Sun, 11/10/2002 - 00:00

Jenny's Prospector wins Hoosier Debutante

Anderson, Ind. - Jenny's Prospector made her stakes debut a huge success with a 1 3/4 length win in Saturday's evening's $103,700 Hoosier Debutante on a night that catered to the ladies.

Ridden top apprentice John McKee, Jenny's Prospector saved ground through the turn of the six furlong event and ran down pacesetter Wildcat Annie through midstretch to score in 1:11.50 over a fast track. Hurry Home, tracking the pace in second through much of the race, gained second, a neck in front of Wildcat Annie.

Sun, 11/10/2002 - 00:00

Queen Kelly best in Southern Belle

Bossier City, La. - Queen Kelly, a convincing maiden winner in her last start, made it two straight in Saturday's Southern Belle Stakes, defeating four fellow Louisiana-bred juvenile fillies under patient handling by Chadra Rennie. Rubies N Roses finished in the runner up position for the third race in a row, including the Laurel Lane Stakes in her previous start. Pacesetter Itsmybag tired through the stretch to finish third followed by Top Her.

Sun, 11/10/2002 - 00:00

Handle increases at Bay Meadows

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The total average daily handle for Bay Meadows increased 0.6 percent during the 50-day fall meet thanks to an 8.2 percent increase in Northern California off-track wagers, including advance deposit wagering.

On-track handle declined by 7.5 percent, while out-of-state handle declined by 1.9 percent.

On-track attendance fell by 2.9 percent, the bulk of which came from a 53.8 percent drop on the first three Fridays of the meeting when day cards were substituted for night cards.

Sun, 11/10/2002 - 00:00

Sentimental Value takes Matiara

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A victory on a wet Saturday at Hollywood Park may lead to a new career for Sentimental Value.

Making her first start on the main track, Sentimental Value romped over a wet-fast track to win the $125,000 Matiara Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies.

Trainer Kristin Mulhall did not hesitate to keep Sentimental Value in the Matiara when the race was removed from the turf.

"This was the perfect excuse to try it," Mulhall said. "She worked unbelievably on it. I think she gets along on the dirt better."

Sun, 11/10/2002 - 00:00

Halo Cat captures Albany Handicap

ALBANY, Calif. - Halo Cat ($7.40), part of a three-way pace duel early, took over in the stretch and pulled away from a strong field in the $63,650 Albany Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 00:00

Softly springs $49 upset in Distaff

Horsephotos
Softly (left) rolls by Bare Necessities to win the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff on Saturday.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Carl Nafzger, whose high-profile stable is having a terrific fall, won another major race Saturday when Softly rallied for a 23-1 upset in the $223,600, Grade 2 .

Softly, ridden by Jon Court, capitalized on a swift pace in the one-mile Distaff, coming from eighth in a field of nine fillies and mares. The outcome was in doubt until the final yards, when Softly surged ahead to win by a neck over Bare Necessities, a California invader who got a great trip under Jose Valdivia Jr.

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 00:00

'Champagne' toast of 10th

PORTLAND, Ore. - Champagne Til Dawn heads a disparate cast of six in the featured 10th race on Monday's Veterans Day program at Portland Meadows, a one-mile allowance for horses who have never won two races other than maiden or claiming.

The field includes two fillies, and its runners range in age from 3 to 8, but fans will have little difficulty finding the likely favorite, Champagne Til Dawn.

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 00:00

Vibes is unlikely Cilio ace

STICKNEY, Ill. - With at least one horse for each of the six Illinois-bred, $100,000 stakes races Saturday at Hawthorne, trainer Gene Cilio was positioned for a momentous day. But after being disqualified from a win in the first stakes and losing in the next three, Cilio's hopes had grown as wan as the late-afternoon Chicago light.

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 00:00

This round goes to Clement

MIAMI - The friendly rivalry between trainers Christophe Clement and his Payson Park neighbor Bill Mott continued Saturday when Clement pulled off a mild upset with Madeira Mist, who defeated Mott's 1-2 favorite, Maliziosa, in the $38,465 Good Intentions Stakes at Calder Race Course.

Sat, 11/09/2002 - 00:00

Favored Babae pulls it off

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Class prevailed at Aqueduct on Saturday as 8-5 favorite Babae took command around the far turn and held off the late charge of Strawberry Blonde to win the Grade 3 by three-quarters of a length.

It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Silver Rail in third.

It was the second year in a row that Babae won the Athenia, and the fourth consecutive year that jockey Jorge Chavez won the race, which was worth $116,700.