INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Star Over the Bay, claimed for $80,000 on May 16, held off a late run from the heavily favored Continuously to win Sunday's $150,000 Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Ridden by Tyler Baze and carrying 113 pounds, Star Over the Bay ($8) set an early pace of 24.49 and 47.93 seconds, leading by as many as 3 1-2 lengths. Star Over the Bay was not threatened until the final furlong when Continuously rallied from sixth to reach contention.
STANTON, Del. - Trainer Jeff Mullins had a bad feeling when he arrived at Delaware Park on Sunday and saw a sloppy track that had been sealed the night before in anticipation of heavy rains. He felt even worse when his filly, even-money favorite Summer Wind Dancer, got away awkwardly in the .
Tim Smith, the commissioner and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, is considering taking a top position at the New York Racing Association, NTRA and NYRA officials said in a statement released on Sunday night.
"I am honored to be considered for the position of NYRA President and CEO,"
VALLEJO, Calif. - Pheiffer ($7.80) gained a little revenge as she captured the $50,510 Vacaville Handicap at the Solano County Fair on Saturday.
The 6-year-old mare turned the tables on rival Christmas Time, beating her troubled foe by five lengths while winning the six-furlong race in 1:10.10.
It was the sixth meeting of 2004 between the two and only the second time Pheiffer has finished ahead of her rival. She had lost three straight since winning the Richmond Handicap on Feb. 14.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - After dominating the trainer standings at Arlington Park in recent years, Wayne Catalano had nearly fallen off the Midwest radar screen following his well-publicized split earlier this year with Chicago-based owner Frank Calabrese.
But Catalano returned to Midwest prominence Saturday at Canterbury Park when Intelligent Male, an 18-1 outsider under Eddie Martin Jr., edged favored Musique Toujours following an exciting stretch duel in the last and richest race of the Claiming Crown series, the $145,500 .
"This is a sweet one," said Catalano.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Lion Heart, the overwhelming favorite, won the Grade 3, $100,000 , as expected, Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Few anticipated, though, that Lion Heart would be pushed so hard to secure his first victory in five races this season.
Lion Heart ($2.60), making his first start since finishing fourth in the Preakness, wound up locked in a fierce stretch battle with My Snookie's Boy, a former claimer.
They battled head and head through the lane, with the 12-1 My Snookie's Boy seemingly poised for the upset 100 yards from the wire.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Stage Player, the heaviest favorite in the six Claiming Crown races held Saturday at Canterbury Park, asserted his class when he speeded clear under Tyler Baze to post a three-length triumph in the $125,000 .
Stage Player, the lone winner from five southern California invaders to compete in the sixth annual Claiming Crown, returned $3.20 as the lone odds-on favorite in the series. Owned by Robert Bone and trained by Jeff Mullins, Stage Player finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.20 over a firm turf course.
STANTON, Del. - Yearly Report, the only graded stakes winner in a group of eight 3-year-old fillies, looked even more imposing when teamed with Jerry Bailey, who came in from New York to ride her Saturday in the $500,900 at Delaware Park.
Sent off at 2-5, Yearly Report easily shook off a challenge in the stretch from Ender's Sister to score a one-length victory in the Grade 2 Oaks.
MIAMI - Mr. Livingston is possibly the best of the local turf division following his decisive victory in the Carterista Handicap earlier in the meet. Now trainer Bill Kaplan and owners Teresa and David Palmer have decided to find out where the veteran grass specialist fits on a national level.
