The $1 million Delta Jackpot for 2-year-olds, which will be contested as a graded stakes for the first time in 2005, will likely return to a Friday card this year after Delta Downs officials experimented with a Saturday running in 2004.
First post for the Jackpot card is tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Central, keeping with the earlier start tried in 2004. The Jackpot, now a Grade 3, is scheduled for the first weekend in December.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The relentless rain that has pummeled Santa Anita for two straight weeks caused the cancellation of Sunday's races following the running of the day's first race, in which the 4-year-old gelding Unusual Sunrise suffered a fatal breakdown on a sloppy surface.
Jockeys met with track management in the jockeys' room following the race, and all parties agreed it was best to not race the rest of the day.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Ron Ellis might feel like he's starring in his own private version of the movie "Groundhog Day." Last Thursday, the trainer entered Trevite in an allowance race for Saturday at Santa Anita. But because of wet weather that had turned the track sloppy, Ellis scratched Trevite from the race.
On Sunday, Ellis again entered in an allowance race, this time the featured seventh race on Wednesday at Santa Anita. But if the rain that seemingly never ends around here continues to hover, Ellis may be faced with no choice but to scratch Trevite again.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Patrick Valenzuela, who successfully appealed a suspension last week for failing to take a hair follicle test last summer, will appear at a hearing before the Santa Anita stewards on Wednesday, the next step in regaining his license and returning to riding.
Valenzuela, 42, said he would like to ride this week. Even though he has not ridden since July 1, Valenzuela said last week that he is fit for a return.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Like everybody else watching Aqueduct's races last week, Tim Hills noticed a pronounced inside speed bias. As the trainer of Wheaton's Aly, Hills hopes that trend continues at least one more day.
drew the rail and has the speed to use it to his advantage when he faces five rivals in a $54,000 classified allowance race at six furlongs.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Diamond Wildcat won't be mentioned on anybody's Kentucky Derby list, but he just may be a 3-year-old to keep an eye on in middle-distance races this winter and spring.
Diamond Wildcat made a successful foray around two turns on Sunday when he led gate to wire to take an entry-level allowance race at Aqueduct. Under Stewart Elliott, Diamond Wildcat, took some early pressure from Heza Storm, and then drew off to a 1 1/2-length victory over Byanosejoe while running a mile in 1:38.66. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82.
ALBANY, Calif. - Six 3-year-old fillies meet in Wednesday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $40,000 starter allowance at a mile. Only one of the six, Sunny Flight, has won above the bottom level of the maiden claiming ranks.
Trainer Angelo Tekos Jr. may have the filly to beat in Alissa's Atm, who won her debut for a $12,500 tag on Oct. 13. She has run twice since then at the $40,000 starter allowance level, finishing third and fourth in a pair of six-furlong sprints.
ALBANY, Calif. - Apprentice Freddy Fong Jr., the newest addition to the local jockey colony, didn't waste much time making his presence felt.
Fong won on his second mount here, guiding Outraged to an eight-length victory over favored Tiz Showtime on Saturday. Fong, a 20-year-old Arcadia, Calif., native who grew up within hailing distance of Santa Anita, rode for the first time here Friday.
Gold Storm set a stakes record at Fair Grounds in the , blazing six furlongs in 1:09.19 to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Clock Stopper.
Gold Storm tracked a fast pace set by Spooky Mulder, and when Spooky Mulder was done at the head of the stretch, jockey E.J. Perrodin set Gold Storm down for the drive while Clock Stopper and Ole Rebel came after him. But Perrodin had plenty left in the tank.
Gold Storm ($3.60), trained by Bubba Cascio, kept zipping along to hold Clock Stopper at bay, with Ole Rebel in third.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Angela's Love and Union Place added to the parade of longshots to have won races over the new Gulfstream Park turf course during the opening week of the 2005 meeting when registering upset victories in Sunday's $60,000 and Ft. Lauderdale handicaps.
