Sun, 09/28/2003 - 00:00

Nothing spooks Storming Home this time

Horsephotos
Storming Home ($2.60) wins by a 1/2 length in Sunday's $245,000 Clement Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Storming Home scored a decisive victory in Sunday's $245,000 at Santa Anita, emphasizing his status as a top contender for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf on Oct. 25.

Equally as important, the win helped restore jockey Gary Stevens's confidence in Storming Home. In the Arlington Million on Aug. 16, Storming Home veered out sharply and unseated Stevens after the finish. Storming Home was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference in the final strides, and Stevens suffered a collapsed lung in the spill.

Sun, 09/28/2003 - 00:00

Crafty Shaw best in Turfway Fall Championship

Crafty Shaw moved his career record to 5 for 6 at Turfway Park when gliding to an authoritative victory as the odds-on favorite Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Turfway Fall Championship Handicap in Florence, Ky.

Always prominent under Craig Perret, Crafty Shaw shook off Trion Georgia in the final turn of the one-mile race before going on to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Cat Tracker. Cappuchino finished another three-quarters of a length behind in the field of eight older horses.

Sun, 09/28/2003 - 00:00

George Taylor pulls upset on Oklahoma Classics Day

George Taylor pulled the biggest upset of the Oklahoma Classics Day program on Saturday night at Remington Park when he rallied for a three-quarter length win over Expensive Risk in the $75,000 Classic and paid $47.80.

The race was the richest of seven statebred stakes on the card, with purses totaling $285,000.

George Taylor($47.80) settled well off the pace early in the mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-olds and up, and in the stretch ran down Expensive Risk, as well as third-place finisher Coldiron Slew. He covered the distance over a fast track in 1:45.04.

Sun, 09/28/2003 - 00:00

Joe Six Pack romps in Minstrel

Bossier City, La. - Joe Six Pack ran his record to a perfect two-for-two Saturday, winning the $40,000 Minstrel Stakes by six and a half lengths in a sharp effort. Next Bandit, who carved out some quick early fractions, finished second, four and a quarter lengths in front of longshot Britt's Jules.

Sat, 09/27/2003 - 00:00

Mister Acpen wins first U.S. stakes

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Mister Acpen ($10.60) grabbed the lead out of the gate and was never challenged as he won the $142,500 Grade 3 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday at Bay Meadows.

The Chilean-bred 5-year-old was never pressured as he defeated Fateful Dream by 1 1/4 lengths in the turf race at about 1 1/8 miles. The winning time was 1:46.94.

Mister Acpen had a two-length lead over Lily's Lad through the first six furlongs as winning jockey Roberto Gonzalez slowed the pace down, running the opening half mile in 47.99 seconds and first six furlongs in 1:12.47.

Sat, 09/27/2003 - 00:00

Mineshaft unstoppable

Horsephotos
Mineshaft, under Robby Albarado, earns his fourth Grade 1 victory of the season in Saturday's Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. He has now won 7 of 9 starts this year.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Mineshaft did what he was expected to do in Saturday's . The big question remains, will he be asked to do any more?

In another flawless performance, Mineshaft took control of the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup leaving the three-eighths pole and cruised home to a 4 1/4-length victory over longshot Quest before 19,034 at Belmont Park. It was 2 3/4 lengths back to defending Gold Cup winner Evening Attire.

Sat, 09/27/2003 - 00:00

Stumble can't stop Sulamani

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Sulamani will be a strong contender in the Breeders' Cup Turf following his 2 3/4-length win in the Turf Classic Invitational.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sulamani more than lived up to the hype that surrounded him in the $750,000 at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Under jockey Jerry Bailey, Sulamani drew off to a 2 3/4-length win in the 1 1/2-mile Turf Classic after stumbling at the top of the stretch. Deeliteful Irving finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of his entrymate, Balto Star. Sabiango, Polish Summer, Slew Valley, and Lunar Sovereign completed the order of finish.

Sat, 09/27/2003 - 00:00

Dimitrova responds to patient ride

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Dimitrova wins the Grade 1, $750,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Saturday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Dimitrova, who disappointed as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap here last month, bounced back with authority Saturday, rallying four wide in the stretch to record a one-length victory in the Grade 1 $750,000 at Belmont Park.

Longshot Walzerkoenigin edged 4-5 Heat Haze by a nose for second. Dress to Thrill, Riskaverse, Primetimevalentine, and Snow Dance completed the order of finish.

The victory capped a fantastic day for Irish-based trainer Dermot Weld, who won four races in Ireland, including two stakes.

Sat, 09/27/2003 - 00:00

Ghostzapper 10th to first in Vosburgh

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Ghostzapper, ridden by Javier Castellano comes from last to win the Grade I, $500,000 Vosburgh on Saturday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - In a smashing performance, Ghostzapper won Saturday's $500,000 by 6 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park for his first stakes win.

Aggadan, at 63-1, finished second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Posse. Gygistar, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth and was followed under the wire by My Cousin Matt, Voodoo, Highway Prospector, Papua, Ajedrez, and Peeping Tom.

Sat, 09/27/2003 - 00:00

Despite shaky start, Cactus Ridge cruises

Benoit & Associates
Cactus Ridge remains undefeated while setting a stakes record in the Arlington-Washington Futurity.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A brief stumble at the gate and an extra furlong could not stop Cactus Ridge from easily winning the Arlington-Washington Futurity on Saturday at Arlington Park.

Cactus Ridge now goes into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile undefeated in four starts.