Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Santa Anita carryover at $462,042

ARCADIA, Calif. - There is a double carryover in the pick six on Friday at Santa Anita for the third time at the winter-spring meeting.

Bettors failed to hit correctly solve the puzzle on Thursday, resulting in a carryover of $462,042. Few tickets made it past the second leg on Thursday, which was won by Crimson Policy ($53.40).

Friday's nine-race program begins at 3 p.m.; the pick six begins with the fourth race. Here are the scratchtime changes for Friday's pick six races and a look at some of the entrants.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

A rabbit-free Blue Grass

Horsephotos
Harlan's Holiday, with groom Denise Hernandez on Thursday, faces Booklet for the fourth time in Saturday's Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Jorge Chavez does not have to be Elmer Fudd. "I don't see any rabbits this time," the jockey said Thursday morning.

No, Chavez will not be hunting rabbits. Nor will rabbits be hunting his mount, Booklet. Unlike the Florida Derby, in which Booklet was shadowed by the rascally Smooth Jazz, the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland could cast Booklet as another Saturday morning cartoon character: the Road Runner.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Simulcasts expanding to full cards on live days

Fans and horsemen will find several new amenities awaiting them when Finger Lakes opens Saturday for a 161-day meet, which runs through Nov. 30.

Among the changes highlighting the 41st season at the upstate New York track is the elimination of an admission charge for live programs, the introduction of full-card simulcasting during every live card, and ontrack account wagering.

For horsemen, a new equine swimming pool has been built on the grounds.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Pincay pays Big A a visit

JAMAICA, N.Y. - The last time Laffit Pincay Jr. rode in New York, Bill Shoemaker was still the sport's winningest rider by more than 300 wins, Bob Baffert had yet to win a Triple Crown race, and Frank Stronach didn't own a single racetrack.

It was Nov. 30, 1996, and Pincay was at Aqueduct to ride Atticus in the NYRA Mile for Richard Mandella. Though Atticus finished sixth, Pincay did visit the winner's circle that day, guiding Pacific Fleet to an allowance win over Unbridled's Song.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Snow Ridge and Dream Run to battle in Carter

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Two strong supporting stakes, the $350,000 Carter Handicap and the $150,000 Bay Shore, act as bookends to Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

The Grade 3 Bay Shore, the seventh race, is the lead-in to the Wood Memorial. The Grade 1 Carter follows the main event.

A competitive field of 11 entered the seven-furlong Carter. The main players are Snow Ridge, the 120-pound highweight; Affirmed Success, an 8-year-old closing in on $2 million in earnings; and Dream Run, who owns two sharp wins at the Carter distance this year.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Tates Creek gets up

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tates Creek, shipping in from California for trainer Bobby Frankel, overcame traffic to shake clear in early stretch and wear down favored Snow Dance in the $113,600 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland Thursday.

Kent Desormeaux rode Tates Creek, a homebred Juddmonte Farms filly, who returned $6.20 to win after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.27 over firm turf. Snow Dance, the 17-10 favorite in a field of 10 fillies and mares, finished second by a head under Pat Day.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Oaklawn: Explicit all the way

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Explicit handily won the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Handicap at Oaklawn Park by 3 1/4 lengths on Thursday. Entepreneur finished second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Junior Deputy.

Explicit ($4) took the lead shortly after the break in the six-furlong race, and set fractions of 21.60 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.40 seconds for the half while under pressure from Junior Deputy.

Exlicit rebuffed stretch bids by Entepreneur and Junior Deputy, and went on to cover the distance over a fast track in 1:08.60.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Wood's a final exam for most of field

JAMAICA, N.Y. - As Kentucky Derby preps go, Saturday's Grade 1 Wood Memorial has more intrigue than a John Grisham novel.

With the possible exceptions of Remsen Stakes winner Saarland and Florida Derby runner-up Blue Burner, none of the entrants in the $750,000 Wood can yet be considered an accomplished Kentucky Derby contender. But oh how things could change by late Saturday afternoon.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Arkansas Derby full of late bloomers

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The Wood Memorial and the Blue Grass Stakes may have the most talked-about 3-year-olds in their starting gates Saturday, but the Grade 2, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn features a handful of late-developing colts who also are being pointed to Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

And because it is has attracted a wide-open field of 11, the Arkansas Derby could be the most bettable leg of the Big 3 Pick 3.

Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Cal Derby prep race for big one

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The key phrase heard in racing this weekend will be "Kentucky Derby prep."

The term will be applied to the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

But it can also be applied to Saturday's $150,000 California Derby at Bay Meadows. The connections of three colts in the field of eight for the 1 1/8-mile race have said they will consider going to Kentucky with a victory Saturday.