Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Distance test for Zavata

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Outside of the Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, Saturday's $200,000 King's Bishop at Saratoga is the only other Grade 1 stakes remaining on this year's calendar for 3-year-olds.

Eager to take advantage of that opportunity are the connections of the 13 horses entered in the seven-furlong King's Bishop. The stellar field includes Amsterdam winner Zavata and Riva Ridge winner Posse. Eye of the Tiger and During, graded winners who are cutting back in distance, add intrigue to the race.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Trademark seeks repeat performance

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trademark, the dominant, perfect-trip winner of the Bernard Baruch earlier in the meet, will need a similar performance against a stronger field to take Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Fourstardave Handicap, one of three supporting graded stakes on the Travers undercard.

His competition includes War Zone, who beat Trademark in the Poker at Belmont, as well as graded winners Quest Star, Patrol, Union Place, Tap the Admiral, Finality, Rouvres, Political Attack, and Rock Slide. Tam's Terms, the only non-graded winner in the field, is 6 for 6 on turf.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Follow Me Home brings versatility to stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Follow Me Home can accomplish a feat rarely achieved at Monmouth Park: four stakes victories by one horse in a summer meet.

Follow Me Home tries for a fifth win overall this meet as she tops the field in the $60,000 Miss Woodford Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs Saturday.

The Miss Woodford and the $50,000 Decathlon Stakes are the supporting stakes on Iselin Day.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Lewis could use lift from 'Valentine'

DEL MAR, Calif. - Valentine Dancer can jump-start the Del Mar meet for trainer Craig Lewis when she starts in Saturday's $75,000 Barona Cup Handicap.

Last year, Lewis finished in a tie for fifth in the trainers' standings with eight winners. This meet through Wednesday, he had just one victory from 25 starters.

"Nothing has been going our way this meet," Lewis said. "That's the way it goes. It will turn for us. We can't give up. We're just temporarily derailed."

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Strong Hope gives owner just that

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When Eugene Melnyk came to the Saratoga yearling sales in 2001, he was intent on buying a son of Storm Cat out of the mare Gone to Venus.

Melnyk's trip was delayed, and he had to do his bidding from his private airplane. Every time the plane dropped below 15,000 feet, Melnyk would lose his cell-phone connection. Melnyk eventually lost out on the colt to bloodstock agent John Ferguson, who purchased him for $3.3 million for Godolphin Racing. The colt, Habayeb, now races for Darley Stud and has won just 1 of 5 starts and banked a paltry $17,635.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Weather holds key to Aspidistra Handicap

MIAMI - Hermans Honor moved to the top of the local filly and mare turf division last month with a pair of overnight stakes victories. On Saturday, she finally has the opportunity to compete for some big money in the $100,000 Aspidistra Handicap. The question is, will she get to run?

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

'Bird' puts her streak on line

ALTOONA, Iowa - Passionate Bird goes for her fourth straight stakes win - all at different tracks - when she heads a field of eight fillies and mares in Saturday's $40,000 Iowa State Fair Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Great Lakes: 'Mountain Man' leads

MUSKEGON, Mich. - Heza Mountain Man, who won his maiden by a widening six lengths in his last start, heads a full field of 10 Michigan-bred juvenile colts and geldings in the $45,000 Little Ones Stakes on Saturday evening. The Little Ones is contested at 5 1/2 furlongs around two turns and will be the fifth of eight races on the card.

Heza Mountain Man is owned by John and Jan Buth and Marion Gorham and is trained by Bob Gorham, who is third in the local standings. Gorham will also saddle Rockem Sockem for his sister, Marion, in the Little Ones.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Thistledown: Eight in Miss Ohio

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Eight Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies meet over six furlongs in the $40,000 Miss Ohio Stakes here Saturday.

Baba Gonzo is certain to be well-bet. Baba Gonzo has made two career starts, both at Monmouth Park. On Aug. 3, in her last race, she tired to finish fifth in the 5 1/2-furlong Colleen Stakes. Before that, she rallied to finish second in a June 26 maiden race. Her efforts with open horses will make her hard to handle in Ohio-bred company.

Luis A. Gonzalez will ride for trainer Alan Sobol.

Thu, 08/21/2003 - 00:00

Can't beat Youcan'ttakeme

AUBURN, Wash. - Youcan'ttakeme will be heavily favored over eight other 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's $100,000 Washington Breeders' Cup Oaks at 1 1/8 miles.

Youcan'ttakeme, a homebred daughter of He's Tops who races for Herman Sarkowsky, has been perfect in three starts at the Emerald meeting. She won the 6 1/2-furlong Federal Way Handicap by six lengths, the mile Son of Briartic Stakes by nine lengths, and the 1 1/16-mile Kent Handicap by 5 1/2 lengths in her last start on July 26.