Sun, 08/10/2003 - 00:00

Chauffe Au Rouge sets Retama record

Chauffe Au Rouge set a new course record while defending his title in the $50,000 Retama Park Turf Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday night. Krishavingfunnow, the favorite, finished a half-length back in second, while it was another length and three quarters to third-place finisher Wishingitwas.

Chauffe Au Rouge($8.20) stalked the pace in fifth early, took over in the stretch and went on to cover the the mile and a sixteenth over firm turf in 1:40.80.

"He loves this turf course," said Roman Chapa, who rode the winner for trainer Cole Norman.

Sun, 08/10/2003 - 00:00

Slightlymorelikely all the way in Ont. Debutante

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Slightlymorelikely ($3.20) led throughout Sunday's $136,250 Ontario Debutante Stakes at Woodbine, winning the six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies by a comfortable margin under Todd Kabel.

Slightlymorelikely set quick fractions of :21.85 and :45.42 while being stalked by Wild Glory. She began to extend her lead at the quarter pole, and then drew off to post a six and three-quarter-length score over a closing Verybrightnshiny. Wild Glory finished third in a field reduced to five with the scratch of Beyond the Horizon.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Tizdubai takes Sorrento

DEL MAR, Calif. - Little sister can get it done, too. Tizdubai, a full sister to Tiznow and Budroyale, ascended to the top of the West Coast's 2-year-old filly division on Saturday by rallying for a four-length victory in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes on a gorgeous, summer afternoon at Del Mar.

Tizdubai stalked Dirty Diana, the even-money favorite, through early fractions of 22.09 seconds and :44.35 for a half-mile. Tizdubai then swooped past Dirty Diana just inside the furlong pole, and drew clear. Dirty Diana was a clear second, 4 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Solar Fire.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Wando sweeps!

Michael Burns Photo Ltd.
Jockey Patrick Husbands holds up three fingers in victory after Wando wins the Breeders' Stakes.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wando became the first Canadian Triple Crown winner in a decade Saturday at Woodbine with a tremendous effort under Patrick Husbands in the $500,000 .

Wando stalked an honest pace set by Parasail, one of three Sam-Son Farm runners in the 1 1/2-mile turf event for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Shoal Water, another Sam-Son horse, made a three-wide bid on the backstretch, which forced Wando to go inside of Parsail along the rail on the far turn.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Waiting pays for 'Whitmore'

Horsephotos
Whitmore's Conn pulls away to win the Grade 1 Sword Dancer.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With a half-mile left to run in Saturday's $500,000 , Whitmore's Conn dropped back to last and trainer Randy Schulhofer dropped his head.

"I said, 'Oh, no, look at this, he's not going to fire,' " Schulhofer said. "I was very worried."

Around the far turn, Whitmore's Conn began to pick it up, lifting Schulhofer's spirits.

"I was getting excited - it looked like he was fired out of a cannon," Schulhofer said.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Veitch deems Pletcher worthy heir

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - John Veitch was only 9 years old in the summer of 1954 when his father, Sylvester Veitch, won 24 races during the 24-day Saratoga meeting. Now 58, Veitch is about to watch that record fall.

Trainer Todd Pletcher won his 23rd race of the meet on Saturday when Newfound-land was placed first by the stewards in the eighth race after being interfered with by Thompson Rouge in deep stretch. That moved Pletcher within one win of equaling Syl Veitch's mark after just 16 days of the meet. John Veitch, for one, is rooting for Pletcher.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

It's back to work for Ladies Din

DEL MAR, Calif. - Ladies Din, the 8-year-old millionaire and multiple stakes winner, has been taken out of retirement.

A winner of 12 of 37 starts and $1,966,754, Ladies Din was sent to a local farm in June, but owners Bernie Schiappa and Terry Lanni decided to put the gelding back into training after Schiappa saw him in those surroundings.

"When you looked into his eyes, he didn't look like himself," Schiappa said.

The horse was sent back to trainer Frank Monteleone. On Friday at Del Mar, Ladies Din worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Whoopi Cat, Lokoya lead Adirondack field

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It might be blasphemy to suggest, but trainer Todd Pletcher may not have the horse to beat in Monday's Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack Stakes for juvenile fillies.

Pletcher, who has won both juvenile stakes at this meet and 23 races here overall, sends out Lokoya in the Adirondack, run at 6 1/2 furlongs. Lokoya, a daughter of Woodman, won her maiden by three lengths at Belmont at first asking on July 4.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Just Parkin ready for stakes assignment

DEL MAR, Calif. - Ian Jory has trained such major stakes winners as Best Pal, Marvin's Faith, Vying Victor, and Continental Red, the reigning California-bred horse of the year.

In coming months, Jory's personal all-star team could grow to include Just Parkin, who risks an unbeaten streak when he makes his stakes debut in Monday's $100,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar.

"I think he's the best horse I've had in a long time," Jory said.

Sat, 08/09/2003 - 00:00

Bare Necessities best

HENDERSON, Ky. - Bare Necessities, confidently handled by Rene Douglas, powered to a 5 1/4-length victory as the highweight and heavy favorite Saturday in the 22nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Gardenia Handicap, the annual highlight of the Ellis Park meet.

After settling about eight lengths off the early pace in the 1 1/8-mile race, Bare Necessities moved into contention in the final turn before Douglas cut her loose. Down the stretch, she took three cracks of the whip while pulling away to win in 1:50.09 over a fast track. She returned $2.80 to win.