LOUISVILLE, Ky. - 2003 could have been a rebuilding year for trainer Ken McPeek. Stable star Repent was retired in February, and Harlan's Holiday and Sarava - two horses he trained to Grade 1 victories - were transferred to other trainers last year.
Even following their departures, McPeek continues to produce. On Sunday he won another important stakes race, winning the Grade 3, $172,800 with Hard Buck, a horse he began training after the horse was shipped to America from Brazil.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - One furlong at a time, Lion Heart has emerged as the fastest 2-year-old in California. Three weeks after dominating maidens at six furlongs, Lion Heart ($3) stretched out to seven furlongs Saturday at Hollywood Park and blazed to a six-length win in the Grade 3 .
OKLAHOMA CITY - Captain's Daughter was an explosive, six and a quarter length winner of the $39,500 on a foggy Saturday night at Remington Park. Chitchat Chitchat finished second, a nose in front of Are You Home.
Captain's Daughter($17.80) settled well back early in the one-mile turf race, and mounted a strong bid through the stretch to run down Chitchat Chitchat. She covered the distance over a course rated good in 1:38.91. Nena Matz rode the winner for trainer Rick Engel.
Zarb's Luck was able to stretch his speed around two turns to win Saturday night's $100,000 at Delta Downs by a neck over Spritely Walker. It was another length and three quarters back in third to Pink Duck.
Zarb's Luck($8.40) has recorded his biggest wins around one turn, but he was effective around two in the one-mile Gold Cup, when he led throughout. Ridden by Guy Smith, he covered the distance in 1:38.72.
America America defeated male rivals in the $150,000 on Saturday night in one of several upsets on the Texas Champions Day card at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston.
The program featured worth $550,000, with all of the races except the Juvenile restricted to horses bred in Texas.
LAUREL, Md. - The mad genius struck again.
Trainer Michael Dickinson, who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Mile with Da Hoss having made only one start in two years, did that feat one better Saturday, winning the Grade 1, $300,000 at Laurel Park with A Huevo, who had made just two starts in four years before Saturday.
MIAMI - Saturday's $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile at Calder delivered as advertised, with the undefeated 2-year-olds Sir Oscar and Wynn Dot Comma hooking up at the head of the stretch, and Sir Oscar gradually edging clear late to win by a length following a furious stretch duel.
LAUREL, Md. - Cuvee may have distance limitations, but owner Ron Winchell may have found another Kentucky Derby prospect on Saturday.
Tapit, a son of Pulpit, overcame a bit of rankness and rolled to a 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park. Polish Rifle, rallied for second by a half-length over Ghost Mountain.
The victory was the second in two starts for Tapit, who is trained by Michael Dickinson. Tapit won his maiden at Delaware Park in a two-turn, one-mile race.
