SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Sunland Park will offer dramatically higher overnight purses and an improved stakes program when it begins its 80-day 2002-2003 season Tuesday.
Now home to 700 slot machines, Sunland will offer $200,000 a day in purses, up from approximately $135,000 last year. The stakes program has been bolstered considerably, with new races, higher purses, and bonuses tied to major stakes.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Owner Gary Tanaka and trainer Harro Remmert won the Long Island Handicap two years ago with the German-bred 3-year-old filly Moonlady. They did it again in Saturday's running of the Grade 2 , winning with Uriah, another 3-year-old German-bred filly.
On a turf course rated soft because of rain, Uriah split horses under Norberto Arroyo Jr. in deep stretch to win the $150,000 Long Island Handicap by a nose over Sunstone.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Whether in Florida or California, at Calder, Santa Anita and now Hollywood Park, Puxa Saco has been perfect in sprints. She ran her sprint record to 4-for-4 on Saturday, rallying to capture the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes.
As she had done in her three previous sprints, Puxa Saco settled just off the early pace, then unleashed a determined rally. She collared pacesetting Watching You midway through the seven-furlong race, and drew away to win by two lengths.
ANDERSON, Ind. - Indy Fire won her stakes debut in Friday night's $73,650 Miss Indiana Stakes after 3-10 favorite Hurricane Hebe hit the rail in the stretch while on her way to an apparent victory.
Hurricane Hebe was four lengths in front leaving the furlong marker, while Indy Fire and Miss Dakota moved as a team in what looked to be a duel for second place. But Hurricane Hebe suddenly shortened stride and lugged in at the sixteenth pole, and then faded to seventh.
Saturday's 10-race card at Woodbine was cancelled due to unsafe conditions. Cold weather helped create a track littered with hard balls of frozen dirt, which could have been detrimental to both horse and rider.
Racing was slated to resume Sunday. Saturday's feature, the $135,625 Display Stakes for 2-year-olds, was rescheduled for Wednesday night's card, which will also include the Classy 'N Smart Stakes.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Super Fuse lit the tote board while raising the antennae of bloodstock agents around the country when he won his maiden at odds of 33-1 at Calder on Aug. 3, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 99.
Though a potential deal to sell the colt to the powerhouse connections of owner Edmund Gann and trainer Bobby Frankel fell through, owner Chris Thomas Olrick and trainer Richard Ciardullo Jr. hope racing the colt will bring them a significant windfall.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The last time Pisces raced at Churchill Downs, he may have become one of the most overlooked winners in stakes history at this track.
That's because Pisces was "kissed in" to a dead-heat win in a highly adventurous running of the Louisville Handicap in June. Pisces was declared a co-winner of the race with Classic Par after they dead-heated for second behind longshot Two Point Two Mill, who was disqualified from first for causing a rival to nearly fall in the stretch run.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Fall is the time of year when many fillies and mares reach their peak. Feathers is a prime example. She won her first stakes in November 2000 in the Bessarabian Handicap, a race in which she finished second last year.
Feathers should be well backed in Sunday's renewal of the Grade 3 Bessarabian at Woodbine while coupled in a Ralph Biamonte-trained entry with Miss Sweep.
The seven-furlong stakes has also lured the Elliott Walden-trained, WinStar Farm-owned entry of Madame Red and Victory at Sea, who could be favored in the $166,800 race.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Rolly Polly cuts it awfully close. Unbeaten in four turf sprints in the United States, Rolly Polly's average margin of victory is about a half-length, including two wins by a nose. Is she lucky, talented, or both?
"She's been lucky, she gets up at the right time. A lot of those, they get beat," trainer Bobby Frankel said.
