INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Recent losses by Waingarth have led trainer John Sadler to offer a simple assessment of the gelding's chances in Wednesday's seventh race at Hollywood Park.
"He's due," Sadler said.
The 5-year-old Waingarth has lost his last 12 starts, dating back to an optional claimer at Santa Anita in October 2001. This year, he has lost five starts, including a fourth-place finish in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-breds here on April 26.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Len Shoemaker is enjoying life these days.
Shoemaker, 54, has retired as a trainer, in part because of the frustrations and spiraling costs of the business. The money derived from the sale of his family's valuable 30-acre ranch in Clovis, near Fresno, played a factor in his decision.
"I don't have any regrets," said Shoemaker, who is skin diving in Mexico this week with friend and former trainer Fordell Fierce.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - El Prado Essence is back, and looking as good as ever at age 6.
A Kentucky-bred trained by Audre Cappuccitti, El Prado Essence racked up her second win in as many starts this meet last Sunday with a four-length score in the George C. Hendrie Handicap.
El Prado Essence had ended her 2002 campaign on an uncharacteristic down note, finishing fifth and seventh in her last two outings and prompting speculation that her racing career was over.
"When she ran the two bad races, everybody was calling," said Cappuccitti.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Silver Nithi, victorious in last year's Bison City Stakes, will launch her 2003 campaign in an $80,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares on Wednesday at Woodbine.
Silver Nithi came off her maiden win and finished a wide second to Ginger Gold on June 8 in the $500,000 Labatt Woodbine Oaks. She captured the July 1 Bison City at Fort Erie but never fired when she ran back 12 days later in the Wilderness Song Stakes.
CALGARY, Alberta - A rare stakes doubleheader, necessitated by the cancellation of Saturday's card due to rain and snow, produced no surprises here Sunday as Raylene ($3.80) won the Mount Royal Handicap and Taiaslew ($3.60) took the President's Handicap.
Raylene, champion of her division in Alberta last year, opened her campaign with a 6 1/4-length victory over second-place finisher Whataweekend under patient handling by leading rider Dave Wilson. Raylene faced only four others in the $40,000 race for 3-year-old fillies.
ELMONT, N.Y. - For the second straight day at Belmont Park, trainer Allen Jerkens won a graded stakes with a mare who rallied from last in a four-horse field to beat an odds-on favorite trained by Richard Dutrow Jr.
Sunday, Shine Again came from just off the pace to win the Grade 2, $150,000 Genuine Risk Handicap by four lengths over 3-5 favorite Carson Hollow. On Saturday, House Party split horses in upper stretch to win the Grade 2 Nassau County Breeders' Cup Handicap by three lengths over 3-5 shot Cyber Secret.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Under Mike Rowland, odds-on favorite Waist Gunner John rallied five wide on the turn and won the $35,000 Quick Step Handicap. Heat Seeker, 38-1, was close up all the way and finished 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner and 2 1/2 lengths in front of the third-place finisher, Wirebender.
Waist Gunner John ($4.80), owned and trained by Chuck Kovach, ran six furlongs in 1:11.88 over a drying-out racetrack.
Total Impact won his first stakes in the U.S. with a perfect trip in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap.
A Group 1 stakes winner in Chile in 2001, Total Impact had finished second in the San Bernardino Handicap at Santa Anita last month.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Total Impact ($6.60) won the Grade 2 Mervyn LeRoy by two lengths and ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.88.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - One bettor had a winning ticket to collect a $333,706.80 pick-six payoff at Bay Meadows on Sunday.
The winning ticket, which was purchased at Bay Meadows, had Warehouse Ed ($9.40), Tiger Slew ($17.40), Ar Jay ($9), Catscape ($12.60), Woody Haze ($11.80) and Timetoknowyou ($3.20).
It was the largest individual payoff at Bay Meadows since Frank Judson cashed a lone ticket for a $1,132,466 payoff on Dec. 13, 1985.
There were 105 consolation tickets with five winners. The consolation paid $811.20.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Wacky Patty remained unbeaten after two starts with a two-length win in the $81,750 Nursery Stakes, the first stakes of the season for 2-year-old fillies in Southern California.
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Wacky Patty ($4.20) was always near the leaders. Starting from the rail, she was a half-length behind Car Lady in the first 100 yards, took control before the field left the backstretch and overcame a challenge from Yogi's Polar Bear, who held second.