Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Kafwain focuses, then flies

Horsephotos
Kafwain romps in the San Vicente, a performance jockey Victor Espinoza and trainer Bob Baffert credit to a change from 'cheaters' to conventional blinkers.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bob Baffert tweaked Kafwain's blinkers, and the view has never been better.

Far more focused than in previous starts, Kafwain easily disposed of four rivals in Saturday's $150,000 at Santa Anita, winning by 4 1/2 lengths to add further depth to Baffert's Kentucky Derby arsenal.

Kafwain, last after a quarter-mile, moved four paths wide on the turn to swoop past the leaders, then drew clear under a confident ride by Victor Espinoza. Sum Trick, an invader from Sunland Park, finished second after participating in a torrid pace duel.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Gal O Gal rides hedge to victory

Bill Denver/EquiPhotos
Gal O Gal, who was given a ground-saving ride by Chris DeCarlo, pulls away from Formal Miss in the stretch of Saturday's Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gal O Gal launched her racing career last summer running for an $18,500 claiming tag at Colonial Downs. Less than seven months later she became a graded stakes winner after running down Formal Miss en route to a half-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Powerful Touch to miss Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Powerful Touch, second behind Offlee Wild in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, will not get the opportunity to avenge that defeat in the Grade 1 Fountain of Youth Stakes after bruising his right hind foot.

"He's already missed several days of training and one work," trainer Ken McPeek said on Saturday. "I wanted to take more time to let him develop anyway and I'm a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Right now, I'm just going to back off him and let everything settle down and then point for a race during the spring."

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Laurel: Boxer Girl KO's 'em

Boxer Girl raced in tandem with 4-5 favorite Coquettish around the turn and powered away at the eighth pole to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 Jameela Stakes at Laurel Park. Wonderous Woman closed on the inside to finish second and Coquettish finished third in the race for Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Boxer Girl, trained by Michael Zwiesler and ridden by Oliver Castillo, paid $5.60 and completed the seven furlongs in 1:24.83.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Turfway: Champali does the expected

Champali continued his domination of the 3-year-olds who stayed in Kentucky for the winter by posting an easy victory in the $50,000 WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Champali, ridden by Jason Lumpkins, put away longshot Cajun Brogue in the final turn of the one-mile WEBN, then drew away to finish 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Chicken Soup Kid. Champali returned $3.40 and completed the distance in 1:40.51 over a fast track.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Oaklawn: Beau's Town still king

Jim Linscott / Coady Photography
Beau's Town ($5) and Anthony Lovato cross the finish easy 4 1/4-length winners of Saturday's $50,000 King Cotton at Oaklawn Park.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Beau's Town remained perfect at Oaklawn Park, leading throughout to win the before a crowd of 18,132. Honor Me finished 4 1/4 lengths back in second, and Padlock was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third.

Cojet, who was a slight favorite over Beau's Town, finished fifth.

Beau's Town ($5) took the lead soon after the start in the King Cotton and ran the opening quarter of the six-furlong race in 21.40 seconds with Cojet in close pursuit. Beau's Town led the field through a half-mile in 45.10, and held Honor Me at bay through the stretch.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Lindsay Jean gets winning trip

ALBANY, Calif. - Lindsay Jean benefited from a perfect trip to win the Grade 3 $100,000 Brown Bess Handicap with ease Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

The 5-year-old Lindsay Jean sat behind pacesetting Neon Queen, took command entering the stretch, and was never challenged. She won the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares by 1 1/2 lengths over late-closing Bush Triumph, who edged favored Crazy Ensign for second by a nose. She paid $15.40 and was timed in 1:44.35 over a yielding course.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Robledo upsets Siberland

Kevin Coady
Robledo ($6.00) outduels Siberland in the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby on Saturday for his third win in six starts.

PHOENIX - The $100,000 Saturday was supposed to be a coronation that sent local hero Siberland off to bigger and better things with an eye on the Kentucky Derby. But apparently no one told Robledo.

Robledo, a Southern California shipper trained by Vladimir Cerin, wore down Siberland, the 1-5 favorite, and posted a three-quarter-length decision under David Flores.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Century City scores first U.S. win

Kevin Coady
Century City ($7.40) blasts by Irish Warrior to win by a neck in the $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday.

PHOENIX - Century City, who about a year ago was rubbing elbows with the likes of Rock of Gibraltar, but who had been a bit disappointing in three U.S. starts for new trainer Beau Greely, found a hole in midstretch and blasted through to win Saturday's $150,000 . Ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., Century City's late surge outdid potential upsetter Irish Warrior by a neck.

Sat, 02/01/2003 - 00:00

Alexander starting to hit stride

OLDSMAR, Fla. - It was only a $5,000 claiming sprint, but when Pedro Rodriguez guided Unseen Power up the rail for a length win Friday, the folks over at the Bruce Alexander barn could breath a little easier.

Alexander came into this meet with some new clients, new runners, and was optimistic about his chances for success. But coming into Friday's race, he had won just three races from 25 starts. Now a 12 percent winning rate isn't terrible, but when you are used to winning 20 to 30 percent of your races, it's cause for concern.