Supah Blitz showed both his class and versatility with an easy 4 3/4-length victory over The Name's Bond and three other 3-year-olds in Saturday's $50,000 Roman Brother Stakes at Calder in Miami. The Roman Brother was taken off the turf and switched to a sloppy main track following late morning showers.
The victory was the second straight for Supah Blitz since his 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. In his previous start, Supah Blitz won a second-level allowance race on the turf.
The long-absent Sing Me Back Home has been ready to run for about a month, but trainer Allen Iwinski had a difficult time finding a suitable race for the 5-year-old sprinter.
The $100,000 Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Handicap at Delaware Park turned out to be an ideal spot for Sing Me Back Home's comeback. Ridden by Jeremy Rose, Sing Me Back Home ($8.80) withstood a late rally by another comebacker, Deer Run, to score a 1 1/4-length victory.
Traffic Chief went right to the front and led every step of the way at Finger Lakes to win the $125,000 New York Derby for 3-year-olds foaled in New York the way a 3-5 shot should win - by a widening three lengths.
Go Rockin' Robin, the 5-2 second choice, tracked Traffic Chief from the gate to the turn for home in the 1 1/16-mile race, then flattened out, enabling Spite the Devil to gain the place spot. Traffic Chief, ridden by John Davila Jr. and trained Michael Hushion, ran the distance in 1:44.74 and paid $3.30.
In a repeat performance from a year ago, Ghostly Numbers ($5.20) went wire-to-wire to win the $50,000 Mister Diz Stakes at Laurel Park for a second time. Ridden by Rick Wilson for trainer Mike Trombetta, Ghostly Numbers covered 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.56 over a turf course labeled good.
Docent ($3), carrying the most weight of his career at 128 pounds, cruised to a three-length victory to extend his winning streak to four races in the $50,000 Iroquois Handicap at Philadelphia Park. It was the ninth stakes win in the last two seasons for Docent, a 5-year-old horse trained by Tim Ritchey and ridden by Stewart Elliott.
La Grande Mamma ($3.30) seized command on the turn before coasting to an easy victory in the $137,375 Nandi Stakes at Woodbine in Etobicoke, Ontario.
La Grande Mamma stalked longshot Always Hope through an opening quarter of 22.66 seconds in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired juvenile fillies. She assumed the lead before getting the half-mile split in 46.34, and then drew off in the stretch to prevail by four lengths.
Boozin Blonde finished a clear second, while My Vintage Port ended up third in the 10-horse field. The final time, over a muddy track, was 1:12.73.
DEL MAR, Calif. - It was not the time of Lil' Bro Eddie's workout on Saturday at Del Mar that pleased trainer Jeff Mullins the most.
Instead, it was the sounds that the 2-year-old stakes winner Lil' Bro Eddie did not make that pleased Mullins, as Lil' Bro Eddie trained for Wednesday's Graduation Stakes for California-breds.
Three weeks after undergoing surgery to aid his breathing, Lil' Bro Eddie worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds, and Mullins was relieved. "He never made a sound," Mullins said.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Dirty Diana proved on Friday that she is an outstanding 2-year-old filly who can pull away in the stretch.
After winning a maiden race by seven lengths at Hollywood Park in April, Dirty Diana finished a well-beaten fifth in the Cinderella Stakes on June 8. She returned in Friday's $125,000 California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes at Del Mar and led throughout to win by 8 1/2 lengths.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Dirty Diana ($6.20) ran the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.31, a stakes record.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - "Run the sucker.'
That's what trainer Bobby Frankel had to say Saturday morning after Empire Maker worked a sensational six furlongs in 1:12.03 over a fast Saratoga main track in preparation for next Sunday's Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy. The Jim Dandy will be Empire Maker's first start since he won the June 7 Belmont Stakes and will be his prep for the $1 million Travers here on Aug. 23. A year ago, Frankel won both those races with Medaglia d'Oro.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was Ocean Drive's maiden victory on closing day of the 2002 Saratoga meet that enabled trainer Todd Pletcher to win the trainers' title. On Monday, Ocean Drive can cap a sensational first week of the 2003 meet for Pletcher as he seeks to defend his crown.
Ocean Drive, who has won 5 of 6 career starts, figures to go off a strong favorite in the Grade 3, $100,000 Lake George Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. Although she is the most accomplished horse in the field, Ocean Drive will have to overcome post 12 on the Mellon Turf Course.
