Galloping Gal unleashed a powerful closing kick, rallying from last to first in the final quarter-mile to capture the $116,700 Edgewood Stakes on the turf for 3-year-old fillies.
Gingham and Lace, the second choice, had taken the lead entering the stretch and was ahead by 1 1/2 lengths at midstretch, but Galloping Gal ran her down in the final strides to win by a neck. Dynaville was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third. Vous, the 7-2 favorite, was fourth.
In the two Thursday stakes at Churchill, Friendly Michelle emerged best in a three-horse finish in the $112,200 La Troienne Stakes and Nicole's Dream edged Tangier Sound to win the $117,700 Mamzelle Stakes
Friendly Michelle, ridden by Alex Solis, won the Grade 3 La Troienne by a half-length over Ender's Sister, with Bohemian Lady just another head back in third in the 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. Friendly Michelle finished in 1:28.06 over a fast track and paid $6.80.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Sunday is the last day of racing at Aqueduct, and after an abnormally long and cold winter, the opening of Belmont Park on Wednesday could not come soon enough for many racing fans and horsemen.
Belmont is certainly slated to open with a bang. The one-mile Westchester Handicap is the feature on the opening-day card, sporting a field that is significantly stronger than is normally found in a Grade 3, $100,000 stakes.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Atswhatimtalknbout, who has not started since finishing fourth in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, will not race this year, trainer Ron Ellis said Friday.
Atswhatimtalknbout has fought through a foot problem and a lung infection in recent months. In coming days, he will be turned out at owner B. Wayne Hughes's farm in Malibu, Calif., for six weeks with the intent of being prepared for a 2005 campaign, Ellis said.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Elusive Diva was ambitiously placed when she started in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 9. When she finished fourth, trainer Mark Glatt abandoned plans for a start in Friday's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and brought her back to California.
Sunday, Elusive Diva returns in the $100,000 Railbird Stakes for 3-year-old fillies over seven furlongs at Hollywood Park. Glatt considers the Grade 3 Railbird an excellent race for Elusive Diva to attempt to win her first stakes and maybe go on to the $175,000 Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks on June 12.
Jockeys David Lopez and Alfredo Miranda were both listed in stable condition at Stanford Hospital on Friday after being injured in a seventh-race spill at Bay Meadows on Thursday.
Lopez, 22, is expected to remain hospitalized for another two or three days with a severe concussion after his mount, Perfect Judgment, apparently clipped heels and fell entering the turn.
STICKNEY, Ill. - The horse was enjoying his oats, but he wanted more. Seated on a tack box just outside Intern's stall, Lara Van Deren had the audacity to rustle the plastic wrapper of a Starlight mint. Intern's head craned out of his feed tub, seeking a treat.
This one was not for him. "Come on," Van Deren scolded. "You get about a hundred of these a day."
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Ema Bovary, winner of eight straight races, is the queen of northern California - if not all West Coast - female sprinters.
Sunday's $55,000-added Woodside Handicap, a six-furlong race at Bay Meadows, will determine who is her heir apparent in northern California.
The field of seven fillies and mares includes four multiple stakes winners: Bold Roberta, Channing Way, Christmas Time, and Pheiffer. The others are Coconut Girl, Devil Dancing, and Stormica.
As is the case with human athletes, age can negatively affect equine athletes. Older runners, often geldings, slow down and gradually descend the claiming ranks. Lucky Bohemian is an exception.
Lucky Bohemian, now 8, has bucked Father Time, showing steady form over the last year. In early 2003, Lucky Bohemian earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure of his career, a 96, winning an open $10,000 claimer at Oaklawn by over seven lengths. This spring, Lucky Bohemian was still running for a $10,000 tag at Oaklawn.