Mon, 08/12/2002 - 00:00

Coa sets his sights on New York

OCEANPORT, N.J. - With two and a half weeks remaining in the meet, Eibar Coa looks to be on his way to a second consecutive riding title at Monmouth. With the prospect of another riding title tacked on to the ones he won on the south Florida circuit before arriving at Monmouth, Coa has begun looking to the future.

Mon, 08/12/2002 - 00:00

Del Mar: First-night average dips

DEL MAR, Calif. - Despite a $250,000 session topper, Sunday's first night of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association Del Mar Yearling Sale failed to keep pace with a record sale in 2001.

On Sunday evening at the Del Mar HorsePark, 51 yearlings sold for $2,431,500, an average of $47,676. The average price was down 11 percent from the opening night of the 2001 sale, but higher than the overall 2001 average of $43,663, a record.

Last year, the average price dropped from $52,918 from the first session to $35,418 on the second night.

Mon, 08/12/2002 - 00:00

Orientate wins Alfred G. Vanderbilt

Horsephotos
Orientate ($2.90) wins the $200,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga on Sunday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In what amounted to a $120,000 paid public workout, 2-5 favorite Orientate ($2.90) rolled to a front-running, two-length victory in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 at Saratoga.

Say Florida Sandy, the all-time richest New York-bred, chased Orientate around the track and finished second, three lengths ahead of longshot Multiple Choice. Late Carson, Beau's Town and Texas Glitter completed the order of finish.

Sun, 08/11/2002 - 00:00

Humorous Lady romps in Mid-Peninsula Stakes

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Humorous Lady ($3) broke sharply and built a four-length lead in the opening quarter mile as she won the $50,660 Mid-Peninsula Stakes by eight lengths at the Bay Meadows Fair on Sunday.

Coming off a wire-to-wire victory by a nose in the CTBA Stakes at Del Mar, Humorous Lady was never challenged as she defeated Her Emminence in the 5.5-furlong race. The winning time was 1:02.72.

Sun, 08/11/2002 - 00:00

Azeri wins Clement Hirsch

Horsephotos
Azeri wins her fifth straight victory in Sunday's $300,000 Clement Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Laura de Seroux has carefully spaced the races of Azeri as she marches toward the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and the brilliant filly continued to thrive under that management by strolling to her fifth straight victory, in Sunday's $300,000 at Del Mar.

Azeri breezed home two lengths in front of 23-1 shot Angel Gift, but the margin could have been far greater had jockey Mike Smith loosened his grip on the reins. There was no need. There are bigger prizes to hunt down the road. This was a paid workout.

Sun, 08/11/2002 - 00:00

Comic Truth wins Pioneer Stakes

Bossier City, La. - Making his first start for leading trainer Cole Norman, Comic Truth pounced on the early leaders late in the turn and drew off impressively down the lane to win Sunday's Pioneer Stakes. Crowned King turned a mild rally well out in the strip and outfinished Aledo Pass for the place spot. Heavy favorite Mighty Merlin dueled for the lead for a half mile and faded through the stretch to report home last in the field of six 2-year-olds.

Sun, 08/11/2002 - 00:00

American Freedom takes Lincroft Handicap

OCEANPORT, N.J. - American Freedom has alternated between dirt and turf, handling each with success, and on Sunday it was his grass form that secured his first stakes victory in the $50,000 Lincroft Handicap for statebreds and fourth consecutive win this meet.

Sun, 08/11/2002 - 00:00

Handpainted best in Ontario Debutante

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Handpainted kept her unbeaten record in tact while notching her second consecutive stakes in the $149,625 Ontario Debutante on Sunday at Woodbine.

Trainer Josie Carroll sent out the first two finishers in the six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies, when Buffalo Jump rallied to finish 3 3/4 lengths in arrears in second. Curiosity was third in the seven-horse field, while Ella Bella and Kabul were scratched.

Sun, 08/11/2002 - 00:00

Prized Amberpro wins Matron Handicap

Lafayette, La. - Finding the company in Saturday night's $30,000 Matron Handicap more to her liking than those rivals she faced in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Stakes at Calder in her last start, Prized Amberpro circled the field under C. J. Woodley and drew clear by two lengths. Raymond's Dream, who had shaken free by a length and a half at midstretch, had to settle for second while Steppen Up reported home third.

Sat, 08/10/2002 - 00:00

Buffythecenterfold takes Sorrento

DEL MAR, Calif. - The 2-year-old filly division in California has not changed in the last five weeks.

In Saturday's $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar, the undefeated Buffythecenterfold won her second stakes, beating Tricks Her for the third consecutive race.

At Hollywood Park, the two met in a maiden race on June 15 and the Landaluce Stakes on July 4, with Buffythecenterfold winning both by a length.