Nightmare Affair rallied from last in a field of five older sprint specialists to overtake the even-money Toscani in deep stretch en route to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Ponche Handicap.
Nightmare Affair, who broke a long losing streak capturing the Sprint Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs three weeks earlier, was ridden to victory by Eddie Castro and paid $10.80 after getting six furlongs in 1:11.65.
Final Prophecy finished best of all down the middle of the track to wear down He's Crafty and post a three-quarter-length victory in the $75,000 Carterista Handicap. Miesque's Approval, the 3-2 favorite, finished third.
Final Prophecy, a son of World Stage trained by David Brownlee, was ridden to victory by Eibar Coa and paid $26.80.
Maddalena had to work harder than expected as the 1-5 favorite in the $75,000 Legal Light Stakes on Saturday's opening day program at Delaware Park.
Making her first start since sustaining her only career defeat in the Grade 2 Forward Gal at Gulfstream on March 5, Maddalena ($2.60) broke slowly, sat slightly off the pace, swung three wide into the stretch, and wore down pacesetter All Platinum after a long drive to prevail by a length.
Ridden by Ramon Dominguez for trainer Todd Pletcher, Maddalena covered six furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:11.68.
For the price of $75,000, trainer Scott Lake has bought a stakes winner.
Missile Bay ($10.40), claimed out of a race in New York on March 6 on behalf of owner Evan Gerwitz, splashed her way to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Xtra Heat at Pimlico. In her first start for Lake on April 2, she missed by a nose in the Smart Halo at Laurel.
Outbreaking the field of seven 3-year-old fillies under Jose Flores, Missile Bay shot right to the lead and was never threatened, covering five furlongs on a sloppy track in 58.58 seconds.
Judiths Wild Rush overhauled even-money favorite Mobil in deep stretch to capture the Grade 3 at Woodbine.
Judiths Wild Rush, Canada's champion 2-year-old in 2003, tracked the leaders while boxed in during the first half of the seven-furlong race. Jockey Slade Callaghan angled him wide at the head of the stretch, and they closed strongly to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths, in a final time of 1:23.19.
Just Michel responded readily when set down by jockey Scott Spieth, rallied five wide through the stretch, made the lead inside the eighth pole, and drew off to 2 1/4-length victory over Bubble Dourbon in the $40,000 Angenora Stakes at Thistledown.
Spring Cat finished third, a half- length farther back, in the field of seven Ohio-bred filllies and mares.
"I got bumped leaving the gate," said Spieth. "She got headstrong and wanted to run away. I took hold of her and got her to settle. When she did relax at the top of the stretch I knew was on a winner."
Surging strongly to the front turning for home under Luis Quinonez, Screen Idol edged clear late to win Friday's John Franks Memorial Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Spritely Walker, favored at 9-5 in the opening-day feature, encountered traffic trouble entering both the far turn and the stretch but still rallied to nip Bebe Garcon for second, with Donna's Golddigger an equally close fourth.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, will not make his season debut in the $75,000 added Kings Point Handicap Sunday at Aqueduct.
Trainer Barclay Tagg, unhappy with the 127-pound weight assignment for the 1 1/8-mile race against New York-breds, decided to scratch.
"I haven't officially scratched yet, but it's definite he won't run," Tagg said Saturday in the Aqueduct paddock before his Changing World ran second in the Beaugay. "The weight was the major factor."
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Western Writer, who figures to be one of the top 3-year-olds at Hastings, makes his 2005 debut in Sunday's $75,000 optional sprint. Although only five horses entered the 6 1/2-furlong feature, it's a quality field, and it should give the connections of He's So Regal, Hall Dancer, and Spaghetti Mouse an early indicator of their standing in the 3-year-old division.
CALGARY, Alberta - A Shaky Start, a deceptively easy winner of the distaff version of the Sales Stakes in her 2005 debut here April 16, carries high weight of 123 pounds in Sunday's $50,000 M.R. Jenkins Memorial at Stampede Park.
A Shaky Start, a 5-year-old who was the champion of her division last year, captured this six-furlong handicap for fillies and mares in 2004, defeating archrival Raylene by 1 1/2 lengths. If her performance in the Sales Stakes is any indication, she appears set to defend her title.
