Sun, 06/23/2002 - 00:00

Stakes double for Badilla

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - Jockey Joe Badilla, Jr. scored two major stakes wins in Saturday's California Breeders' Champions Night for Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos.

Badilla rode Flys R Streakin ($7) to a comfortable win in the $349,000 . Flys R Streakin ran 350 yards in 17.54 seconds, finishing 2 1-2 lengths in front of 22-1 Azyoucansee. Jaime Gomez trains the first two finishers. Favored Doreme Fasalasi Win finished third.

Flys R Streakin will be pointed for the All American Futurity trials, according to co-owners James Streelman and Denny Boer.

Sun, 06/23/2002 - 00:00

Kris's Prayer caps big week for Pompay

OCEANPORT, N.J. - It's been a very good week for trainer Teresa Pompay.

Pompay capped off a six-win week on Sunday as Kris's Prayer came charging down the lane to set the Haskell course track record in 1:47.15 and win the $50,000 Choice Stakes at nine furlongs on the turf. Kris's Prayer saved ground on the rail throughout the race, eased to the outside in the stretch, and wore down Alphabetical in deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length. Emergency Status, winner of the Grade 3 Jersey Derby here May 27, set the pace and finished 2 3/4 lengths back in third.

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Raging Fever aces experiment

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
After sitting off the pace early, Raging Fever pulls away to win Saturday's Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.

ELMONT, N.Y. - With an outside post position and the speed horses inside of him, jockey John Velazquez thought Saturday's $300,000, Grade 1 was the right time to experiment with Raging Fever's running style.

Everything worked out as well as Velazquez could have hoped as Raging Fever, after sitting third for the opening five furlongs, took command turning for home and held off the late-running Transcendental to win the Phipps Handicap by three-quarters of a length before 7,898 at Belmont Park. It was 1 3/4 lengths back to Two Item Limit in third.

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Mystery Giver carries family load

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - An hour after Ioya Two lost her grip on the Illinois-bred female turf division, her younger brother staked a claim as the best statebred turf horse in training. Unraced since late March, Mystery Giver returned with a powerful win in the $75,000 Cardinal Handicap, beating 13 rivals.

The Cardinal Handicap was the feature race of the Prairie State Festival, comprising six $75,000 stakes for Illinois-breds Saturday at Arlington Park.

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Azeri does it again in Vanity

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Azeri is in her own league among the West Coast's older fillies and mares.

On Saturday, Azeri won the $250,000 to score her fourth consecutive win in a Grade 1 stakes. The 4-year-old Azeri was never tested, leading throughout the 1 1/8 miles and finishing three lengths in front of Affluent in 1:48.88.

"She seems to get better with each race," jockey Mike Smith said. "She's so relaxed and so happy, it's a big plus."

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Del Mar Show toys with 'em

SALEM, N.H. - Del Mar Show toyed with eight rivals Saturday, scoring a 1 3/4-length victory in the $200,000, Grade 3 at Rockingham Park.

Ridden by Jerry Bailey from just off the pace of 1 1/8-mile turf race, Del Mar Show cruised to the lead in the last furlong over a rain-dampened turf course labeled good to get his second stakes victory of the year for the Allen Paulson Living Trust and trainer Bill Mott.

"It doesn't get much easier than that," Bailey said. "He's very talented."

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Puck gets a break and wins

MIAMI - Puck took advantage of a speed conducive racetrack and the misfortune of expected pacesetter Kingmaker to lead throughout and win Saturday's $100,000 Unbridled Stakes at Calder by a length over The Judge Sez Who.

Jockey Cornelio Velasquez sent Puck right to the lead after Kingmaker stumbled and lost jockey Manuel Aguilar immediately after the break of the 1 1/16-mile Unbridled. Puck set a comfortable pace and fended off challenges through the final furlong from both Rocker and The Judge Sez Who to record his first stakes victory.

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

All roads lead to $100k New Castle

All roads lead to Delaware Park. At least it seems that way, judging by the list of out-of-towners lured to Delaware for Monday's $100,000 New Castle Handicap.

Of the 11 fillies and mares entered in the New Castle, which will be contested at 1 1/8 miles on turf, seven last raced out of state. The remaining four horses have raced at Delaware only once previously this season.

In fact, with trainers such as Christophe Clement and Richard Schosberg saddling contenders, you might think the race was being run in New York.

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Powerful debut for 2YO

MIAMI - Einar Robsham paid $200,000 for Trust N Luck at the Ocala March sales. After Trust N Luck's impressive performance to capture his career debut on Saturday, his trainer, Ralph Ziadie, said: "It looks like this horse is worth every penny he paid for him."

On a sloppy track, Trust N Luck made all the pace, turning back a bid from the more experienced Lawbook to post a one-length victory. His final time of 1:05.42 for 5 1/2 furlongs was exceptional considering the condition of the track.

Sat, 06/22/2002 - 00:00

Storybook ending for McCarron

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Some things are meant to be. Chris McCarron, who is set to retire Sunday, put an exclamation point on his Hall of Fame career Friday night when he won the National Thoroughbred Racing Association All-Star Jockey Championship at Lone Star Park.

McCarron claimed the crown over Edgar Prado after he won the final leg of the four-race competition with 7-1 shot Yoto Speakes.