Mon, 08/02/2004 - 00:00

Favored Hour of Justice wins Royal North

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Hour of Justice ($3.60) put away two rivals on the lead and kept on going for an authoritative victory in Monday's Grade 3, $170,550 Royal North Handicap at Woodbine.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Undefeated Choctaw Nation better than 'Perfect'

Horsephotos
Choctaw Nation (left) collars Pleasantly Perfect 70 yards from the wire on his way to a three-quarters of a length win in the Grade 2, $250,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. - From claim to fame. That is the route Choctaw Nation has taken. After being claimed for $40,000 from of a maiden-claiming race in his victorious debut, he rattled off three more victories. And on Sunday, in his first try against stakes runners, including the nation's top-ranked horse, Choctaw Nation cleared his biggest hurdle to date.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Del Mar pick six pays $2.1 million

DEL MAR, Calif. - A single winning ticket in Sunday's pick six at Del Mar was worth a California record $2,100,017.

The ticket was purchased on-track by Scott Guenther, who owns horses under the name Desperado Stable. Guenther said he owned 80 percent of the winning ticket, and that the remaining 20 percent was split among three friends.

Guenther's ticket cost $1,152. It was the only ticket he purchased. He used four horses in three of the races, three horses in two of the races, and singled the winner of the final race, Golden Souvenir.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Marwood wins Luther Burbank on DQ

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Favored Marwood ($4.40) was moved up to first when stablemate Hippogator was disqualified for interference in the final 16th of the Luther Burbank Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair on Sunday.

Marwood had a troubled trip for the entire 1 1/16 miles of the race for fillies and mares. She was bumped badly by Icy Choice leaving the gate and was last into the first turn.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Azeri win thrills big Spa crowd

Horsephotos
Azeri (second from right) turns for home on her way to a 1 3/4-length tally over Sightseek (left) in the Grade 1 Go For Wand Handicap at Saratoga on Sunday. Storm Flag Flying (right) finished third.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Azeri is back in a big way.

In a thrilling stretch battle that left the crowd with goose bumps despite the stifling heat and humidity, Azeri turned back a challenge from Sightseek to win Sunday's Grade 1 in stakes-record time at Saratoga before an announced crowd of 50,122.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Smokey Glacken wins Trenton in slop

Ryan McAlinden/EQUI-PHOTO
Smokey Glacken, with Joe Bravo riding, goes by on the outside of #7 Silver Wench, and Eibar Coa, to win the $55,000 Trenton Stakes at Monmouth Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Smokey Glacken wore down a determined Silver Wench to win the off-the-turf $55,000 Trenton Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Smokey Glacken ($5.20) got up by a half length as she ran the five furlongs in 57.59 seconds over the sloppy track. It was her first start since finishing third in the Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

'Port' upsets Eye of the Sphynx

Michael Burns Photo
My Vintage Port captures Sunday's $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - My Vintage Port, an overdue 14-1 shot, wore down 3-5 favorite Eye of the Sphynx in the stretch to capture Sunday's $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara at Woodbine.

My Vintage Port, the 2003 Sovereign Award winner as champion 2-year-old filly, was winless in five starts this year heading into Wonder Where, a mile and a quarter turf event for 3-year-old fillies. She stalked the pace in third under Jono Jones, as Eye of the Sphynx set slow fractions over a course labeled good.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Rainy Calder cancels last two races

MIAMI, Fla. - The final two races on Sunday's program at Calder were cancelled after the jockeys informed management they would not ride due to severe electrical storms in the area.

The ninth race on Sunday's card was delayed nearly 30 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning. Both the ninth and tenth races were eventually run after the severe weather subsided but when lightning and strong rains returned both the eleventh and twelfth events were cancelled.

Racing was expected to resume as scheduled on Monday.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

Thunderstorms force Calder cancellations

MIAMI, Fla. - The final two races on Sunday's program at Calder were cancelled after the jockeys informed management they would not ride due to severe electrical storms in the area.

The ninth race on Sunday's card was delayed nearly 30 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning. Both the ninth and tenth races were eventually run after the severe weather subsided but when lightning and strong rains returned both the eleventh and twelfth events were cancelled.

Racing was expected to resume as scheduled on Monday.

Sun, 08/01/2004 - 00:00

My Vintage Port upsets favorite

Michael Burns Photo
My Vintage Port captures Sunday's $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - My Vintage Port, an overdue 14-1 shot, wore down 3-5 favorite Eye of the Sphynx in the stretch to capture Sunday's $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara at Woodbine.

My Vintage Port, the 2003 Sovereign Award winner as champion 2-year-old filly, was winless in five starts this year heading into Wonder Where, a mile and a quarter turf event for 3-year-old fillies. She stalked the pace in third under Jono Jones, as Eye of the Sphynx set slow fractions over a course labeled good.