Comebacking Heavenly Humor ($7.40) found herself on the lead and scored an easy and convincing victory in the $59,725 Soviet Problem Handicap at Bay Meadows.
"That was a gift. I was sitting there looking around wondering where everyone was," said winning jockey Russell Baze, who found himself in front after a tepid 23.02-second opening quarter. He opened up from there, defeating Cryptos' Best by five lengths, winning the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares in 1:09.04.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The 3-year-old muscle at Oaklawn Park put on a show Friday morning when both Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex, ranked second and third on Daily Racing Form's Derby Watch, put in major workouts. The colts are preparing for a showdown in the Grade 3, $250,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 19, the first of their two scheduled at this meet for the Kentucky Derby. The other is the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Runway Model has been diligently preparing for her seasonal debut, and is on pace to make her first start of the year in the Grade 2, $300,000 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 12, said her trainer, Bernie Flint.
Rafael Bejarano has the mount on Runway Model. He was aboard for her win in the Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod in her last start Nov. 27, and also guided her to a third-place finish behind eventual champion Sweet Catomine in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
ARCADIA, Calif. - At six furlongs on dirt, the Grade 3 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita offers handicappers at least two options - class or speed? Graded-stakes winner Victory U. S. A., the 120-pound highweight, returns from a six-month layoff with a fat bankroll and a series of fast works.
set extreme fractions winning a two-other-than allowance by seven lengths, and enters the Las Flores as the speed of the speed.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lundy's Liability is in a race against time to start in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, but trainer Bobby Frankel said Friday that the 5-year-old is likely to run.
The winner of the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 6, his lone start of 2005, Lundy's Liability had an interrupted training schedule in February. Frankel said earlier this week that Lundy's Liability was doubtful for the Big Cap, but sounded more optimistic Friday.
"I think I'll make the race, but I don't know how confident I'll be," he said.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Typical of many trainers in Southern California, John Sadler's training routine has been affected by the near-constant rain.
He needed to give Musique Toujours, the winner of the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic last month, a staunch workout to stay on schedule for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 5.
When the skies briefly parted last Sunday, Sadler moved quickly, working Musique Toujours seven furlongs.
NEW ORLEANS - The Beter Man Can will be the heavy favorite Sunday when she returns to competition against Louisiana-breds in the $75,000 Battler Star Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Fair Grounds.
The six-furlong race comes just two weeks after her fourth-place finish behind Summerly in the Grade 3 Silverbulletday.
"I know it's a little soon," said trainer Patrick Mouton, "but the race didn't take too much out of her. She came back very fresh, and we know she's fit. We just decided to give her light training between the races."
NEW ORLEANS - Sort It Out, who was tentatively pointed for the March 12 Louisiana Derby after being purchased privately by trainer Bob Baffert for new owner Bob McNair of Stonerside Stable, may not be going to the Big Easy after all.
"I think it's doubtful that he might be coming," Baffert said. "Right now he might need some more time. We just want to take a long look at him before we decide to do anything with him. He looks good, but I don't want to send him to the Louisiana Derby unless he's 100 percent."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - There are only two graded-stakes winners in Sunday's $60,000 Dave Feldman Stakes. One is , a two-time graded-stakes winner and likely heavy favorite for trainer Todd Pletcher in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. The other is Lord Robyn, who may again be overlooked a bit in the wagering despite coming off an easy win in Calder's Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby on New Year's Day.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Senate Bill 929 was introduced in the Oregon legislature recently, and its passage is considered essential for the survival of horse racing at Portland Meadows.
The key provision of the bill, which is sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee at the request of Magna Entertainment Corporation, would allow Portland Meadows to conduct simulcast wagering at the track and its satellite locations on a year-around basis.
