Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Lone speed Quest Star upsets

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Quest Star was left as the lone speed after Serial Bride was scratched during the post parade for Saturday's $200,000 at Gulfstream Park. Both he and jockey Edgar Prado made the most of the opportunity, leading throughout to post a 1 3/4-length victory over 3-5 favorite Man From Wicklow in the Grade 2 turf race.

Quest Star covered 1 1/2 miles in 2:04.35 seconds over a firm course and paid $11.80 as the second choice in the scratch-reduced field of nine older turf specialists.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

'Castle,' Puzzlement breeze easily

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Spring may have officially begun Friday but it's been like summertime in south Florida for several weeks. That fact was not lost on trainers Frank Alexander and Allen Jerkens when they sent their Gulfstream Park Handicap candidates Windsor Castle and Puzzlement out to work on another hot, steamy morning here Saturday.

Windsor Castle breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02.40, while Puzzlement worked an even easier mile, although officially credited with six furlongs in 1:19.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

One turn best for 'Secret'

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though Cyber Secret won a stakes race around two turns earlier this winter, her connections believe she is more effective around one turn. Saturday, they were proven correct as Cyber Secret ran her best race to date, winning the Grade 3, $108,300 Cicada Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths before a crowd of 6,003 at Aqueduct.

Roar Emotion, the 4-5 favorite, finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Boxer Girl. Ladyecho, Southern Smoke, and Leniently completed the order of finish.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Devine Wind just blowing through town

NEW ORLEANS - Devine Wind has left California, his home throughout his racing career, and will spend this summer at Delaware Park with trainer Scott Hansen. But that doesn't mean he can't do some racing along the way. Devine Wind was entered in Monday's featured ninth race at Fair Grounds, a third-level turf sprint allowance with a $75,000 claiming option.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Zarb's Music handles turf far better than 3-5 favorite

NEW ORLEANS - Zarb's Music took to turf racing as surely as favored Witt Ante rejected it and won the $100,000 Gentilly Handicap on Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Norman sets Oaklawn record

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Cole Norman broke the record for trainer wins in a season at Oaklawn Park on Saturday when he won the first race with 6-5 favorite Meckenized. It was the 51st win at the meet for Norman, who surpassed the 50 races won in 1974 by David Vance.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Sterling, Reavis remain red hot

Jockey Larry Sterling Jr. and trainer Michael Reavis extended their Hawthorne winning streaks to 16 days on Saturday by combining to win the ninth race with Big Stew, who paid $3.20. Sterling and Reavis have won at least one race a day since the Hawthorne meet opened March 1.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Day's five wins include three stakes

FLORENCE, Ky. - If only because Lane's End Stakes day is the biggest of the year at Turfway Park, Saturday was quite an opportune time for Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day to come within one win of the track record for most wins on a single program.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

Castanon closes in on Judice

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Jesus Castanon just won't go away. When Joe Judice spurted to the front in the jockeys' race not long ago it looked like the battle for leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs was all but over. But someone forgot to tell Castanon.

Sat, 03/22/2003 - 00:00

36-1 bomb Crowned King nails Great Notion

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Crowned King, a 36-1 longshot, ran down 3-5 favorite Great Notion late to win the at Oaklawn Park by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday. It was another two lengths back in third to Comic Truth.

Great Notion broke out at the start of the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds, and raced wide on the first turn before getting the lead through an opening quarter-mile in 23 seconds. He set the pace until deep stretch before being passed by Crowned King.