NEW ORLEANS - Tempered Steel and Triple X., second and third behind Gallo Del Bar on Dec. 24 at Fair Grounds, hook up again in Monday's feature race, a $40,000 optional claiming race at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
A gray colt by Dixieland Band trained by Michael Smithwick Jr., Triple X. made a middle move in the race, hit the front, and hung. He has demonstrated considerable talent on the grass, with two wins and two thirds in five starts, but doesn't seem to have learned how to relax.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Jockey agent Ron Anderson began the current meeting working for two of the world's premier riders, Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey and six-time British riding champion Kieren Fallon. But beginning Saturday, Anderson was back to only one rider, Bailey,and Fallon will now be represented by Terry "Jaws" Miller.
"Jerry just didn't feel comfortable with the situation," said Anderson shortly after entries were drawn for Monday's program early Saturday afternoon. "Kieren is a great rider and a great guy, and I'll work with Jaws to help get him going."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The well-named Scrappy T put his speed and his guts to good use Saturday, taking the $83,175 in front-running fashion at Aqueduct. The Count Fleet was scheduled for Jan. 8, but was postponed when racing was canceled after the third race.
Under Alan Garcia, Scrappy T put away pace-prompter Lakeville Rush, then turned back favored Naughty New Yorker at the quarter pole to win by one length. Naughty New Yorker, who had won his previous two starts in statebred company by a combined 18 3/4 lengths, finished second, seven lengths clear of Tani Maru.
MIAMI - Calder Race Course released its stakes schedule for the 2005 Calder and Tropical-at-Calder meetings on Friday, and the upcoming season for the most part mirrors the recently completed campaign.
The 2005 Calder meet will run from April 25 through Oct. 16. The Tropical meeting will begin Oct. 17 and continue until Jan. 2, 2006.
Jockey Mark Guidry approached Saturday's $100,000 at Golden Gate Fields as if it were a match race, and the strategy paid off as Buzzards Bay ($5) held off Sharp Writer by a nose.
Buzzards Bay, who added blinkers, broke sharply and controlled the pace from the inside while pressured down the backstretch by Dover Dere. Sharp Writer, content to sit behind the leaders on the backstretch, began a three-wide move on the second turn and pulled even with Buzzards Bay heading into the stretch.
Portsea raced Lady in Pink into defeat after a half-mile, then drew off smartly through the final furlong for a 5 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Lady in Pink held on well to be 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Joyous Song.
Jim Thirds Bolero and Little Matth Man turned for home last and second-last among six horses in the $50,000, 1 1/16-mile Native Dancer at Pimlico, but they closed fast to finish one-two, with Jim Thirds Bolero winning by a nose.
Ridden by Ryan Fogelsonger, Jim Thirds Bolero advanced five wide into the stretch, made a bid at the eighth-pole, and moved clear a sixteenth from home. He then was fully extended to hold off a late surge by Abel Castellano Jr. and Little Matth Man.
Nitro Chip won the fifth stakes of his career Friday night, when he dominated a solid field in the $50,000 Cypress for Louisiana-breds at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. The Cypress, a seven-furlong race run around two turns, was a prep for the $200,000 Championship on Louisiana Premiere Night on Feb. 5.
Nitro Chip won by 4 1/2 lengths over Sanctuary's Omooni, and it was another half-length back in third to favorite Spritely Walker.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The rainy conditions and sloppy racetrack that plagued Gulfstream Park on Friday and Saturday may have been a nuisance to most trainers and horseplayers, but they were like a ray of sunshine to Nick Zito and his horse Quest, who rallied to a three-length victory over Judiths Wild Rush in Saturday's $60,000 .
