Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Hollywood: Dominguez scores aboard Louvain

Louvain gave jockey Ramon Dominguez his first winner in California in the first division of the $75,000 at Hollywood Park on Friday. The winning mount came on Dominguez's first career ride for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Dominguez, a leading rider in the mid-Atlantic states, was making his first appearance at Hollywood Park. He is second in the nation in wins behind Rafael Bejarano.

Louvain ($6) finished a mile on turf in 1:37.19. In the second division of the Miesque Stakes, Paddy's Daisy won her third consecutive stakes.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Getcozywithkaylee may have more in the tank

STICKNEY, Ill. - Will Getcozywithkaylee fall victim in Sunday's fifth race to the principle of three-and-out - three improving races followed by fumbling form? And if you can answer that question, try this one: Have the fastest horses in the eighth race already lost their form?

The fifth and the eighth both are second-level sprint allowance races, but the fifth is for fillies and invites open company, while the eighth is restricted to Illinois-breds.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

'El Prado' tries to win career finale

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - El Prado Essence will try to go out a winner in Sunday's Grade 3, $162,750 Bessarabian Handicap for fillies and mares at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong stakes is the slated to be the final career start for 7-year-old El Prado Essence, who will be bred next year. According to owner-trainer Audre Cappuccitti, she was pronounced in foal early this year, but was put back into training after absorbing her foal.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Colonial Surprise at full speed

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The meeting may be winding down, with just two weeks remaining after Sunday's card, but Nick DeToro certainly isn't about to call it a season.

"I still have eight or nine horses left to run," said DeToro, a 77-year-old owner and trainer. "Either the races haven't been filling, or they won't use them. Everybody's running on their last few ounces of gas."

That assessment, of course, does not include Colonial Surprise, who will represent DeToro in Sunday's $162,750 Bessarabian Handicap.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Bad spills, but few injuries

ALBANY, Calif. - Golden Gate Fields was the scene of two spectacular accidents in the past week, but, fortunately, the jockeys and most of the horses came out of the spills with mostly minor injuries.

The latest jockey to be injured was Ron Warren Jr., who was hurt Thursday during morning workouts.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Looking forward to slots, more racing days

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - While there were many exciting races during the 2004 Hastings meet that closes Sunday, the most dramatic events took place at Vancouver City Hall.

In July, Vancouver City Council voted to allow Hastings Entertainment Inc. the right to install slot machines at the track. There's still a long way to go before the slots are actually installed, but, with the green light, Hastings management, local horsemen, and breeders can begin planning for a brighter future.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Aqueduct cancels Thursday card

There will now be 10 races on Sunday, with first post moved up to noon from 12:30 p.m. Sunday is the last card scheduled to be run on the main track. Racing moves to the inner track on Wednesday.

About a half-inch of rain fell during Wednesday's card - run over a sloppy track - and there were a few more showers overnight. It was cloudy Thursday morning and the card began with mild temperatures.

Fri, 11/26/2004 - 00:00

Montpellier gets 1,000th victory

Jockey Constant Montpellier recorded his 1,000th career victory aboard D Girl in Blue in the first race Wednesday night at Woodbine.

D Girl in Blue, a first-time starter trained by Dave Cotey, rallied along the rail to prevail by a neck after running greenly in the seven-furlong race for $20,000 maiden 2-year-old fillies.

Montpellier, a 43-year-old native of Dorion, Quebec, reached 1,000 victories with 7,819 rides. His mounts have earned more than $32.3 million.

Thu, 11/25/2004 - 00:00

'Pico' out to sway skeptics

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Pico Central, a strong candidate for champion sprinter, goes for his fourth Grade 1 win of the year Saturday.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Paulo Lobo feels Pico Central doesn't have to do any more than he already has to be named champion sprinter. Unfortunately for Lobo and owner Gary Tanaka, there may be some Eclipse Award voters who need more convincing.

Thu, 11/25/2004 - 00:00

Special Ring's challenge: Catch me

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - With their reputations battered by losses in the Breeders' Cup Mile last month, Nothing to Lose and Special Ring try to rebound in Saturday's $400,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park.

With a victory in the Grade 1 Citation, which offers a first-place purse of $240,000, Nothing to Lose or Special Ring would become a millioniare. The Citation Handicap, run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, has drawn 11 entrants, all of whom are stakes winners.