LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Nearly 10 months after her last race, jockey Patti Cooksey will return to the saddle Wednesday when she rides Gold Empress in the fourth race at Churchill Downs.
Cooksey, 44, underwent breast-cancer surgery last September.
"I'm so excited, I feel like a bug girl," said Cooksey. "I just want to get back into action. I watch a race, and it drives me crazy. I want that thrill of competition again."
Lady of the Future and Calista both are late-running turf fillies who sometimes get stopped in traffic.
Lady of the Future got a clean trip in Monday's $100,000 New Castle Handicap at Delaware Park. Calista, the 2-5 favorite, did not.
That explains how Lady of the Future ($17) scored a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf race while Calista managed to cross the wire only third in a field reduced to six fillies and mares by five scratches.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Trainers entering horses at the Alameda County Fair between July 1 and July 7 will receive an additional $45 starter fee to help offset increases in Workers' Compensation rates scheduled to take place July 1.
The payment will be in effect for the 2002 meet only.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Trainer Cole Norman, who is battling three-time defending champ Steve Asmussen for the Lone Star Park title, picked up two wins in one race Sunday when his charges Total Anticipation ($2.40) and Parting Guest ($2.60) dead-heated for the win in the first. The horses helped push Norman's victory total this meet to 67.
Devil Time rallied from last to first to win the $50,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial at River Downs. Under regular rider Justin Vitek. Devil Time ($4.20), the favorite in a field of 11, drew clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Blame It Ruby, with longshot Panta Ellinas third. Time for the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf was 1:41.40.
ELMONT, N.Y. - A well-schooled Shopping for Love and a well-ridden Eventail won split divisions of the Mount Vernon Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares.
Shopping for Love, beaten as the 6-5 favorite in this race a year ago, has a history of acting up in the paddock before her races. Trainer Kenny Nesky schooled Shopping for Love in the paddock twice a day in the weeks since her last-place finish in the Beaugay Handicap on May 5.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Crypto's Twinjet ($6.60) was given the top spot in the $50,000 Annie Oakley Stakes at Thistledown after the Stewards disqualified Cryto Cream from the top spot following a claim of foul by jockey Mike Rowland, who finished fourth on Kind of Fun. The 4-5 Joanies Bella, who finished third, was elevated to the second spot while Cryto's Cream was dropped from first to fourth.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Delray Dew ($3) made all the pace under jockey Glenn Corbett and drew off through the stretch to score a six-length victory in the $60,000 Wild Rose Handicap for fillies and mares at Prairie Meadows.
Rodeo Fan rallied along the rail to gain the place, three-quarters of a length in front of Harlan Ash, who finished third in the six horse field.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Heading into the 2002 season, T J's Lucky Moon wasn't even the first choice of his owner Gino Molinaro and trainer Vito Armata as a candidate for the 1 1/4-mile Queen's Plate.
But when Molly's Wisdom fell by the wayside, T J's Lucky Moon got the call and went on to shine brightly at 82-1 under jockey Steven Bahen here in last Sunday's $1 million showpiece for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
T J's Lucky Moon, bred by his owner's Molinaro Stable, was entered in the select yearling sale here but wound up being bought back for $27,000.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - If something works, stick to it.
That's what happened with the breeding of Forest Wildcat to Penniless Heiress. So far, they have produced stakes winner Forest Heir, now a 4-year-old, and multiple graded-stakes winner Forest Heiress, a 3-year-old.
Their 2-year-old full brother, Wildcat Heir, makes his debut Wednesday in the third race at Monmouth Park and trainer Ben Perkins Jr. is hoping he runs like his siblings.