Sun, 10/05/2003 - 00:00

Bien Nicole romps in WinStar Galaxy

Suzie Picou-Oldham
Bien Nicole wins by 7 1/4 lengths in Sunday's $500,000 WinStar Galaxy Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Just a few hundred yards into the $500,000 , Bien Nicole already was far in front. That's usually a no-no in a turf marathon, but when the field passed the wire for the second and final time, Bien Nicole, ridden by Don Pettinger, was the easiest of winners, prevailing by 7 1/4 lengths in the Grade 2 race Sunday at Keeneland.

Sun, 10/05/2003 - 00:00

Smoocher rallies to win Grey BC

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Smoocher rallied inside from well back, and kissed the field goodbye in the stretch to take the Grade 2, $277,250 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes for 2-year-olds at Woodbine Sunday.

Smoocher trailed early under jockey Jim McAleney, as Estevan and San Diego Blowout hooked up through fractions of :24.31 and :47.87 in the mile and a sixteenth event. Estevan emerged with lead on the far turn, through three-quarters in 1:12.50, as Smoocher and Niigon loomed into contention.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Trapper gives young trainer first stakes victory

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trapper ($12.60), a 3-year-old meeting older, gave young trainer William E. Morey his first stakes victory, capturing the $100,000 California Sprint Championship by a neck over Green Team at Bay Meadows on Saturday.

Trapper, claimed for $32,000 from his debut, sat well off the brisk pace set by Con Quixote and wore down Green Team late to win the six-furlong race in 1:09.26 for his fourth straight victory. Men's Exclusive, the 10-year-old millionaire who won the inaugural running of the race in 1997, was third 1_ (one one-half) lengths behind Green Team.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Pimlico: Randaroo leads boxcars

Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
Randaroo drives to victory in the Grade 3 $150,000 Safely Kept Stakes at Pimlico.

Randaroo ($21.40) led a parade of longshots under the wire in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Safely Kept Breeders' Cup Handicap at Pimlico.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Randaroo stalked the pacesetting Follow Me Home through fractions of 22.31 and 45.04 seconds before edging up to beat that rival by three-quarters of a length. The top four betting choices finished off the board in the six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies, triggering a $3,985.60 trifecta with Awesome Charm in third.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Sightseek gives record to Frankel

Horsephotos
A number of horses stamped their tickets to the Breeders' Cup on Saturday, such as Sightseek (above), who was a powerful winner of the Beldame.

ELMONT, N.Y. - It remains to be seen if Azeri will be healthy enough to defend her Breeders' Cup Distaff title. If Azeri does make it, she will have a formidable foe waiting for her in Sightseek.

Sightseek set up the sexy potential matchup when she disposed of six overmatched rivals Saturday, rolling past Bird Town in midstretch and drawing clear to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $750,000 before 7,591 at Belmont Park. Bird Town, who set the pace, held second by 4 3/4 lengths over Buy the Sport.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Birdstone completes big double for Zito

Horsephotos
Birdstone ($6.50) wins the $500,000 Champagne Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths at Belmont on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - There was a chill in the air at Belmont Park on Saturday, indicating that indeed autumn has arrived. But trainer Nick Zito couldn't help but think about spring.

In a span of 20 minutes, Zito won a pair of graded stakes for juvenile colts, and while many horsemen would be thinking Breeders' Cup, Zito is thinking Kentucky Derby.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Society Selection takes Frizette

Horsephotos
Society Selection, with Ran Ganpath riding, runs past Victory U. S. A. en route to victory in the Frizette.

ELMONT, N.Y. - On Saturday at Belmont Park, trainer Allen Jerkens struck again. Less than

24 hours after saddling Bowman's Band to an upset in the $400,000 Meadowlands Cup, Jerkens scored another upset in the $500,000 with Society Selection.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Freefourinternet by a nose

Horsephotos
Freefourinternet (outside) wins Saturday's $350,000 Kelso Breeders' Cup by a nose over Proud Man.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Freefourinternet came from last to first to win Saturday's $350,000 at Belmont Park by a nose over Proud Man.

Proud Man was a length in front of his stablemate, Rouvres, the third-place finisher. Decarchy, the 2-1 favorite and 118-pound highweight, was fourth. Millennium Dragon, Runspastum, Pay the Preacher, North East Bound, Mercenary, and Del Mar Show completed the order of finish.

Joan Scott, who took out her trainer's license just last year, trains Freefourinternet. The Grade 2 Kelso was Scott's first stakes win.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Eurosilver powerful in Breeders' Futurity

Horsephotos
Eurosilver and Javier Castellano draw clear en route to a 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 2 Breeders' Futurity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Even though he stayed put in New York, Nick Zito cut a massive presence at the first two days of the Keeneland meet.

Less than 24 hours after Zito won the Phoenix Breeders' Cup with Najran for Buckram Oak Farm, he capped a spectacular opening weekend when Eurosilver, also carrying the Buckram Oak colors, drove to a smashing 4 3/4-length victory Saturday in the $400,000 .

About 20 minutes after Eurosilver crossed the line at Keeneland, Zito won the Champagne Stakes at Belmont with Birdstone for owner Marylou Whitney.

Sat, 10/04/2003 - 00:00

Perfect Soul emerges from pack

Horsephotos
Ridden by Edgar Prado, Perfect Soul pulls away from the pack in the stretch to win Saturday's $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Canadian legend Roger Attfield has saddled nine horses in the Breeders' Cup, but none since 1997. The drought probably ended Saturday for the veteran trainer when Perfect Soul earned a berth in the BC Mile by driving to a hard-fought victory in the Grade 1, $600,000 , richest race of the Keeneland fall meet.