Mon, 11/25/2002 - 00:00

A roller-coaster weekend for Ross

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer John Ross's experiences in the weekend's stakes races at Woodbine capsulized the highs and lows of the racing game.

Saturday, Ross watched Mister Coop, a 3-year-old gelding whom he trains for the R.M.C. Stable of Syd and Richard Cooper, finish a distant last of six as the even-money favorite in the $128,625 Sir Barton.

"When the horse came out of the gate, he overreached himself," said Ross. "He tore a piece of his foot off, and tore his shoe off. I was really disappointed; it was just bad racing luck."

Mon, 11/25/2002 - 00:00

Comic Truth captures Jean Lafitte Stakes

Vinton, La. - Comic Truth, who left Florida back in July with only a maiden claiming win to show from four starts, picked up this third stakes victory since coming under trainer Cole Norman's care by capturing the $75,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes Sunday night. Mr. Decatur finished two lengths back in second followed by another Norman charge, Gentlemen J J.

Sun, 11/24/2002 - 00:00

Figueroa, Buddy Gil win first stakes

ALBANY, Calif. - Buddy Gil ($16.60), sitting closer to the pace than expected, won the $65,600 Golden Bear Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday, providing jockey Omar Figueroa with his first stakes victory.

Buddy Gil, who won a one-mile maiden race in his previous start, wore down early leaders Gray Jag and Timely Jeff to win the six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds by 7.5 lengths. The winning time was 1:10.64.

Sun, 11/24/2002 - 00:00

Brattothecore best in Ontario Lassie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Brattothecore mowed down the dueling favorites in the stretch under Jake Barton to post a mild upset in Sunday's $160,200 Ontario Lassie Stakes at Woodbine.

Brattothecore, who had won her only previous race in a $62,500 sprint, raced five lengths off the early pace in the mile and a sixteenth event for 2-year-old fillies. Favored Santerra and Deputy Cures Blues battled through rapid fractions, before Brattothecore commenced her rally on the far turn.

Sun, 11/24/2002 - 00:00

Cee's Elegance wins Cat's Cradle

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Cee's Elegance broke an 11-race losing streak to win her first stakes in Sunday's $107,400 Cat's Cradle Handicap for California-bred fillies and mares at Hollywood Park.

Sent off at 5-1, Cee's Elegance had an ideal trip under jockey Victor Espinoza, a replacement for David Flores, who was late returning from a weekend in Japan.

Cee's Elegance ($13.40) chased pacesetter Hadl on the backstretch, took the lead on the turn and pulled clear to win by four lengths.

Sun, 11/24/2002 - 00:00

Velasquez wins six: Equals Calder record

MIAMI, Fla. - Jockey Cornelio Velasquez tied a Tropical at Calder record by winning six races on Sunday's program.

Velasquez joined Jacinto Vasquez, Rene Douglas and Javier Castellano, all of whom won six races on a single card during the Tropical meet.

Sun, 11/24/2002 - 00:00

American Pastime wins KLAQ Handicap

Saturday afternoon's $50,000-added KLAQ Handicap looked like a good race on paper and the results were not disappointing. Abajo, the 3-2 favorite with Garrett Gomez up, bid along the rail late on the turn and opened a seemingly insurmountable lead by midstretch. However, Ricardo Jaime, aboard American Pastime, was just getting his mount rolling. Jaime had moved up from well off the rail on the turn but saw an opening toward the inside nearing the stretch and went for it.

Sat, 11/23/2002 - 00:00

Sligo Bay captures Hollywood Turf Cup

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A vacation and a move to longer races has rejuvenated the career of Sligo Bay.

Sligo Bay ended an eight-race losing streak in an allowance race last month at Santa Anita, his first start in four months. On Sunday, he stamped himself as a horse to follow in distance turf stakes with a convincing win in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, his first score in a Grade 1 race.

Sat, 11/23/2002 - 00:00

Global Finance scores stakes repeat

ALBANY, Calif. - Global Finance ($13.40), who won the Bam's Penny Stakes in her previous start, rallied from off the pace to win the $71,000 Piedmont Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Sat, 11/23/2002 - 00:00

Evening Attire flashy in win

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Evening Attire's wins the Red Smith, enabling trainer Pat Kelly to spend Thanksgiving at home.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - In what amounted to little more than a public workout, Evening Attire cruised to an eight-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 before a crowd of 5,736 at blustery Aqueduct.

Fisher Pond overtook pacemaker Pleasant Breeze to get second by one length. Polish Miner, Classic Par, and Chasin' Wimmin completed the order of finish.