Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Night Patrol upsets Oak Tree Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Night Patrol may have earned the respect of bettors following his upset win in Saturday's $250,000 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

After losing three stakes in the last five months following a win in the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap last May, Night Patrol won his richest race in the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile, holding off the late rally of Kachamandi and Nicobar.

The victory moved him into the picture for the Breeders' Cup Mile at Arlington Park on Oct. 26, though trainer Nick Canani stopped short of saying he was a definite.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Arlington: Twilite Tryst scores

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - A hot apprentice here two summers ago, Zoe Cadman has struggled to win races at Arlington this year. Things would be different if she could ride Twilite Tryst all the time.

Cadman gets the most out of Twilite Tryst, and a perfect ride helped the filly post an easy 1 1/2-length win in Arlington's $42,000 Top Corsage Handicap.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Calder: Chispiski goes wire to wire

MIAMI - Chispiski led throughout to post her second straight stakes victory, a 3 3/4-length decision over Fly Me Crazy and four other older rivals in the $75,000 U Can Do It Handicap at Calder

Chispiski ($7.20), the only 3-year-old in the field, broke alertly and quickly sped to a clear lead under regular rider Julio Garcia while setting lively fractions of 21.92 and 45.11 seconds. Chispiski turned back a bid from Fly Me Crazy entering the stretch, and then gradually increased her advantage despite appearing to tire a bit in the final furlong.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Smok'n Frolic wakes up at Philly Park

In four starts this season, Smok'n Frolic hadn't come close to resembling the filly who won a pair of graded stakes and more than $340,000 last year.

Winless since last November, Smok'n Frolic ($20.80) regained her good form Saturday at Philadelphia Park, where she drew off to a 2 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $250,000 for 3-year-old fillies.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Kalookan Queen conquers all comers

ARCADIA, Calif. - Kalookan Queen might want to make a habit of racing against males. For the second time in as many starts this year, Kalookan Queen beat the boys, scoring a mild upset on Saturday in the Grade 1, $207,875 at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

Her victory came at the direct expense of Swept Overboard, the race's defending champion, who could only manage to finish fourth in his first start since taking the Metropolitan Handicap in May.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Storm Flag Flying takes Frizette in stride

ELMONT, N.Y. - With a professional-looking win in Saturday's $500,000 at Belmont Park, Storm Flag Flying heads to the Breeders' Cup the favorite for the Juvenile Fillies at Arlington Park on Oct. 26.

Storm Flag Flying, the 3-5 favorite in the seven-horse field of 2-year-old fillies, was a two-length winner over Santa Catarina. It was another 11 1/4 lengths back to Appleby Gardens in third.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Green Fee hits big in Kelso

ELMONT, N.Y. - It wasn't until the final day of nominations that trainer Dan Peitz thought about pointing Green Fee to Saturday's $350,000 . His last-minute decision paid off big-time as Green Fee rallied past even-money favorite Forbidden Apple to win the Grade 2 Kelso by a half-length at Belmont Park.

Forbidden Apple, who was bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive Kelso victory, settled for second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Moon Solitaire. Krieger, Baptize, Patrol, and Lunar Leo completed the order of finish.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Toccet: Toast of Champagne

ELMONT, N.Y. - Toccet joined the list of contenders for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Saturday by rallying up the rail past a tiring Icecoldbeeratreds to win the Grade 1, $500,000 by 1 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park.

Icecoldbeeratreds, who opened up a 1 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole, finished second, three lengths ahead of Erinsouthernman. Pretty Wild, the 6-5 favorite, never threatened in finishing fourth. Cape Good Hope, Brancusi, Outer Reef, Desert Warrior, and Risky Cat completed the order of finish.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Woodbine: Dream Launcher romps

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dream Launcher ($14.90) kept his unbeaten record at 1 1/8 miles intact with a decisive 4 3/4-length triumph over Parose in the $164,850 Durham Cup Handicap at Woodbine.

Jockey Richard Dos Ramos wrangled Dream Launcher just off the early pace in the Grade 3 event, and they ended up pressing fractions of 23.65 and 47.27 seconds set by Captain Wallstreet. Dream Launcher assumed command on the far turn, opened up a substantial lead at the top of the stretch, and coasted home on top in a final time of 1:52.45.

Sat, 10/05/2002 - 00:00

Bay Meadows: Stoney closes strongly

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Surveying the field for the $100,000 California Sprint Championship at Bay Meadows, trainer Ruben Cardenas told jockey Russell Baze to keep Stoney off what he expected to be an extremely fast pace. He never expected to be last early, however.

Stoney ($4.40) rallied in the stretch, catching El Dorado Shooter inside the sixteenth pole, and pulled away for a 1 1/2-length victory in the six-furlong race for Cal-breds. Winning time for the six furlongs was 1:08.44.