Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Smok'n Frolic wins Next Move

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Smok'n Frolic won Sunday's Next Move Handicap at Aqueduct for the second consecutive year and capped a huge weekend for jockey Richard Migliore, who rode Friends Lake to an upset in the $1 million Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Smok'n Frolic, the odds-on favorite, won the $108,400 Next Move by 6 1/2 length over Stake. It was another nose back to U K Trick in third in the 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares. Passing Shot, Virgin Voyage, Our Tune, and Green Jeans completed the order of finish.

Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Sightseek dominates Rampart

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As much as Bobby Frankel thought his theory that Sightseek simply dislikes Santa Anita was accurate, he needed to see proof.

Proof is exactly what he saw Sunday at Gulfstream Park as Sightseek overpowered her three rivals and won the Grade 2, $200,000 by 7 1-2 lengths under stout restraint from Jerry Bailey. Redoubled Miss, whose trainer Ron Spatz didn't want to run in this race, finished second, two lengths ahead of Lead Story. Roar Emotion faded to fourth after setting the pace.

Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Limehouse passes TB Derby test

Tom Cooley
Limehouse wins by a neck over Mustanfar in Sunday's $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Limehouse proved he could win around two turns and capped a tremendous weekend for trainer Todd Pletcher with a popular neck victory over Mustanfar in Sunday's $250,000 .

Limehouse was a multiple graded stakes winner but had never won beyond seven furlongs coming into the one mile and one sixteenth Tampa Derby. Confidently ridden by Pat Day, Limehouse raced within easy stalking distance of the lead for over five furlongs, dropped back to fifth nearing the five sixteenths pole, swung out into the stretch then outfinished Mustanfar.

Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Coney Kitty's luck improves in Hillsborough

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Coney Kitty's run of bad luck finally changed on Sunday when she finished a neck in front of Madeira Mist then survived a foul claim before being awarded the victory in the $100,000 Hillsborough(G3) Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Cat Genius looks smart in Pelleteri

NEW ORLEANS - Cat Genius is back. Back from a severe foot injury sustained at the end of his 2-year-old season, back from a disappointing 3-year-old campaign, and back near the top of the Midwest sprint division.

Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Delta Downs: Britt's Jules dominates

Amy Benoit/ Coady Photography
Britt's Jules wins the $50,000 Sportsman's Paradise for 3-year-olds at Delta Downs on Saturday.

Britt's Jules won his two turn debut on Saturday night when he drove to a dominating, four and a half length win in the $50,000 Sportsman's Paradise for 3-year-olds at Delta Downs. Every Advantage finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher and favorite There Goes Rocket.

The field for the Sportsman's Paradise was reduced to four starters with the scratches of Korbyn Gold, Real Trooper and Xtra Jack. There was no show wagering.

Sun, 03/14/2004 - 00:00

Josie G. wins Sam Houston Race Park Oaks

Josie G. overcame a troubled trip to win the $30,000 Sam Houston Race Park Oaks by a length and a half on Saturday night. Olympic Emblem finished second, two lengths clear of third-place finisher Perennial Favorite.

Josie G.($3.20) was shuffled back and blocked on the second turn of the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, then split horses in the stretch. She covered the distance in 1:40.29.

Sat, 03/13/2004 - 00:00

A Kruljac exacta in Gold Cup

Shawn Coady/Coady Photography
Iron Halo wins the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise on Saturday.

PHOENIX - Trainer Eric Kruljac sent out the one-two finishers in Saturday's $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise as Iron Halo defeated R. Baggio by two and a quarter lengths.

"The horse did all the work," said Kruljac, referring to Iron Halo.

Ridden by Joel Campbell, Iron Halo ($20.40) rallied from fifth position in the seven-horse field while covering the six furlongs in 1:08.48.

"He just exploded when I asked him," said Campbell.

Sat, 03/13/2004 - 00:00

Santa Anita carryover at $214,729

ARCADIA, Calif. - The Santa Anita pick six will start with a carryover of $214,729 on Sunday after a string of longshots surprised bettors on Saturday.

Sunday's pick six covers the fourth through ninth races and includes two major stakes - the San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds and the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap for older fillies and mares.

The pick six begins with a one-mile urf race for $45,000 to $50,00 claimers. In a field of eight, Badinage and Vamos Nina are leading contenders.

Sat, 03/13/2004 - 00:00

Kilgowan captures El Camino Real Derby

Bill Vass
Kilgowan wins the $200,000 Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

ALBANY, Calif. - Kilgowan ($55.80) gained redemption for a disappointing effort in the Golden State Mile, closing strongly after being bumped in the stretch to win the $200,000 Grade 3 at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Kilgowan sat back early as Wildwood Flower and Capitano alternated on the lead. He moved out into the stretch but was knocked off stride by Skipaslew near the eighth pole. He recovered quickly and outfinished Capitano and favored Seattle Borders to win by one-half length while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.87.