Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Heat Haze rallies to Matriarch win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Heat Haze rallied from last in to final quarter-mile to win Sunday's $500,000 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park and in doing so became a leading candidate for outstanding turf female of 2003.

Heat Haze's victory in the Grade 1 Matriarch marked her fourth graded stakes win of the year and second in a Grade 1. She won the Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park in August.

Heat Haze had a trouble free trip in the Matriarch, enabling her to catch Musical Chimes in the final yards. Ridden by John Velazquez, Heat Haze ($10.60) ran a mile on turf in 1:34.43.

Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Baze suffers fractured collarbone

ALBANY, Calif. - Jockey Russell Baze, second in the nation with 410 victories, suffered a fractured right collarbone Sunday when Snoopy Cat stumbled leaving the gate in the third race, causing Baze to fall.

After the Run struck Baze after he fell. He also suffered a bruise of his left chest and complained of pain between his shoulder blades. He was taken to Alta Bates Hospital in Berkeley for x-rays as well as an EKG and ultrasound for his bruised chest.

Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Depop pulls upset in MEC Mile

Depop, who was a 16-length maiden winner earlier this meet at Remington Park, won the track's richest race for 2-year-olds on Sunday when he sped to a three and a half length win in the $84,850 MEC Mile. The race was the closing day feature at Remington.

Wild Tale finished second, while it was a neck back in third to Bowdoin.

Depop($29.80) broke well and pushed favorite Okie Style through fractions of 23.45 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.32 seconds for the half-mile mark before taking over and going on to cover the distance in 1:38.22.

Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Hydrogen closes meet with a bang

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Outsider Hydrogen ($37.40) edged Affirmed Feeling after a thrilling stretch battle to capture Sunday's $143,500 , Woodbine's closing-day feature.

Emile Ramsammy rode Hydrogen, who notched his first stakes in the mile and three-quarter marathon. He earned $86,100 for owner Earle Mack and trainer Mark Casse, who also sent the 4-year-old out to win his previous outing, in a second-level allowance.

Indy Lead and Mark One hooked up on the front end through honest fractions of :24.15, :48.13 and 1:13.62, and were stalked by Hydrogen and Malmaison.

Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Mitowilard upsets Texas Classic Futurity

Mitowilard ($23.80), who won his maiden for a claiming price of $15,000 last month, picked up the biggest purse in the history of Texas on Saturday night when he stormed to a half-length win in the $1,088,856 Texas Classic Futurity for Quarter Horses at Lone Star Park.

Mitowilard earned $470,858 for the win, which was his third in seven starts. He covered 400 yards in 19.62 seconds under jockey Nicky Wilson. Toby Keeton trains Mitowilard for Nub Neighbors.

Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Book Note takes Conroe

Coady Photography / Henna Haroon
Book Note wins by 3 3/4 lengths in the $35,000 Conroe for 3-year-olds at Sam Houston Race Park.

Book Note broke sharp and never looked back for a three and three-quarter length win over 49-1 longshot Giant Bellyache in the $35,000 Conroe for 3-year-olds at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. It was another neck back in third to Leo's Last Hurrahy.

Book Note set fractions of 21.15 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.27 seconds for the half-mile mark in the six-furlong race, before going on to cover the distance in 1:09.82. He paid $4.40 as a slight favorite over Grand Steal, a closer who was blocked on the turn.

Sun, 11/30/2003 - 00:00

Britt's Jules best in Delta Beau

Jeff Coady/Coady Photography
Britt's Jules wins by 4 lengths in the $40,000 Delta Beau for 2-year-olds at Delta Downs.

Britt's Jules pulled away to a four-length win over Iron Expectations in the $40,000 Delta Beau for 2-year-olds at Delta Downs on Saturday night. It was another half-length back in third to 4-5 favorite Kipper's Night.

Britt's Jules($6.60) earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for an allowance win one start prior to the Delta Beau. He turned in another strong effort Saturday, when he dueled early then went on to cover five furlongs in 58.73 seconds.

R.A. Stokes rode the winner for Floyd Williams and trainer Christopher Angelle.

Sat, 11/29/2003 - 00:00

Redattore triumphant in Citation

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Redattore is ending his 2003 campaign the same way it began - as the top turf miler in California.

Saturday, Redattore ended a three-race losing streak with a hard-fought win in the $400,000 Citation Handicap at Hollywood Park. Last spring, he won the Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita and the Shoemaker Mile here.

Sat, 11/29/2003 - 00:00

Tropical Blossom wins first stakes in Star Ball

Vassar Photography
Tropical Blossom (3) wins the $64,400 Star Ball Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

ALBANY, Calif. - Tropical Blossom ($7.40), who had been chasing Azeri and Got Koko in Southern California, made a strong rail move in the lane to capture her first stakes victory in winning the $64,400 Star Ball Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Sat, 11/29/2003 - 00:00

Congaree repeats in Cigar

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Congaree and Jerry Bailey fly home to win the Grade 1 Cigar Mile for the second straight year. The victory was Bailey's 70th in a stakes, a record, and third stakes score on the day.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Congaree remained the king of Queens on Saturday while Jerry Bailey remained the king of reins.

In another exceptional performance in a brilliant career, Congaree blew away his six rivals and won his second consecutive Grade 1 by 5 1/4 lengths before 5,459 at windblown Aqueduct. Midas Eyes finished second, three lengths ahead of Toccet, who was third.

Congaree, who won last year's Cigar by 5 1/2 lengths, is 4 for 4 at Aqueduct. He won the 2001 Wood Memorial and this year's Grade 1 Carter.