Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Due To Win Again wins Honeymoon Stakes

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Due To Win Again was prominent throughout for a head win over Titia in the $50,000 Honeymoon Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday. Tincan Too, who was coupled in the wagering with Due To Win Again, finished third, a length and a quarter behind Titia.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Fleeta Dif takes JEH Stallion Station

Fleeta Dif ($37.80) led a longshot sweep of the first three places in the $50,000 JEH Stallion Station Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday when she won the six and a half furlong race for statebreds by a neck over 48-1 shot Leona's Lies. It was another three lengths back in third to 36-1 shot Sly Kona. The 10-9 exacta paid $1,103 and the 10-9-6 trifecta paid $27,223.

Coastalota, who was chasing her third straight win in the JEH, ran an even race and finished seventh.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Return to turf the right move for Mr O'Brien

BALTIMORE - After spending the last year racing on dirt, Mr O'Brien has found his rightful place on the grass.

Two weeks after scoring a nine-length win on the turf here in the Henry Clark Stakes, Mr O'Brien took it up a notch Saturday by beating a solid group of older turf horses by two lengths in the Grade 2, $200,000 . Millennium Dragon, who was caught behind the tiring pacesetter Wudantunoit in the stretch, got clear late to get second by a head over Warleigh.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Royal Assault shows he's Belmont material

BALTIMORE - Trainer Nick Zito earned more than a consolation prize by virtue of Royal Assault's late-running victory in Saturday's $100,000 at Pimlico. He also added to his growing roster of potential starters to the June 5 Belmont Stakes, a race in which Zito has finished second five times, but has yet to win.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Hirsch Jacobs: Abbondanza squeezes through

Abbondanza found room along the rail in midstretch and was able to hold off a hard-charging Bwana Charlie to win the $100,000 Hirsch Jacobs Stakes by a head. It was three-quarters of a length back to Penn Pacific in third.

Teton Forest, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Storm Flag Flying in the nick of time

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Storm Flag Flying, John Velazquez up, scored a half-length victory in Saturday's Shuvee Handicap.

ELMONT, N.Y. - In a dramatic finish, Storm Flag Flying won Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Belmont Park, her first stakes win since the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Arlington Park in 2002.

Storm Flag Flying was up in time for a half-length win over Passing Shot in the Shuvee, which was run at a mile. Roar Emotion finished third, a nose behind Passing Shot.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

For Anna Em, better late than never

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Tom Amoss is known for winning quickly with horses he acquires in private purchase for his clients. Anna Em took longer to yield a positive return on investment.

Saturday at Churchill Downs, 11 months after she was purchased, Anna Em paid off, winning the inaugural running of the $112,300 Open Mind Stakes.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Arlington: Smoke Chaser catches 'em

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - His feet under him now in his second season at Arlington, the trainer Dale Bennett entered this meet hoping to do some good. It didn't even take two full days.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Bay Meadows: Entrymates one-two

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Entrymates Heavenly Humor and Secret Corsage ($4.40) dominated the $59,113 San Jose Stakes at Bay Meadows, with Heavenly Humor taking command late to win by three-quarters of a length.

The two ran one-two from the backstretch to the wire in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. Heavenly Humor was clocked in 1:43.07 as she and her entrymate pulled away down the lane. Secret Corsage was six lengths in front of third-place finisher Eight Karat.

Sat, 05/15/2004 - 00:00

Woodbine: Barbeau Ruckus, at $30

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Barbeau Ruckus ($30.10) overhauled 13-1 shot Choreography in deep stretch to capture the $134,750 New Providence Stakes at Woodbine.

Favored Mulligan the Great led the way in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired runners, setting fractions 22.41 seconds and 45.41 before fading in the drive. Barbeau Ruckus was rated about two lengths off the pace by jockey Emile Ramsammy, and then overcame traffic problems in the stretch to prevail by a neck.