Wed, 02/02/2005 - 00:00

Aqueduct pick 6 carryover reaches $424,209

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There will be a pick-six carryover of $424,209 heading into Thursday's card at Aqueduct.

The gimmick wager went unhit for the third consecutive card on Wednesday, thanks in large part to Napoleon Solo, who won the featured allowance race at odds of 52-1. Still, there were four live tickets heading into the last leg including two on Perfect Colony _ but Surrey Down rallied to win the race by a half-length over Perfect Colony, who walked out of the starting gate and was running well late.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Riding the equine rollercoaster

SAN MATEO, Calif. - In the span of less than a half-hour, trainers Greg Gilchrist and Jeff Bonde experienced the highs and lows of horse racing.

At Gulfstream Park in Florida, Gilchrist watched Lost in the Fog improve his record to 3-for-3 with a victory in the Sunshine Millions Dash for 3-year-olds. The colt won $137,500 and lifted his career earnings to $182,075, while earning his third straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure (102).

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Saint Liam fires bullet

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Roses in May, second to the eventual Horse of the Year, Ghostzapper, in the Breeders' Cup Classic, will face Saint Liam in Saturday's Donn Handicap, thefirst race of 2005 for both horses.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Saint Liam has spent more than one month at Palm Meadows preparing for Saturday's Grade 1 Donn Handicap, but with the race now days away, it was time to break camp and head down the turnpike to Gulfstream Park. Saint Liam's trainer, Richard Dutrow Jr., wanted to leave nothing to chance, so he sent Saint Liam to Gulfstream for a final blowout Tuesday morning.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Silver Wagon easing way back

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Silver Wagon could return in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, said trainer Ralph Ziadie.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Silver Wagon returned to Gulfstream Park on Tuesday morning for the first time since his third-place finish in the 2004 Fountain of Youth Stakes, working five furlongs in 1:00.80. Trainer Ralph Ziadie is planning to run Silver Wagon in an allowance race Sunday if it fills.

Silver Wagon, who also finished second behind Second of June here last winter in the Holy Bull Stakes, was preparing for the Grade 1 Florida Derby last year when Ziadie discovered he had a chip in his left knee and a spur in the right knee.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

No easy spot for Added Edge

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Dale Romans was hoping to give Added Edge a bit of a break following his tough effort in last month's Hal's Hope Handicap by dropping the two-time stakes winner into Thursday's $46,000 allowance feature at Gulfstream Park. But as is so often the case at this meet, there are no easy pickings, even in allowance races.

"This could be a stakes race," Romans said after looking over a field that also includes the multiple Grade 3 winner Sir Shackleton, former Canadian champion Wando, and the Grade 2 stakes-placed The Lady's Groom.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Fusaichi's absence opens door

ARCADIA, Calif. - The absence of Fusaichi Samurai in a 3-year-old allowance route Thursday at Santa Anita has created an opportunity for seven others to emerge from relative obscurity.

will try to stretch his speed one mile in the entry-level allowance, and if he is able to stay the distance, the race could be a formality. A half-brother to Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone and Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, So Long Birdie has a significant Beyer Speed Figure advantage over Megabyte, Yes He's a Pistol, and the four others entered.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Mr. Sulu finds softer spot

NEW ORLEANS - Mr. Sulu, who came up a head short of catching America Alive in his last start, is the horse to beat in Thursday's feature race at Fair Grounds, a $62,500 optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

was an impressive winner of his first two starts at this meet - both against Louisiana-breds - including the $100,000 Turf on Louisiana Champions Day, Dec. 11. He was favored over open company in his last start, Dec. 31, but finished third, beaten a head by America Alive, who returned to win the Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap. Mr. Sulu may be favored again Thursday.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Two views of Sham distance

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Salt Champ, winner of last Sunday's Santa Monica Handicap at seven furlongs, will try to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the Santa Margarita on March 12.

ARCADIA, Calif. - At 1 1/8 miles, Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita will severely test the endurance of stakes-winning sprinter Going Wild, while simultaneously providing Hollywood Futurity runner-up Giacomo an ideal distance for his comeback.

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Boulanger opens eyes

Jockey Gary Boulanger, seriously injured as a result of a spill in Sunday's Mac Diarmida Handicap at Gulfstream Park, remained in critical condition but showed some signs of improvement Tuesday, according to his agent, Corey Moran.

"The latest CAT scan showed the swelling in his brain has gone down, and he continues to be more and more responsive to doctor's commands," said Moran. "His nurse even told us Gary briefly opened his eyes this morning, which is a good sign, although he is still being kept in an induced coma at this time."

Tue, 02/01/2005 - 00:00

Coded Princess keeps progressing

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Coded Princess, who is improving with every start, and K.D.'s Shady Lady, who was stakes placed in the Grade 3 Tempted last fall, head a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in Thursday's feature, an entry-level allowance route at 1 1/16 miles with an optional claiming price of $75,000.

A good effort from either filly could serve as a stepping-stone to the $75,000 Busher Stakes, to be run at the same distance on Feb. 27.