HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The series got away to a thrilling start when favored Madame Pietra prevailed in a tight three-horse photo in the opening race, the $250,000 .
Madame Pietra, based in California with trainer Howie Zucker, looped the field at the quarter-pole, then was all out to wear down Shameful by a neck. Chispiski was just another nose back in third, while Fly Me Crazy was fourth in the field of nine. The top four finishers are Florida-breds.
NEW ORLEANS - Oak Hill had been mentioned as a possible starter in Saturday's Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds, but late last week trainer Mike Mareina shook his head when asked if Oak Hill would run there.
"No," Mareina said, brightening. "There's an allowance Monday at 5 1/2 on grass. He should look pretty good in there."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Playing his standard game of catch-me-if-you-can, Crossing Point set a blistering pace and held on desperately in the final strides to defeat Say Florida Sandy in the $80,550 Paumonok Handicap at Aqueduct.
Sent off at odds-on in the six-furlong dash, the Maryland-based speedball Crossing Point set the pace on the inside while under hard pressure from 55-1 shot Unreal Party along the backstretch, as the pair went head-and-head through a quarter-mile in 21.74 seconds.
NEW ORLEANS - Post 11 is no man's land in a route race with short run to the first turn. Go for the lead and risk going too fast. Take back and risk a wide trip.
"You're damned if you do and damned if you don't," said jockey Shane Sellers.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Affluent closed from last to win the fourth Grade 1 race of her career in Saturday's $200,000 at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Alex Solis, Affluent ($7) challenged the heavily favored Sightseek in early stretch, and won by a half-length, finishing seven furlongs in 1:22.17.
Secret of Mecca, a 30-1 longshot, finished third in the field of seven fillies and mares.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - It's been that kind of meet at Tampa Bay Downs- record rainfall and cold temperatures, a forced cancellation of racing opening weekend, and competition from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their drive to the Super Bowl.
But, astonishingly, business hasn't been bad. If fact, buoyed by a 22 percent increase in overall handle, track management last week announced a 6 percent purse increase, and in spite of all the obstacles, business is booming.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Kona Gold has been down this road before. He's heavily favored, high weighted, and has nothing left to prove Sunday in the Grade 2 - other than that he is still the king sprinter of California.
Based on the slim margin of his last victory - a neck - Kona Gold's advantage is narrowing.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As scrambled as the 3-year-old division in south Florida seems to be this winter, the 3-year-old turf division also is up for grabs.
Nothing to Lose, winner of the Tropical Park Derby at Calder, probably is the nominal leader but is skipping Sunday's Dave Feldman Stakes at Gulfstream Park, presenting an opportunity for another horse to vault toward the top of the 3-year-old turf division.
NEW ORLEANS - There's no disputing that Lady Tak is fast. Trainer Steve Asmussen remembered that Lady Tak worked a furlong in 10.20 seconds at the 2-year-old sale where she was purchased last year. She ran six furlongs in 1:09 winning an allowance race at Churchill Downs, and six furlongs in 1:10 winning the Thelma Stakes here at Fair Grounds earlier this month. The Thelma earned her a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, a top-five figure this year among 3-year-olds of either sex.
ALBANY, Calif. - Six older fillies and mares seemingly better suited for turf will compete in Sunday's feature race at Golden Gate Fields.
The 1 1/16-mile allowance race was listed in the condition book for turf but instead was carded on the dirt as Golden Gate officials continue to deal carefully with the turf course, which was softened by rains earlier in the meet.
"That's not real bad news," said trainer Lloyd Mason, who is the trainer of Star of Beijing. "She runs well on the main track, but she also ran well on the turf."
