Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Despite derby defeat, Teague to stay on turf

Teague, who ran fourth as the favorite in his turf debut earlier this month in the $100,000 Canterbury Breeders' Cup Derby, will remain on the grass Sunday for the featured seventh race at Lone Star Park, a one-mile optional claimer worth $32,000.

Teague had won three straight one-mile races on dirt leading into the June 9 stakes at Canterbury, with his biggest score a 5 1/4-length win in the $30,000 Nebraska Derby. He is part of a deep field at Lone Star, including Thunder Fish, Kris's Sleigh, Dynacard, and Bourbon N Coke.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

An explosive Fourth for Frankel

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Last August, trainer Bobby Frankel had successive weekends when his stable won major races on both coasts, seemingly dominating racing at Del Mar and Saratoga.

This year, he is hoping to start the same success on the Fourth of July weekend when he will have starters in major stakes at Belmont Park, Hollywood Park, Monmouth Park, and Prairie Meadows.

"Hopefully, we can do it all over again," Frankel said.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Everyone's coming for Summit of Speed

MIAMI - What quietly began as June Jam at Calder in the mid-1990's, the concept of running several lucrative sprint races on a single program, has now blossomed into the Summit of Speed. It's the richest day of sprint racing in the country and one of the biggest events on the south Florida racing calendar.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Will the real Lasting Code show up for Irish Day?

AUBURN, Wash. - The local 3-year-old filly division underwent a major shake-up when the leading lights last got together in the one-mile Kent Handicap on June 2 at Emerald Downs. Lasting Code, who seemed perched firmly atop the division after a pair of impressive sprint stakes wins, never got into the race and finished last of eight at 3-5, while Dolly's Hit Lady, previously a denizen of the claiming ranks, shot to the head of the class with a four-length tally in a highly creditable 1:35.60.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Kid Katabatic, a deserving favorite (still)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - After trouncing his opposition in two straight stakes races, Kid Katabatic will be a heavy favorite to win the Grade 3, $75,000 Lieutenant Governors' at Hastings Park on Monday.

A winner of 16 of 36 starts, including the 2000 Longacres Mile, Kid Katabatic is one of the most accomplished horses of recent years in the Pacific Northwest, but, amazingly, he wasn't favored in either of his last two races.

Fri, 06/28/2002 - 00:00

Belterra scratched from Mother Goose

ELMONT, N.Y. - Belterra, one of the top choices in Saturday's $250,000 Mother Goose at Belmont Park, was scratched on Friday.

Belterra's trainer, Carl Nafzger, told the racing office his filly wouldn't run because she had a fever.

The Mother Goose field was reduced to four with the defection of Belterra, who figured to vie for the role of favorite with Black-Eyed Susan winner Chamrousse.

Belterra arrived at Belmont Park on Wednesday after working at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

Thu, 06/27/2002 - 00:00

Hollywood pick six carryover reaches $405,192

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - There is a pick six carryover of $405,192 for Friday's evening program at Hollywood Park after bettors failed to conquer the best for the second consecutive day on Thursday.

Friday's program begins at 7 p.m.; the pick six covers races three through eight.

Here are the changes for the pick six races:

The third race is run over a mile on turf for maidens. There are eight entrants, but only seven betting interests since Dirty Windows and Magic Wheat have common ownership who is coupled. The race is led by Ron Cherry, who is 7-5 on the morning-line.

Thu, 06/27/2002 - 00:00

Queen of the East title up for grabs

Horsephotos
Spain, the richest mare in North American racing history, takes on Summer Colony in Saturday's Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Spain and Summer Colony come to Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap at Monmouth Park along different paths. With a victory, one will leave Monmouth as the top filly in the East and chief challenger to Azeri, the divisional leader out West and the best filly in the country.

The Molly Pitcher, for fillies and mares at nine furlongs, drew a field of five.

Thu, 06/27/2002 - 00:00

Pompay's wins come in bunches

OCEANPORT, N.J. - As if six wins in five days last week weren't enough, trainer Terri Pompay continued her hot streak by sending out another winner Wednesday at Monmouth Park. Seven wins in six days, including a win each day. She had no horses entered Thursday.

"I guess I better quit training while I'm ahead," Pompay joked Thursday morning. "I just want to ride the wave as long as I can."

Thu, 06/27/2002 - 00:00

Pace unlikely to stop Astra

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Although Astra will be heavily favored in Saturday's $250,000 Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park, there may be some suspense in the late stages of the race.

On May 27, Astra won the Grade 1 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap by a head, catching Starine in the final stride under Kent Desormeaux. Starine did not enter the Beverly Hills, and there are no other Grade 1 winners from the United States to challenge Astra, the 124-pound topweight.