Mon, 06/09/2003 - 00:00

Mynameischase keeps trainer in the game

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The situation is getting out of hand.

Mynameischase deserved his odds of 120-1 in a race he won here May 14. Two weeks later people shook their heads when he won again at 15-1, but they still didn't bet on him when he returned Sunday at Arlington. He won again, this time paying $38.40, and any adventurous soul who began betting Mynameischase last month is walking around with a momentous wad of cash. A $2 win parlay beginning with Mynameischase's first win would be worth more than $78,000.

Mon, 06/09/2003 - 00:00

Calhoun's 2-year-olds looking tough

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The strength of trainer Bret Calhoun's crop of 2-year-olds was on display Saturday when Next Bandit took the $142,930 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity here and Cactus Ridge won his career debut at Arlington Park. Both paid $9.40.

Sun, 06/08/2003 - 00:00

'Yogi' pulls upset in Cinderella Stakes

Benoit Photo
8-1 longshot Yogi's Polar Bear ($19) rallies from fourth to win by three lengths over Smoke Break.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Yogi's Polar Bear, appearing in her second stakes as a maiden, pulled an upset in Sunday's $84,975 at Hollywood Park.

After finishing second in a maiden race at Keeneland in April and the Nursery Stakes last month, Yogi's Polar Bear was dismissed at 8-1 in the Cinderella.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Wesley Ward, Yogi's Polar Bear ($19) rallied from fourth to win by three lengths over Smoke Break. Yogi's Polar Bear finished 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.57.

Sun, 06/08/2003 - 00:00

Too Late Now holds on in Oaks

Horsephotos
Too Late Now ($3.30) holds on to win the $500,000 Labatt Woodbine Oaks at Woodbine on Sunday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Too Late Now got a little late in deep stretch, but she held on bravely after a front-running journey to capture the $500,000 at Woodbine Sunday.

Too Late Now went right to the lead in the nine-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, and set fractions of :22.79 and :47.47 seconds while being pressed by Buffalo Jump. Seeking The Ring stalked in third until midway on the far turn, where Buffalo Jump broke down.

Sun, 06/08/2003 - 00:00

Tonight's Wager best in Monmouth Beach

Equi-Photo
Tonight's Wager with Dale Beckner riding wins the $60,000 Monmouth Beach Stakes.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Tonight's Wager uncorked a powerful rally around the final turn and drew away to a 4 1/2-length win Sunday afternoon in the $60,000 at Monmouth Park.

Ridden by Dale Beckner, Tonight's Wager posted her 26th win in 39 career starts.

The 5-year-old mare was a dominant force in Puerto Rico before arriving in the U.S. last fall. The Monmouth Beach, at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares, was her second win in six starts since joining the Bill Mott barn.

Sun, 06/08/2003 - 00:00

Shawklit Mint wires Vagrancy

ELMONT, N.Y. - Shawklit Mint took advantage of a scratch-depleted field and a muddy Belmont Park surface Sunday to record a front-running upset victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 .

Shine Again, the 7-10 favorite, finished second, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Gold Mover. Both are multiple graded stakes winners.

Sunday's victory was the first graded win for Shawklit Mint, a 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Air Forbes Won owned by Flatbird Stable and trained by Pat Reynolds.

Sun, 06/08/2003 - 00:00

Madame Pietra rallies to take Desert Stormer

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Madame Pietra won her fourth consecutive stakes in Saturday's $106,800 at Hollywood Park, a winning streak that trainer Howard Zucker wants to protect.

All of the wins have come in six-furlong sprints, leaving Madame Pietra unlikely to start in the $250,000 A Gleam Handicap at seven furlongs on July 13, Zucker said. Instead, she may be pointed for the $500,000 Princess Rooney Handicap over six furlongs at Calder on July 12.

Sat, 06/07/2003 - 00:00

Quero Quero captures Honeymoon

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Paulo Lobo continues to score upsets with 3-year-old fillies.

Last year, Farda Amiga won the Kentucky Oaks at 20-1. Saturday at Hollywood Park, Lobo won the $215, 950 with Quero Quero, who was sent off at 10-1.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Quero Quero won by a neck over an unlucky Atlantic Ocean, who was stuck in traffic on the final turn, led briefly in the stretch but could not hold off the winner.

Sat, 06/07/2003 - 00:00

Hollywood pick six carryover at $168,529

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Upsets in the late double on Saturday at Hollywood

Park have led to a carryover of $168,529 for Sunday's nine-race program.

The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races on Sunday, a sequence that includes one route on turf and five sprints on the main track. Here is a glance of the leading contenders and changes as of Saturday morning.

The fourth race is a six-furlong maiden race for fillies and mares.

Dhamma, a first-time starter trained by Bobby Frankel,and Sophisticatedbluff, a maiden after six races, are top contenders.

Sat, 06/07/2003 - 00:00

Next Bandit victorious in TTA Sales Futurity

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Next Bandit broke on top and sailed to a dominant, two and a half length win over Full Moons Arisin in the $142,930 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

It was another length and a quarter back in third to Joyjet.

Next Bandit($9.40) set fractions of 21.44 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.17 for the half-mile before finishing five furlongs for 2-year-olds in 57.28.