Sun, 09/05/2004 - 00:00

Northern Scene stays hot on LaD lawn

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Northern Scene kept his local turf record for the year perfect on Sunday as he defeated older rivals in the Sport City Handicap.

Fellow longshot Rockchalk Jayhawk turned in a late run to finish second followed by Gentlemen J J. Favorite Crowned King failed to fire and reported home fifth while starting highweight Honorable Pick set some lively fractions before fading to finish seventh and last.

Trained by Morris Nicks, Northern Scene ($21.60) has made remarkable progress for owner Don Eberts since beginning the meeting as a maiden.

Sun, 09/05/2004 - 00:00

'Veteran' rallies to win Matron

CARENCRO, La. - Veteran Due to Win took advantage of a quick pace set by favorite Southern Surprise and rallied strongly down the stretch to capture the Matron Handicap on Saturday night. Longshot Native Brick also turned in a late run to finish second followed by Miss Confusion with Southern Surprise fading to finish fourth.

Sun, 09/05/2004 - 00:00

Brimmerton wins All American Derby

RUIDOSO, NM - Brimmerton ($5.80) burst from the pack midway through the Grade 1, $556,831 and went on to post a neck victory over longshot Kash for Cas at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday.

Brimmerton ran the 440 yards in a snappy :21.10, the second fastest running in the race's 31-year history and considerably better than his fifth-fastest qualifying time of :21.387.

A Texas-bred son by First Down Dash out of the Ronas Ryon mare Fitting Celebration, Brimmerton was bred by his owner Bobby D. Cox of Fort Worth.

Sun, 09/05/2004 - 00:00

Calder cancels due to Frances; reopening Monday

MIAMI - Calder Race Course cancelled both its racing and simulcasting programs on Sunday because of the lingering effects of Hurricane Frances. The track was also closed for business Friday and Saturday because of the storm.

Calder president Ken Dunn said the track is scheduled to re-open for business on Monday with a 13-race Juvenile Showcase program that includes the $125,000 Affirmed and Susan's Girl divisions of the Florida Stallion Stakes. The Juvenile Showcase had originally been scheduled for Saturday.

Sun, 09/05/2004 - 00:00

Ready Ruler victorious in El Joven

Coady Photography
Ready Ruler ($18) wins the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven at Retama Park on Saturday.

SELMA, Texas - Ready Ruler, despite losing ground when he propped at the photo-finish lights near the wire, proved much the best Saturday night in the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven at Retama Park. The one-mile turf race for 2-year-old colts and geldings shared a program with the $100,000 M2 Technology La Senorita, which was won by Malika's Gold.

The races made for one of the richest programs of the meet, and attendance was 8,347.

Sat, 09/04/2004 - 00:00

Etoile Montante takes Palomar

Horsephotos
Etoile Montante wins Saturday's $200,000 Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Ending a three-race streak of near misses and bad luck in stakes, Etoile Montante held off a late run from a determined Katdogawn to win Saturday's $200,000 at Del Mar.

The victory marked Etoile Montante's first stakes win since the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita last April.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Etoile Montante ($5.80) stalked pacesetter Notting Hill to the final turn, took the lead in early stretch and was extended to the line to hold off Katdogawn. Tangle finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.

Sat, 09/04/2004 - 00:00

Hollendorfer duo 1-2 in Autumn Leaves

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer continued his amazing stakes run at Bay Meadows when entrymates Marwood ($3) and Cat Alert ran one-two in Saturday's Autumn Leaves Handicap.

Hollendorfer won eight of 14 stakes races at the Bay Meadows spring meeting, finishing one-two in four of them. The Autumn Leaves was the first stakes of the fall meeting.

Sat, 09/04/2004 - 00:00

Outright Buck wins Lyrique Handicap

Bossier City, La. - Outright Buck, second against older mares in the Sangue Handicap in her previous start, returned to her own age group in Saturday's Lyrique Handicap and picked up her second career stakes win. Merry Me in Spring gave ground grudgingly down the lane to finish second followed by favorite and highweight Topango, who could do little with the top two in the late going.

Sat, 09/04/2004 - 00:00

May Gator gets job done

For much of her career, May Gator had a history of being outfinished. Saturday in the $75,000 Dade Turf Classic at Ellis Park, it was May Gator that outfinished her opponents.

Overcoming a slow early pace, she rallied from fourth to catch the front-running Wildwood Royal. She won by 1 1/4 lengths, running 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:39.98.

Sat, 09/04/2004 - 00:00

Adoration looks terrific

Arlington Park
Adoration turned back a bid by Tamweel at the top of the stretch and drew off to win the $150,000 Arlington Matron Handicap by two lengths on Saturday at Arlington Park.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Adoration toyed with six opponents Saturday in the , taking the first step toward defending her title in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.