Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Kitten's Joy best in Secretariat

David Zenner
Kitten's Joy wins the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes by 3 1/4-lengths at Arlington Park on Saturday.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Kitten's Joy showed Saturday that he might not only be the best 3-year-old turf horse in North America, but quite possibly the best turf horse, period.

In a rousing performance that surely pleased his many backers in the Arlington Park crowd of 30,414, Kitten's Joy ran off to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 , finishing in faster time than what older horses took 90 minutes earlier in the Arlington Million. He returned $3.80 with his seventh victory from eight career turf starts.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Kicken Kris wins on DQ

Horsephotos
Kicken Kris (left) is moved from second to first as Powerscourt is disqualified from first to fourth in the Arlington Million on Saturday at Arlington Park.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - At least nobody got hurt this time.

But for the second straight year, the fireworks exploded at the finish of the , as Powerscourt was disqualified from first to fourth for interfering with Kicken Kris and Epalo in the final 150 yards. Kicken Kris, who was pushed into the rail, was moved up from second to first, while Magistretti went from third to second, Epalo from fourth to third.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Crimson Palace enjoys trip

Horsephotos
Well-traveled Crimson Palace, and Frankie Dettori, win the Beverly D.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Calling Crimson Palace a successful world traveler may be gross understatement. Getting a beautiful trip under Frankie Dettori, Crimson Palace won on her fourth different continent Saturday, scoring an upset at nearly 10-1 in the 15th running of the Grade 1 at Arlington Park.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Better Talk Now gets his Grade 1

Horsephotos
Better Talk Now with Robby Albarado up wins the 2004 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga Racecourse.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Better Talk Now became a Grade 1 winner in Saturday's at Saratoga, defeating Request for Parole by 1 1/2 lengths.

Balto Star, the pacesetter, finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Request for Parole in the 1 1/2-mile turf race. It was another length back to Rochester in fourth. Silverfoot and B. A. Way completed the order of finish.

Under Ramon Dominguez, Better Talk Now made a bold move from the outside in the final sixteenth to pass Request for Parole and Balto Star.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Speightstown ties 32-year-old record

Horsephotos
Speightstown wins the $200,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Speightstown made his bid for title of best sprinter on the East Coast - if not in the country - with a scintillating victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Saratoga.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Fair Grounds gets extension

The Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has extended the deadline for Fair Grounds to arrange financial backing for the $25 million settlement agreement reached last week between the La. HBPA and the embattled racetrack.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Smarty says so long to home fans

EquiPhotos
Smarty Jones is walked down the Philadelphia Park track on Saturday by exercise rider Pete Van Trump (left) and groom Mario Arriagas.

BENSALEM, Pa. - Few fans were in attendance when Smarty Jones began his career at Philadelphia Park on a quiet autumn Sunday last November. Nine months later on a dreary Saturday afternoon, an estimated 10,000 fans at this small track outside Philadelphia came out to say thanks and bid farewell to the 3-year-old chestnut colt whom they followed on a ride that led all the way to the top of the sport.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

War's Prospect out and gone

Ryan McAlinde/EQUI-PHOTO
War's Prospect, and jockey Jose Ferrer, stay ahead of #8 Abbondanza and jockey Eibar Coa, to win the $60,000 Rumson Stakes at Monmouth Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - War's Prospect took no prisoners Saturday afternoon, as he blasted right to the front and went on to win the $60,000 Rumson Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

War's Prospect ($16.60) ran the six furlongs in 1:08.67 over the fast track on a drizzly afternoon.

Jose C. Ferrer was aboard as War's Prospect gave trainer Bill Anderson his first win of the meet.

"We caught a field where we could make the lead," said Anderson. "I was a little concerned when I saw the half fractions, but he's a decent horse."

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Separato wins off week layoff

Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO
Separato with Jeremy Rose riding won the $100,000 Larry R. Riviello Presidents Cup at Philadelphia Park.

Though Separato was running in his first stakes off only a one-week layoff, the 3-year-old scored an impressive five-length victory in the $100,000 Larry R. Riviello Stakes at Philadelphia Park on Saturday.

Separato was claimed five starts back for $40,000, by trainer Tim Ritchey and owners C J V Racing Stable, and since then has three wins and a second.

Sat, 08/14/2004 - 00:00

Molto Vita upsets Tina Bull

Molto Vita always had talent. Now she is displaying heart and consistency to go with it.

She scored her second consecutive victory Saturday, taking the $100,000 Ellis Park Breeders' Cup by a neck over 4-5 favorite Tina Bull. The win followed a neck victory over graded stakes winner My Boston Gal in an overnight handicap at Ellis Park July 23.