HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Marty Wolfson is look for another big effort from his once-beaten Wynn Dot Comma in Saturday's Grade 3 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Wynn Dot Comma has won 5 of 6 starts, losing only to the still unbeaten Sir Oscar in the seven-furlong Jack Price Juvenile at Calder. The Hutcheson will also be decided at seven-eighths of a mile but the distance is of little concern to Wolfson.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - An hour before sending out Medaglia d'Oro to win the featured Donn Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream Park, trainer Bobby Frankel pulled off an upset in the $150,000 when the lightly raced Miss Coronado led from start to finish, outlasting three others in a thrilling stretch drive.
Miss Coronado ($18.80) had raced just twice previously, both times on turf in California. Frankel decided to bring her to Gulfstream to avoid champion Halfbridled and
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Saturday's seventh race at Gulfstream Park was taken off the grass, but the change wasn't announced until the horses were entering the paddock for the third-level allowance race. The switch to the main track resulted in four of the 10 scheduled starters to scratch, including morning line favorites Silver Tree and Steadfast and True.
According to track president Scott Savin, the jockeys informed management of their decision not to ride on the turf only six minutes before post time for the sixth race. The fifth race had been run over a yielding course.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Trainer Gary Caple was watching a sports segment about Triple Crown hopefuls in a local restaurant last spring, when he turned to a companion.
"That's what keeps us coming back morning after morning," Caple said. "The thought of that one big horse - that's what everybody in this business dreams about."
NEW ORLEANS - Handpainted never has really gotten a chance to showcase her talent. She was injured in the final start of her 2-year-old season, and got hurt again late last spring. Making her first start since May 19, Handpainted won the $60,000 Pan Zareta Handicap by 1 1/2 lengths Saturday at Fair Grounds.
NEW ORLEANS - Curt Bourque on Saturday confirmed widespread reports that he is retiring from riding, but Bourque left open the possibility of a comeback.
Bourque, 36 and a native of Erath, La., has ridden at sanctioned meets since 1984, recording his first victory that year at Jefferson Downs outside New Orleans. Bourque has long been viewed as a talented rider, but he has fought problems with substance abuse, and was out of the game at various times.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Eternal Cup rallied strongly through the stretch for a 1 3/4-length win over Holiday Runner in the $50,000 American Beauty Stakes for fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Emily Ring in third.
Eternal Cup ($14.40) settled several lengths off the pace while Novice led the field through an opening quarter in 21.58 seconds. Surf N Sand overtook Novice midway on the turn, but tired to fourth after being passed by Eternal Cup, who took over in the stretch and powered home, covering six furlongs in 1:10.99.
Silver Minister staked his claim as the leader of the 3-year-old division at Turfway Park, winning the one-mile, $50,000 WEBN Frog Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths.
Under a confident ride by Rafael Bejarano, Silver Minister stalked the early pace of Danieltown, turned back a momentary bid from Rubiano Lad leaving the turn, and drew away in the stretch.
Revolver Six and Dollar Dip finished belatedly for second and third, edging Rubiano Lad in a three-way photo. Iron Rogue, Commandment, Tricky Taboo, and Peter the Rock were scratched.
White Mountain Boy had to work hard to keep his unbeaten record intact Saturday at Laurel Park.
Ridden by Abel Castellano Jr., White Mountain Boy ($3.60) overtook pacesetter Hands On at the sixteenth pole and earned a half-length victory in the $75,000 Goss L. Stryker Stakes for Maryland-bred 3-year-olds. It was just a head back to Thiruvengadam in third.
The win enabled White Mountain Boy to remain undefeated in four career starts. He covered seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:24.22.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Imperialism made a quick impression in his California debut on Saturday, scoring his first stakes win in the $150,000 at Santa Anita.
The race marked Imperialism's first start for owner Steve Taub, who acquired the colt privately last month from Florida.
Closing from last in a field of six, Imperialism ($30.20) rallied to the front in the final furlong and won the Grade 2 San Vicente for 3-year-olds by 1 1/4 lengths.
