HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Empire Maker finally lived up to all the hype that began before he had even run his first race as a 2-year-old. Saturday, he drew off to a devastating 9 3/4-length victory over the even-money favorite, Trust N Luck, and five other overmatched rivals in the $1 million . The winning margin was easily the largest in the 52-year history of the Grade 1 event.
Skip to main content
Create Your DRF Account
New to DRF?
Everything you could possibly
need in one place
need in one place
Register
Don't have an account?
Register Here
DRF Past Performances
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Affirmed Success, showing no signs of slowing down at age 9, won his second consecutive Toboggan Handicap on Saturday at Aqueduct.
Under Richard Migliore, Affirmed Success, the 8-5 favorite, caught the loose-on-the-lead Captain Red past the eighth pole for a length win over Peeping Tom, who closed for second after being in tight quarters in deep stretch. It was three-quarters of a length back to Captain Red in third in the $109,100 race.
Shaun Bridgmohan, Peeping Tom's rider, claimed foul against the winner, but the stewards took no action.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Bien Nicole, a specialist on turf with four stakes wins on that surface last year, proved to be as effective back on dirt Saturday when she drove to a 1 1/4-length win over Red n'Gold in the Grade 3, $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders' Cup.
It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to 2-5 favorite Mandy's Gold.
NEW ORLEANS - How quickly they forget.
Just two months ago, Distinctive Code won a high-end allowance at Fair Grounds by almost two lengths, but after finishing third Feb. 8 in the Pan Zareta Handicap, Distinctive Code started Saturday in the $100,000 Victoria Lass Handicap at 13-1.
That was way too high.
Distinctive Code pressed the fast pace of the longshot Cinnful Bride, took control of the race in midstretch, and held on easily for a 1 1/4-length win over Miss Lodi, the heavy favorite.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It seemed like trainer Bobby Frankel was looking for a reason not to send Medaglia d'Oro to Dubai for the $6 million Dubai World Cup. On Saturday morning, just hours before the horse was to ship, Frankel found one.
Medaglia d'Oro did not come out of a Friday workout at Hollywood Park as well as Frankel would have liked and therefore will not run in the Dubai World Cup on March 29 at Nad Al Sheba Race Course.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Champion Lodge, a minor handicap winner in England last year, won his graded stakes debut in Saturday's $250,000, Grade 2 San Luis Rey Handicap at Santa Anita.
For Champion Lodge, the conditions must have felt more like England than Southern California. The race was run on a cool rainy day over a yielding turf course. Champion Lodge ($16.20) ran the 1 1/2 miles in 2:33.48.
Owned by Ron Charles and Clear Valley Stables and trained by Sandy Shulman, Champion Lodge has won 6 of 24 starts and $301,804.
Fight for Ally, under strong urging from Curt Bourque, wore down front-running Stormy Impact to win the $40,000 Ides of March Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Ill.
Fight for Ally, the second choice in the field of seven, returned $6.60 to win. Fighting Indians, at 2-1 the slim favorite, rallied to finish third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Stormy Impact.
Fourth Floor, Meadowminer, Saquache, and Tommy Cat completed the order of finish.
A 6-year-old Indiana-bred horse, Fight for Ally is owned by Frank Calabrese and trained by Wayne Catalano.
NEW ORLEANS - Sunday's Explosive Bid Handicap, the last hurrah at Fair Grounds this winter, will send the major stakes portion of this meet out with a bang. As of Saturday, as many as 13 horses were being considered for the $650,000, Grade 2 Explosive Bid, with two or three Californians and perhaps four horses from Florida expected to ship in.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - When Jimmy Anderson was riding, he wasn't the type who attracted much attention. He didn't spend much time on the leader board in the jockey standings wherever he rode, but he was known as a rider who got the most from his opportunities. He was good with difficult horses, he was a good "project" rider, a guy who would spend time with a horse, working on problems or eccentricities - and when the money was on the line, Anderson could race ride with the best of them.