Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Stevens okay after scare

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who collapsed in the jockeys' room on Monday after riding Laura's Lucky Boy to a third-place finish in the Del Mar Derby, was treated at Scripps La Jolla Hospital for dehydration Monday night but was back at the track on Tuesday morning.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Salty Sailor gives turf a try

CHICAGO - Salty Sailor has been riding a wave, reaching peak form early this summer and holding it through the entire Arlington season. He gets one more shot, in Thursday's featured sixth race, before the meet ends and Chicago racing moves on to Hawthorne later this month.

The move makes Thursday is from dirt to turf, a surface on which he has never raced.

"I don't know if he'll like it or not," said trainer Michelle Boyce.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Business up at Canterbury

Canterbury Park's 2004 meet ended Monday with gains in attendance and total handle.

Average daily attendance for the 67-day meet was 4,977, the highest since current management ran its first live meet in 1995. Last year, attendance averaged 4,806.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Bella Rubia after third straight win

AUBURN, Wash. - Bella Rubia shoots for her third straight win on Thursday, in a field of five 3-year-old fillies in the feature at Emerald Downs, a 6 1/2-furlong race for $25,000 claimers.

Bella Rubia graduated in her second start, running six furlongs in 1:11.80 on a muddy track to win by a head in $16,000 maiden company. Coming back against $15,000 claimers on Aug. 28, she improved her six-furlong clocking to 1:10 and again won by a head.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Malika's Gold met challenge head on

Kris Davis/Coady Photography
Malika's Gold wins the one-mile La Senorita on Saturday at Retama Park.

Malika's Gold was a dominant winner of the $100,000 last Saturday night at Retama Park, and with the victory established herself as one of the early favorites for a stakes on opening night of the Breeders' Cup meet at Lone Star Park.

Malika's Gold is being pointed for the $100,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup, a one-mile dirt race Oct. 1.

In the La Senorita, which was run on turf, Malika's Gold won by 1 1/4 lengths over stakes winner Ready to Live.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

My Creed continues winning habit

AUBURN, Wash. - My Creed required six starts to earn his maiden win in a grass race last March at Golden Gate Fields, but since then he has done very little wrong.

My Creed, a 3-year-old son of Beau Genius trained by Bob Hess Sr., came back to finish third in a pair of allowance races on the grass. Switched to dirt, he won an allowance race at Pleasanton in July and followed by winning last month's 1 1/16-mile J.F. Lyttle Memorial Handicap at Santa Rosa.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Thundering Verzy wins Labor Day Handicap

* Thundering Verzy ($6.20) scored a four-length win in the $11,625 Labor Day Handicap at Columbus. The victory was the fourth stakes win of the year for Thundering Verzy.

Tue, 09/07/2004 - 00:00

Canterbury: Kissoon takes two

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Kissoon Thoroughbreds captured both divisions of the $45,000 MTA Stallion Auction Stakes on the meet's closing day. The Auction Stakes were restricted to progeny of stallions whose service was sold at the 1999 MTA Stallion Service Auction.

Scott Stevens guided Vasant to a narrow victory in the $43,909 Laddie Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs over a drying-out track listed as good. Vasant bested stablemate Sahab by a half-length in 1:18.39. Gopher This One finished another four lengths behind in third.

Vasant returned $5.80 as the second wagering choice.

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.