CARENCRO, La. - Smalltown Slew made his first start in stakes company a successful one as he overcame a slow start to outduel favored highweight Britt's Jules in the $50,000 Inaugural Handicap at Evangeline Downs.
Smalltown Slew edged clear in the late going to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths under Ricky Faul in 1:10.60 for the six furlongs. Britt's Jules held off a fast-closing Brandon's Marfa for the place spot, with Valid Faith finishing fourth.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Etoile Montante gave trainer Bobby Frankel his third consecutive win in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Handicap on Sunday.
Frankel won the Las Cienegas with Rolly Polly in 2002 and with Heat Haze last year. Heat Haze and Etoile Montante are owned by Juddmonte Farms.
In Sunday's running, worth $112,800, Etoile Montante won by a half-length over Dedication after the pair dueled through the final furlong. Ridden by Javier Santiago, Etoile Montante ($4.40) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:13.32.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - La Reason gave apprentice Justin Shepherd his first career stakes win on Saturday when she split horses in the stretch and rallied for a three-quarter length win over Pampered in the $75,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park. It was another head back in third to pacesetter Sue's Good News.
Restage brought Sunday's second annual Florida Cup day at Tampa Bay Downs to a fitting conclusion when holding on tenaciously to post a heart stopping nose victory over the fast closing Final Prophecy in the $84,900 Cherokee River Turf Classic.
Orchard Park, the 7-5 favorite, finished a disappointing eighth as the 7-5 choice in the Turf Classic. Capping off a day of upsets that saw none of the favorites in the six Florida Cup Stakes finish better than fourth.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Bwana Charlie was noted mainly for his size as a 2-year-old. Now a 3-year-old, his athleticism is catching up to his large frame.
Bwana Charlie won his third consecutive race and his first stakes Sunday, scoring by 3 1/4 lengths over Quick Action in the $109,500, Grade 3 at Keeneland.
STICKNEY, Ill. - For Tuesday's Hawthorne feature, turn to the back of the past performances. Once there, take your pick between the eighth and ninth races. The eighth is an open entry-level allowance at six furlongs, the ninth a second-level allowance sprint for Illinois-breds.
Both races, which comprise a late daily double, will require some puzzling through.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Dynever launched his 2004 campaign with a convincing win in Saturday's $110,600 at Santa Anita, the colt's first start since a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic on this track last fall.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Dynever was always traveling comfortably on the backstretch, racing about six lengths behind pacesetter Ender's Shadow, who set fractions of 23.74 and 47.31 seconds.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Diplomatic Bag surprised trainer Bobby Frankel when he rallied from third to win the $150,000 , the day's third race.
"I didn't know that he had a turn of foot," said Frankel, who watched the race from Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
Throughout the 1 1/8 miles on turf, Frankel was concerned that jockey David Flores had left Diplomatic Bag with too much to do while stalking the pacesetter, Soud, and Statement, a stalker.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Peace Rules, who was a gritty winner of the New Orleans Handicap in February, turned in another game performance Saturday in the Grade 2, $500,000 , when he drove to a two-length win over Ole Faunty.
It was another neck back in third to pacesetter Saint Liam.
