Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Mountaineer: Freefourinternet wins

Freefourinternet ($9.40) got up in the final stride to score a head victory over 7-5 favorite La Reine's Terms in the $75,000 Labor Day Handicap.

Winless in five starts on the turf since winning the Grade 2 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap last October, Freefourinernet was making his first start since being transferred to the barn of Kentucky-based trainer Michael Maker. He covered a mile on firm turf in 1:34.13.

In the co-featured $75,000 Summer Finale Handicap for fillies and mares, Chance Dance ($3.60) won a three-horse photo with Passionate Bird and Tempus Fugit.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Evangeline Downs: My Parade rallies

Evangeline Downs
My Parade rallies to win Monday night's Lafayette Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

CARENCRO, La. - My Parade rallied from last to first to win Monday night's Lafayette Stakes. Favored Favorite Minit, caught up in blistering fractions early, salted away the other speed but was unable hold off the winner and had to settle for second followed by J. D.'s Blue Bayou.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

$295,875 carryover at Del Mar

DEL MAR, Calif. - Despite favored Blackdoun winning the Del Mar Derby, no one was able to isolate all six winners in Monday's pick six at Del Mar, leading to a carryover of $295,875 on Wednesday's closing-day card.

Because Wednesday is closing day, there is a mandatory payout in the pick six, so the pool figures to be enormous.

The pick six will encompasses races five through 10, and many will likely try to turn it into a pick five, what with Roman Ruler looming an overwhelming favorite in the eighth race, the Del Mar Futurity.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

Bay Meadows: Stage Player captures California Turf Championship

Vassar Photography
Stage Player ($4.80) with Chance Rollins riding captures the Turf Championship in 1:35.84 at Bay Meadows on Monday.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Stage Player ($4.80) made it 2-for-2 in stakes company as he scored a 1 1/4 length victory Monday in the $100,000 at Bay Meadows.

Stage Player, claimed for $25,000 by owner Robert Bone last Nov. 15 at Hollywood Park, has won eight of 12 starts and earned $368,025 since he was claimed.

Monday's victory was accomplished in wire-to-wire style as he rated nicely while setting slow fractions under Chance Rollins. Ninebanks, who had won the past two runnings of the one-mile turf race closed for second. The winning time was 1:35.84.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

'Monster' Blackdoun sweeps series

Horsephotos
Blackdoun hits the wire a neck ahead of Toasted (#3) in the Del Mar Derby on Monday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Not even a slow pace and a crowded field could keep Blackdoun from his date with destiny on Monday at Del Mar. He rallied from last to first in the Grade 2, $400,000 to become only the third horse in track history to sweep Del Mar's summer stakes races for 3-year-olds.

The first was Lightning Mandate in 1974, but 30 years ago, both the Oceanside Stakes and La Jolla Handicap were run on the main track. Now, all three are run on turf, the same surface over which Ladies Din swept all three in 1998.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

My Creed wins Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby

AUBURN, Wash. - Under a flawless ride from Miguel Perez, My Creed stalked the pace of Flamethrowintexan and Random Memo from the inside, angled out for room in the upper stretch and finished with a rush to win Monday's $100,000 by nearly three lengths in 1:47.40 for the 1 1-8 miles. Flamethrowintexan, who was favored at 3-2, outlasted Random Memo for second by a neck.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

A cut above the rest

Horsephotos
Roman Ruler, with trainer Bob Baffert, is the only horse in the Del Mar Futurity field Wednesday who has earned a Beyer Speed Figure in the 90's. He got a 103 Beyer in the Best Pal.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Over the years, trainer Bob Baffert has frequently run more than one horse in the Del Mar Futurity. He could do it this year, too, but on Wednesday he will only need one, the one all eyes have been on this summer, Roman Ruler.

"I hate to run a nice horse against a horse like that," Baffert said.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

Baffert: Streak over, dreams remain

DEL MAR, Calif. - For seven straight years, Bob Baffert has led the trainers standings at Del Mar, but that record-equaling streak will come to an end this season. But as far as Baffert is concerned, this season has been far more productive than last year, when he led the standings but saw his record-setting streak in the Del Mar Futurity come to an end.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

Live the Dream field full of intriguing possibilities

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $75,000 Live the Dream Handicap at Del Mar on Wednesday is only a supporting race on the final day of the meeting, but the one-mile turf race has a field of top-class horses that could play major roles in the top races of the fall.

Those capable of winning the Live the Dream include Tsigane, third in the Shoemaker Mile in May; The Tin Man, fourth in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf; Lennyfromalibu, the top statebred miler; and recent stakes winners Cayoke and Statement.

Mon, 09/06/2004 - 00:00

Southern Image won't go in Classic

Horsephotos
Southern Image stopped training because of a foot bruise and later came down with a quarter crack, prompting trainer Mike Machowsky's caution.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Southern Image, the winner of the three major races earlier this year, will not start in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Lone Star Park on Oct. 30 because of foot problems, trainer Mike Machowsky said.

Southern Image has not started since finishing second to Colonial Colony in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs June 12. Two weeks later, while preparing for a start in the Hollywood Gold Cup in July, he was taken out of training because of a bruised foot. A quarter crack later surfaced and has failed to sufficiently mend, Machowsky said.