As much as Artie Schiller stood out on paper, he was that much more imposing during the actual running of Sunday's $200,000 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park.
Toying with his five rivals, Artie Schiller rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Jamaica while setting an inner-turf-course record. Under a vigorous hand ride from Richard Migliore, Artie Schiller covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:45.50, besting the previous mark of 1:45.69 set by Subordination in the 1997 Hill Prince Stakes.
Cheyenne Breeze ($3.20) spoiled Medium Rare's bid for a fourth straight win in the Oklahoma Classics Day Sprint, winning the $40,000 race by a 1 3/4 lengths. Medium Rare was second, 10 lengths clear of third-place finisher Shiloh Billy.
The race was one of seven stakes on the card for Oklahoma-breds, and purses totaled $315,000.
* George Taylor ($22) successfully defended his title in the $75,000 Classic, closing from last for a 1 1/2-length win over favorite Zee Oh Six.
A 4 1/2-length win by favorite Semi Lost in the $99,900 Pomona Derby gave jockey Martin Pedroza a record-equaling 48th win at the Los Angeles County Fair. Semi Lost ($5.20) swept from last to first on the backstretch, raced wide through the far turn, and dominated the about 1 1/8-mile derby. Cozy Guy was second, two lengths in front of second choice Lava Man.
Pedroza ended up winning a record 51 races at the meet.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Flamethrowintexan cruised to an easy victory in the $325,500 Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings Sunday. Lord Samarai made a late move to get up for second, but the outcome had already been decided by the time Flamethrowintexan had reached the top of the stretch with a five-length margin.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Warleigh successfully defended his title in the $150,000 Louisiana Downs Handicap Sunday afternoon, taking command in the second turn from early pacesetter Yessirgeneralsir then holding off a late charge from Waupaca. Gentlemen J J reported home third followed by Sea Dub.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jetinto Houston ($10.40) was allowed to set easy fractions and had no trouble winning the $64,475 Charles H. Russell Handicap at Bay Meadows on Sunday.
Pressed down the backstretch by the overmatched Off to the Opera, Jetinto Houston led by a head through a 22.46 opening quarter. She began to open up on the turn, leading Pheiffer by two lengths after a 45.46 half-mile. She pulled away down the stretch without ever being asked, beating favored Christmas Time by four lengths in 1:10.27 in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Blonde Executive and Financingavailable staged their own private match race in Sunday's $132,250 La Prevoyante Stakes at Woodbine, with the former prevailing in a gutsy performance.
Blonde Executive, the heavy favorite in the one-mile turf tilt for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies, set moderate fractions while being pressed along the rail by Financingavailable. The two raced as a team from midway on the turn until the deep stretch, when Blonde Executive dug in to win by a neck, in a final time of 1:34.68 seconds.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Summer Symphony weaved her way through traffic to win the $174,087 Grade 3 British Columbia Breeders' Cup Oaks by a half-length over her entrymate, Socorro County at Hastings Saturday.
With Chad Hoverson aboard, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Summer Squall rallied from between horses on the stretch turn while Socorro County was forced to go four-wide while making her late move.
"I had a pretty good trip," said Hoverson. "Things really opened up for me and I certainly had enough horse to take advantage of the situation."
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Trainer Bobby Barnett made a triumphant return to Louisiana Downs on Saturday when he sent out Fantasticat to a 14-1 upset in the Grade 2, $500,000 . Borrego finished a half-length back in second in the 1 1/8-mile race, while it was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to pacesetter Britt's Jules.
Imperialism, the favorite, made a mild bid up the rail and finished fourth, four lengths behind Britt's Jules.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The trip was far different than the one she had a month ago, but the result was the same for the ultra-consistent Ocean Drive.
Ocean Drive barely left the hedge when she won the Grade 3 Ballston Spa Breeders' Cup at Saratoga last month. Saturday, Ocean Drive had to overcome an extremely wide trip, but was still good enough to win the Grade 3, $150,000 by 1 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.
