Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

La. Downs: Doctor Mike in a photo

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Doctor Mike won a three-way photo in a four-horse field Friday in the $50,000 Kings Court Stakes at Louisiana Downs. It was a nose back in second to Front Nine, who finished a neck clear of 3-5 favorite That Tat.

Doctor Mike ($7.60) settled behind early leaders That Tat and Front Nine, who dueled through an opening quarter in 22.84 seconds. Front Nine took over midway on the turn of the six-furlong race, and though That Tat came back in the stretch, neither could hold off the late rush of Doctor Mike.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Spring Meadow holds class edge

Spring Meadow, a graded stakes winner in Southern California last winter, returns to the East Coast for the first time in more than nine months in Monday's $55,000 Local Thriller Stakes at Delaware Park.

A 4-year-old filly trained by Bob Hess Jr., Spring Meadow has been facing some of the best older female sprinters in California and Kentucky, including Sightseek and Got Koko. She was good enough to win the Grade 3 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita in February.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

'Ichiban' favored in fair's feature

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Seven 3-year-olds will compete in Monday's six-furlong feature at the Alameda County Fair.

Ichiban Duc looms as the likely favorite in the $40,000 optional claimer on a day when the track will offer the only racing in California.

Ichiban Duc has won 2 of 3 lifetime starts, including a race at this level in his last start on May 26. He has a pair of five-furlong works since that victory, including a bullet 1:01.40 drill on June 10.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Quick Blue comes north again

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine horseplayers should be wary whenever trainer Linda Rice ships Quick Blue north of the border.

Quick Blue's first successful Ontario raid came in the 2001 Bison City Stakes at Fort Erie, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara. She led throughout that 1 1/16-mile event, which came on the heels of her solid third-place finish in the Labatt Woodbine Oaks.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

With no Briara, 'Heir' is favored

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Briar Hill Farm's Regal Heir will be the lukewarm favorite here Tuesday in the $35,000 Canada Day Stakes, where she appears to be the dominant speed among seven fillies and mares going a mile.

Trained by Sid Martin, Regal Heir finished second in her last start, beaten four lengths by the heavily favored Briara in the six-furlong LaVerendrye Stakes on June 14. Regal Heir won't see that rival on Tuesday, however - Briara recently bowed a tendon and already has a breeding date set with Mr. Greeley.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Bien Nicole best in Honeymoon

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Bien Nicole was prominent throughout for a length and a quarter win over Naturally Wild in the $50,000 Honeymoon Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Saturday.

It was another length and a quarter back in third to Due To Win Again.

Bien Nicole($3.80) broke well, and settled in a stalking position behind Delray Dew until that one bore out in the first turn. Due To Win Again inherited the lead from there, racing about a half-length in front of Bien Nicole.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Summer Colony rallies from last to first

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Summer Colony and Gary Stevens win the $300,000 Grade II Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap at Monmouth Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Summer Colony, the overwhelming favorite, rallied on the final turn and drew clear to a three-length victory Saturday afternoon in the Grade 2, $300,000 at Monmouth Park.

Summer Colony paid $2.80 to win with Gary Stevens aboard for trainer Mark Hennig. She ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.83 over a fast track.

The highweight in the field at 120 pounds, Summer Colony was last in the field of four through the opening half-mile.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Heckle leads throughout

ELMONT, N.Y. - Heckle made amends for his fourth-place finish as the favorite in last month's Three Chimneys Juvenile on Kentucky Derby Day by running six rivals off their feet to win Saturday's Grade 3, $110,200 by 3 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.

Adage, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, rallied up the rail to get second by one length over stablemate Hasslefree. Pretty Wild Again, Korsakoff, 6-5 favorite Best to Be King, and Snow Eagle completed the order of finish.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Lismore Knight along in time

Benoit & Associates
J. J. Pletcher's Lismore Knight saved ground early and angled out for the drive en route to a three-quarter length victory in the Grade II $175,000 Arlington Classic, presented by Woodford Reserve, Saturday at Arlington Park.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Everyone forgot to keep Remind honest on the lead, but Lismore Knight still nailed him in deep stretch to win the $175,000 Saturday at Arlington.

Remind, a tough front-runner from the Bill Mott barn, waltzed through most of the Grade 3 Classic unchallenged. But under a wonderful ride from Rene Douglas, Lismore Knight ($6.40) saved ground on both turns, knifed between horses coming into the stretch, and ran down Remind late to win by three-quarters of a length. Good Day Too finished another half-length back in third.

Sat, 06/28/2003 - 00:00

Harthill, Scherer fined $2,500 each

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Veterinarian Dr. Alex Harthill and trainer Merrill Scherer on Saturday were fined $2,500 apiece after the Churchill Downs stewards determined that the men had violated regulations concerning the administration of a pre-race Lasix injection.