Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Seeking the Heart shops for right spot

DEL MAR, Calif. - will start on Monday or Wednesday in an allowance race on turf at Del Mar.

In Monday's seventh race over a mile, she has drawn the rail against older fillies and mares. But she could instead run in an allowance race for 3-year-olds on Wednesday, if the race draws sufficient entries.

Seeking the Heart has one victory in four starts, a maiden race at Hollywood Park on July 10. Trained by Richard Mandella, she returned to finish third against older fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles on turf here Aug. 2.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Unforgettable expectations

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Unforgettable Max runs in Saturday's $250,000 Forego, he will be trying to do something his little brother has already done at the Saratoga meet, win a Grade 1.

Unforgettable Max, a 4-year-old, is a full brother to Afleet Alex, who swept the 2-year-old stakes for males at this meet, the Grade 2 Sanford and Grade 1 Hopeful.

Unforgettable Max hasn't been as successful as his younger sibling, but a win in the Forego certainly would help him emerge from Afleet Alex's shadow.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Nothing to Lose beats Silver Tree

Horsephotos
Nothing to Lose with John Velazquez up wins the Fourstardave Handicap on Saturday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Nothing to Lose, beaten a neck by Silver Tree in last month's Bernard Baruch Handicap, turned the tables on that rival in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Saratoga

Receiving a ground-saving trip from John Velazquez, Nothing to Lose split horses inside the furlong marker and outfinished Silver Tree to win the Fourstardave by a half-length. It was one length back to pace-setting Royal Regalia in third.

He was followed by Hotstufanthensome, Union Place, Ay Caramba, Gulch Approval, L'Oiseau d'Argent, Christine's Outlaw, and Royal Spy.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Japan may be 'Perfect' spot

DEL MAR, Calif. - In an effort to surpass Cigar on the all-time earnings list, Pleasantly Perfect could be sent to Japan for the $2 million Japan Cup Dirt at Tokyo Racecourse on Nov. 28, trainer Richard Mandella said on Saturday.

The Japan Cup Dirt, run over about 1 5/16 miles, could be the final start of Pleasantly Perfect's career. The winner of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in his most recent start on Aug. 22, Pleasantly Perfect is scheduled to make his next start in the

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Second of June's comeback going well

MIAMI - If the planets had all been aligned properly and everything had gone according to plan this season, trainer Bill Cesare and his star 3-year-old Second of June might have been at Saratoga on Saturday competing in the prestigious Travers. Instead, Cesare, a former NFL defensive back, and his big horse spent another quiet day in south Florida where Second of June had another easy 1 1/2-mile gallop over his home track at Calder.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Glory days are over, but pair still figure

Two former graded stakes winners with combined earnings of more than a half-million dollars, are entered in Monday's feature race at Delaware Park.

Twilight Time, winner of the Grade 2 Cowdin as a 2-year-old in 1999, and Windward Passage, who captured the Grade 3 Rebel Stakes as a 3-year-old two seasons ago, will run in Monday's eighth race. The 1 1/16-mile race is a third-level allowance with a $35,000 claiming option.

Twilight Time shows far better recent form than Windward Passage.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Gold Storm upsets Arlington Sprint

David Zenner
Keith McKinney & Jack Sweesy's Gold Storm survived a three-horse speed battle to win the $147,000 Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday at Arlington Park.

Texas may have gotten a hometown horse for the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Saturday. It took a trip to the Chicago suburbs to find out whether Gold Storm was fast enough to compete in the Oct. 30 BC Sprint at Lone Star Park, and 1:08.65 later, the answer might well be yes.

Gold Storm, always in a battle for the lead when racing nearest the rail under veteran Larry Taylor, put away heavily favored Champali in the upper stretch, then turned back a late bid from Super Fuse to win the six-furlong Arlington BC Sprint by three-quarters of a length at Arlington Park.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Calder: Sovereign Honor wires Needles

Jim Lisa
Soverign Honor notches the first stakes victory of his career in winning the $75,000 Needles Stakes at Calder on Saturday. He was ridden by Calder "Jockey of the Month," Manuel Aguilar.

MIAMI - Sovereign Honor lost the first 10 starts of his 3-year-old campaign but picked a good spot finally to find the winner's circle, leading throughout to post a 3 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Needles Stakes at Calder.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Woodbine: Soaring Free overcomes poor start

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Soaring Free overcame a troubled start at Woodbine to capture the Grade 3 , a major prep for the Grade 1 Atto Mile on Sept. 19.

Soaring Free sat off the dueling front-runners, Bachelor Blues and Cat Genius, through fractions of 22.59 and 45.33 seconds in the seven-furlong turf dash. He took control early in the stretch, and then turned back bids from two 40-1 shots, Dancin Joey and Frank's Selection, to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Sat, 08/28/2004 - 00:00

Thistledown: Noon Win does it again

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Noon Win went to the head of the Ohio-bred 2-year-old filly class when she recorded her second straight stakes win in the $40,000 Miss Ohio Stakes at Thistledown.

Noon Win went up on the turn to challenge Pyrite Bonds for the lead, was well handled by Huber Villa-Gomez as she ducked in and then drifted out, and drew off to a 1 3/4-length win. Pyrite Bonds was clearly-second best, 6 1/2 lengths clear of Annabar in third.