Mon, 08/26/2002 - 00:00

Met Mile winner Exciting Story retires

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Exciting Story, victorious in last year's Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont, has been retired from racing, according to his trainer, Mark Casse.

"He's not going to run anymore," Casse said on Saturday. "We've got some people interested in him as a stallion prospect. There's a chance he could go overseas, but nothing is firm yet."

Exciting Story, owned by Mockingbird Farm, was crowned Canada's champion 2-year-old in 1999. He suffered a serious injury in his final start that year, in the Grade 1 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes.

Sun, 08/25/2002 - 00:00

Sabertooth takes Longacres Mile

Emerald Downs
Sabertooth and rider Nate Chaves are clear as they drive to the wire enroute to a 2 1/2-length upset win in Sunday's Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

AUBURN, Wash. - Unhearalded Sabertooth went to the front at the start and was never seriously challenged en route to a stunning 2 1/2 length victory in Sunday's 67th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 at Emerald Downs.

Sun, 08/25/2002 - 00:00

'The Judge' best in Oklahoma Derby

Reed Palmer Photography
The Judge Sez Who gets up in time under Cornelio Velasquez to take Sunday's Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Judge Sez Who rebounded from a heartbreaking loss in the West Virginia Derby with a determined, half-length win over favorite Easyfromthegitgo in the Grade 3, $296,500 at Remington Park on Sunday.

It was another head back in third to A.P. Five Hundred.

Sun, 08/25/2002 - 00:00

Came Home upsets Pacific Classic

Horsephotos
Came Home (far left) makes a four-wide sweep into the stretch on way to a 3/4-length upset victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Sunday at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Came Home, who has dominated 3-year-old racing on the West Coast this year, pulled an upset in Sunday's $1 million at Del Mar, a which was marred by a post-race injury to his entrymate Bosque Redondo.

Came Home ($23) beat 13 others including War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner. The even-money favorite, War Emblem led briefly in early stretch, but finished sixth, fading in the final furlong.

Sun, 08/25/2002 - 00:00

Shine Again does it again in Ballerina

Horsephotos
Shine Again overtook Raging Fever late to take Sunday's Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga by a half-length.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The sun rose again Sunday at Saratoga and Shine Again rose to the occasion again in the Grade 1 Handicap.

Duplicating her sterling performance in last year's Ballerina, Shine Again persevered through the stretch under Jean-Luc Samyn to run down the classy duo of Raging Fever and Mandy's Gold and win the $250,000 Ballerina by one-half length. Raging Fever, the 6-5 favorite, finished second, 1 1-4 lengths ahead of Mandy's Gold.

Sat, 08/24/2002 - 00:00

Dublino wins Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. - Dublino held off a late surge from Megahertz to win an epic running of the $300,000 on Saturday. At the finish, only a nose separated the two top 3-year-old turf fillies in California.

For Dublino, the victory avenged a disqualification in the American Oaks at Hollywood Park last month when she was demoted from first to second for intefering with runner-up Megahertz in the stretch.

Sat, 08/24/2002 - 00:00

Medaglia holds off Repent

Horsephotos
Medaglia d'Oro (right) and Repent battle to the wire in Saturday's Travers Stakes over a sloppy track. Their stretch duel helped brighten a day that was darkened by rain.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Medaglia d'Oro overcame the only obstacle his trainer felt he had by handling a sloppy track, then he turned back the late run of Repent to win Saturday's $1 million by a half-length on a raw, rainy day at Saratoga.

Repent, making his first start off a 140-day layoff, ran a strong race to be second, 7 1/2 lengths ahead of Nothing Flat. Like a Hero, Puzzlement, Quest, Gold Dollar, Saint Marden, and Shah Jehan completed the order of finish.

Sat, 08/24/2002 - 00:00

Gygistar gets trip in King's Bishop

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Owner Edward P. Evans and trainer Mark Hennig, the connections behind Grade 1 Personal Ensign winner Summer Colony on Friday, were back in the winner's circle 24 hours later with Gygistar, the winner of the $200,000 .

The Grade 1 King's Bishop, which topped the Travers undercard, featured eight 3-year-old sprinters after the scratch of Najran earlier in the day.

With his win in the King's Bishop, Gygistar is undefeated in five start this year, including four stakes.

Sat, 08/24/2002 - 00:00

Capsized earns elusive graded win

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Capsized, who had been 0 for 8 in graded stakes company, finally cleared that hurdle Saturday when the 6-year-old splashed his way to a 3 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 at sloppy Saratoga.

Scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf, the Fourstardave was moved to 1 1/8 miles on dirt due to heavy rains that pelted Saratoga all day long. Originally a Grade 2, the Fourstardave was automatically downgraded to a Grade 3 because of the surface switch. It could be reinstated pending review by the Graded Stakes Committee.

Sat, 08/24/2002 - 00:00

Double Cat lands in surprisingly tough Quill

Trainer Neil Drysdale may have thought he had found an easy spot for Double Cat to make her stakes debut in Tuesday's $55,000 Quill at Delaware Park. But the overnight stakes, which will be run at one mile on the turf, came up far tougher than Drysdale may have suspected.

Stakes winners Lady of the Future, Shag, and Rhum - all of whom have been posting Beyer Speed Figures in the mid-90's - are among the horses Double Cat must face in the Quill.