Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Trickey Trevor romps in San Carlos

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Racing on a speed-favoring track with his biggest rival scratched, Trickey Trevor ($3.20) scored his first stakes victory, capturing the $57,925 San Carlos Handicap in wire-to-wire style at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

Trickey Trevor quickly took the lead with a moderate 22.61 opening quarter, then went the second quarter in 22.46 seconds.

Ice Legend and Verkade seemed ready to make a move at the top of the stretch, but Trickey Trevor was never seriously challenged. He defeated Verkade by two lengths, winning the six-furlong race in 1:08.25.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Flower Alley saves day for Pletcher

Horsephotos
Flower Alley, Jorge Chavez aboard, scores an upset at 10-1 in the Grade 2 Lane's End. His previous win came in a maiden race.

FLORENCE, Ky. - Flower Alley more than made up for what initially appeared to be a disappointing afternoon for his stable when he rallied for a 10-1 upset in the Grade 2, $500,000 on Saturday at Turfway Park.

Thirty minutes earlier, Proud Accolade had run a poor sixth for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Rushaway Stakes, ending his Kentucky Derby chances. But Flower Alley, who in his previous start merely had won a maiden race at Gulfstream Park, launched a torrid late run under Jorge Chavez to defeat another stretch-runner, Wild Desert, by a half-length.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Cat Shaker, 38-1, outruns Proud Accolade

FLORENCE, Ky. - Cat Shaker posted a huge upset Saturday at Turfway Park in the $100,000 , a race that effectively eliminated Proud Accolade from Kentucky Derby contention when he struggled home sixth.

Cat Shaker, ridden by Joe Bravo, returned $79.80 after overtaking front-runner Daddy Joe for a half-length victory. Catch Me finished third, another 6 3/4 lengths back, while Proud Accolade, never a serious contender under Jerry Bailey, was beaten 12 lengths.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Bank Audit scores on short rest

Frank Laboccetta Jr. captured his first stakes win as a trainer on Saturday when Bank Audit ran past Sensibly Chic inside the sixteenth pole to win the Grade 2, $150,000 at Aqueduct by 1 1/4 lengths.

Sensibly Chic held off a stubborn Travelator by a nose for second. Cativa, the even-money favorite, finished a non-threatening fifth of seven.

It was the fifth win in the last six starts for Bank Audit, who began the year with a victory in the Interborough Handicap. Greg Martin trained her then, but has since been banned for an alleged milkshaking incident.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Oaklawn: That Tat rallies in mud

That Tat rallied past the pacesetters through the sloppy stretch at Oaklawn Park for a neck win in the $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes.

Level Playingfield put in a furious bid up the rail and finished second, two lengths in front of third-place finisher Engineered.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Laurel: 'Moonshine' gets up late

Malibu Moonshine wore down 53-1 longshot Hello Jerry inside the sixteenth pole to score a neck victory in the $50,000 for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.

The second choice in a field of 10, Malibu Moonshine ($8.60), under Steve Hamilton, was last after a quarter-mile and still had only one horse beaten with four furlongs remaining. He made a big move approaching the turn for home and rallied down the center of the track to just overtake Hello Jerry in deep stretch. Hello Jerry, coming off a maiden win at Philadelphia Park, was making his first start beyond six furlongs.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Miriam L wins 'Oates' at 30-1

NEW ORLEANS - Miriam L. came up the rail in the final strides Saturday to post a 30-1 upset victory in the $100,000 Sarah Lane's Oates for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies over a mile on the turf at Fair Grounds.

Jockey James Graham gave a letter-perfect ride to the daughter of Kipling, saving ground early, cutting the corner brilliantly turning for home, guiding her out of a blind switch in deep stretch, and then tucking back in along the rail inside the final sixteenth of a mile to catch odds-on favorite The Beter Man Can in the final strides.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

Delta: Indigo Girl perfect at distance

Indigo Girl remained perfect at five furlongs on Friday night when she drove to a 2 1/4-length win over Actress E in the $50,000 Azalea for Louisiana-breds at Delta Downs. It was another head back in third to odds-on favorite Maid in China.

Indigo Girl ($6.80) tracked pacesetter Maid in China through an opening quarter in 23 seconds and the half-mile in 47.49 seconds before going on to cover the distance over a fast track in 1:00.85.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

'Mazel' beatable favorite

STICKNEY, Ill. - The first flight of Mike Reavis-trained horses stormed through the opening days of the National Jockey Club at Hawthorne meet, and after five racing programs the Reavis barn sat on top of the mountain, with 8 wins from 16 starters.

Sat, 03/26/2005 - 00:00

'Humor' tops split sprint

STICKNEY, Ill. - There were 16 horses entered in a second-level sprint allowance race for Illinois-breds on Tuesday's program at Hawthorne, enough to split the bunch into two races. Seven horses in the first division drew the short straw, since they must face Humor at Last, who floundered in deep going when he finished fourth in an open two-turn stakes here two weeks ago, but spanked statebred competition in his two sprint starts last season at age 2.