Sun, 07/13/2003 - 00:00

Funny Cide tops Haskell invitees

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide headlines the list of 26 horses extended invitations to the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3.

Trainer Barclay Tagg has targeted the Haskell as the gelding's first start since running third in the Belmont Stakes.

Monmouth also invited Belmont winner Empire Maker but trainer Bobby Frankel will likely decline the offer. Frankel will probably send Peace Rules, the winner of the Louisiana Derby and Blue Grass Stakes.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Full Moon Madness takes Robert Kerlan Memorial

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Returning from a yearlong layoff, Full Moon Madness won his fourth consecutive race, all in stakes, in Saturday's $91,800 Robert Kerlan Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr., Full Moon Madness ($11) stalked pacesetters De Valmont and Rocky Bar through fractions of 21.34 and 43.63 seconds before taking the lead in the final furlong.

Full Moon Madness, 8, finished 5 1-2 furlongs on turf in 1:02.19, holding off a late run from Sea to See. Ecstatic finished third in the field of six. Rocky Bar, the 5-2 favorite, finished last.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Bluegrass Sara captures Silver Spur

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Bluegrass Sara remained perfect in three career starts Saturday when she cruised to a six length win in the $75,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park.

Royal Pet finished second, two and a quarter lengths in front of third-place finisher Dee's Justice.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Shake You Down strong in Smile

Jean Raftery/Turfotos
Shake You Down, ridden by Mike Luzzi, blows away the field in the $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap, winning by 8 1/4 lengths.

MIAMI - Shake You Down solidified his standing as one of the premier sprinters in the country by winning the $500,000 by 8 1/4 lengths over Private Horde and 11 other speedsters on Saturday at Calder.

The $500,000 Smile for males, along with the $500,000 Princess Rooney for fillies and mares, topped Calder's $1.75 million Summit of Speed, which consisted of six stakes for sprinters.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Gold Mover does it again

Jean Raftery/Turfotos
Heavy favorite Gold Mover (inside) barely holds off Vision in Flight to win the $500,000 Princess Rooney on the $1.75 million Summit of Speed card.

MIAMI - A year ago, Gold Mover had to outfinish 1-2 favorite and reigning Eclipse Award winner Xtra Heat to win Calder's . On Saturday, Gold Mover had to work even harder to outlast 60-1 longshot Vision in Flight by a nose in the Grade 2, $500,000 Princess Rooney.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Valid Video impresses in Carry Back

Jean Raftery/Turfotos
Valid Video wins the Carry Back Stakes in Calder's Summit of Speed on Saturday.

MIAMI - Valid Video, ridden by Joe Bravo, gave New Jersey invaders their second winner on the Summit of Speed card, drawing off to an impressive 2 1/2-length victory over Cajun Beat in the $300,000 .

Valid Video rallied three wide to join the leaders into the stretch, edged clear, then held off Cajun Beat. Cajun Beat rallied down the middle of the track to easily finish second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of the fast-charging Super Fuse.

Halo Homewrecker, the 2-1 favorite, finished seventh in the Grade 3 sprint.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Ebony Breeze romps in Azalea

MIAMI - Ebony Breeze returned to the scene of her maiden win last fall to score the most important victory of her career, a 4 1/4-length romp over local favorite Storm Flag in the $300,000 .

Ebony Breeze, a 9 3/4-length winner in her only previous start at Calder in November, rushed to contention down the backstretch following a sluggish start in the Grade 3 Azalea. She overtook a tiring Storm Flag near midstretch and drew off. Storm Flag set demanding fractions of 21.59 and 44.81 seconds and outlasted Crafty Brat by 2 3/4 lengths to finish second.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Joe's Son Joey upsets Turf Sprint

MIAMI - Joe's Son Joey gave Bravo the first of his two winners on the Summit of Speed card, rallying from just off the pace to a 1 1/4-length victory over 22-1 Callthesheriff in the $100,000 Calder Turf Sprint Handicap.

Joe's Son Joey, making just his second start of the year, got a perfect trip, overtaking the dueling leaders near the eighth pole before edging clear in the final furlong. A son of Fast Play, Joe's Son Joey covered five furlongs in 55.63 seconds over a firm course and paid $16.80.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Bowling Green repeat

Adam Coglianese
For the second year in a row, Whitmore's Conn wins the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The Bowling Green did the trick and broke Whitmore's Conn's losing streak.

On Saturday, for the second year in a row, Whitmore's Conn won the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park. In between his Bowling Green wins, Whitmore's Conn lost seven consecutive starts.

Sat, 07/12/2003 - 00:00

Norman sets mark

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Cole Norman won his 96th race of the Lone Star Park meeting Friday night, breaking the track record for wins in a meet by a trainer. The meeting was to close Sunday.

The previous record of 95 wins was set last year by Steve Asmussen, who has won the past four training titles at Lone Star.

This year, Norman will win his first title at the track. He led Asmussen, who is serving a seven-day suspension for a medication infraction, 96 wins to 80 at the close of racing Friday.