikki Nine and pulled away to win by two lengths.

Sun, 05/15/2005 - 00:00

Chinese Dragon captures Alcatraz Breeders' Cup Stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Odds-on Chinese Dragon ($2.40), given a confident trip by jockey Corey Nakatani, unleashed a strong stretch kick to score an easy victory in the $86,875 Alcatraz Breeders' Cup Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.

Sun, 05/15/2005 - 00:00

Nashinda best in Hendrie

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Nashinda wins the Hendrie Handicap at Woodbine on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Nashinda ($3.80) shook loose on the lead and never looked back en route to a decisive victory in Sunday's $211,900 Hendrie Handicap at Woodbine.

Nashinda set fractions of :22.92 and :45.61 seconds under jockey David Clark in the six and a half-furlong dash for fillies and mares. She opened up a three and a half-length cushion at the eighth pole, and prevailed by four and a quarter lengths, in a final time of 1:16.49.

Sun, 05/15/2005 - 00:00

Silver Haze wins Excalibur Stakes

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Odds-on favorite Silver Haze made it two-for-two over the John Franks Turf Course this young season by winning Sunday's Excalibur Stakes at Harrah's Louisiana Downs. Longshot Hopkins turned in a bang up effort in his turf debut to finish only a head behind the winner and was followed by South Beach Bay.

Sat, 05/14/2005 - 00:00

Runaway Dancer takes Jim Murray

Benoit & Associates
Runaway Dancer (left) and Garrett Gomez runs down Vangelis en route to a 1 1/2-length victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $350,000 Jim Murray Handicap at Hollywood.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A lengthy vacation has revived Runaway Dancer's career.

Making his second start after an eight-month break, Runaway Dancer pulled an upset at 17-1 in Saturday's $350,000 at Hollywood Park.

"He's right back to his best form," trainer Dan Hendricks said. "He's come back better than ever."

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Runaway Dancer rallied from last to pass seven rivals and win by a convincing 1 1-2 lengths. Runaway Dancer finished 1 1-2 miles on turf in 2:26.75.

Sat, 05/14/2005 - 00:00

Ace Blue captures Mervyn LeRoy

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Before Ace Blue arrived in the United States from Brazil last year, trainer Paulo Lobo reviewed videos of his previous races to better understand the horse's abilities.

"I knew he was a fighter," Lobo said. The scouting report proved to be prophetic.

Recording the most important win of his career, Ace Blue ($9.80) passed a stubborn Ender's Shadow in the final sixteenth and held off a late threat from Borrego to win the $150,000 .

Ace Blue finished 1 1-16 miles on the main track in 1:41.45.

Sat, 05/14/2005 - 00:00

Lost in the Fog sets record

Vassar Photo
Lost in the Fog wins the Golden Bear Breeders' cup at Golden Gate Fields with Russell Baze aboard.

ALBANY, Calif. - Undefeated Lost in the Fog set a track record as he romped to an easy 10-length victory in the $90,000 on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

Lost in the Fog ($2.10) broke alertly and cruised unchallenged as jockey Russell Baze spent most of his time looking back at his two rivals, Wind Water and Olympic Miler.

Wind Water broke slowly, and the poor break eliminated any semblance of a race. He finished second, 6 1/2 lengths in front of Olympic Miler.

Sat, 05/14/2005 - 00:00

Southern Africa wins derby

Lone Star Park
Southern Africa rallies to win the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Derby at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Southern Africa will be considered for a start in the Belmont Stakes after he rallied for a strong, length and a quarter win over Shamoan in the Grade 3, $300,000 at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

Southern Africa became the first California-based horse to win the race since its inaugural running in 1997, when Anet captured the Lone Star Derby for trainer Bob Baffert.