Mon, 04/08/2002 - 00:00

Delta Downs: Knight of the Mt. stays clear

VINTON, La. - Knight of the Mt. avoided the traffic problems that plagued many of his rivals and captured the $101,430 Jean Lafitte Futurity. Odds-on favorite Pancho's Karma, forced to check into the turn and then to alter course in deep stretch, had to settle for second, beaten a length in the 4 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-olds. Amazing Glaze was another head back in third, followed by Uriah's Begining. Kate's Halo took up sharply when jammed up in the late going and reported home fifth.

Knight of the Mt. ($22), was ridden by Jerri Nichols for trainer Bret Thomas.

Mon, 04/08/2002 - 00:00

Aqueduct: We'll Sea Ya a Broadway smash

JAMAICA, N.Y. - We'll Sea Ya, 30-1, rallied from just off the pace to run down dueling front-runners Maddie May and Dat You Miz Blue in deep stretch and win the $82,650 Broadway Handicap by a length at Aqueduct.

Maddie May finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 3-2 favorite Dat You Miz Blue. Filiberto Leon rode We'll Sea Ya ($62.50) for trainer Sal Iorio Jr.

Mon, 04/08/2002 - 00:00

Up, up, up goes Azeri's stock for trainer de Seroux

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Azeri, who beat a blockbuster field Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap in just her sixth career start, has done so much so fast, it begs the question: What's her ceiling?

"I don't know," said trainer Laura de Seroux. "I think she's one in a lifetime."

De Seroux has the frame of reference to make such a statement. She came up under Charlie Whitting-ham, first going to work for the legendary trainer as an exercise rider in 1974, and later seeking out racing prospects for him in Europe.

Mon, 04/08/2002 - 00:00

No Derby for also-rans

ARCADIA, Calif. - The five horses that finished worse than third in Saturday's Santa Anita Derby are not expected to start in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

Race plans for a few of those colts have yet to be finalized, but several of their trainers were realistic in their assessment of Saturday's race. The horses finished four lengths to 11 lengths behind Came Home.

So far, only the first three - Came Home, Easy Grades and Lusty Latin - will move on the Kentucky Derby. Plans for the othes range from races at Hollywood Park to races throughout the Midwest.

Sun, 04/07/2002 - 00:00

Arriaga moved from ICU

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockey Jose Arriaga, who underwent three hours of brain surgery after being injured in a Thursday fall, was moved from the intensive care unit at nearby Stanford Hosptial.

Bay Meadows track physician Dr. David Seftel said Arriaga was "remarkably improved."

"He continues to do well," Dr. Seftel said. "He recognizes more friends and family members. His speech has improved, and he is moving all his extremities symmetrically."

Sun, 04/07/2002 - 00:00

Crazy Ensign wins Miss America

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Crazy Ensign ($7.40) sat behind Queen of Wilshire's slow pace and pulled away down the lane to score her first U.S. stakes victory by two lengths in the $100,000 Miss America Handicap at Bay Meadows.

Crazy Ensign, a Grade 1 winner in her native Argentina, got a ground-saving trip from jockey Jason Lumpkins as Queen of Wilshire set fractions of 24.25, 47.89 and 1:11.44 in the one-mile turf race.

Sun, 04/07/2002 - 00:00

Cashel Castle best in Lafayette

Horsephotos
Cashel Castle wins Sunday in the $111,300 Lafayette Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths over Governor Hickel.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Cashel Castle got a perfect trip to maintain his perfect record while also giving Pat Day his 800th career triumph at Keeneland when easily defeating five other 3-year-olds Sunday in the $111,300 .

Cashel Castle, trained by Chris Block, won by 4 1/4 lengths over Governor Hickel, returning $3.20 as the heavy favorite. The victory was his fifth without a defeat.

Sun, 04/07/2002 - 00:00

Officer victorious in Zany Tactics

ARCADIA, Calif. - In a performance reminiscent of his eye-catching wins last summer and fall, Officer scored an easy win in Sunday's $106,800 Zany Tactics Stakes at Santa Anita.

The winner of the 2001 Del Mar Futurity and Champagne Stakes, Officer outclassed five other California-bred 3-year-olds in the Zany Tactics to score his fifth career stakes win. After the race, trainer Bob Baffert mentioned the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 20 as a possible goal for Officer. Another option is the Preakness Stakes on May 18.

Sun, 04/07/2002 - 00:00

Wake At Noon takes Jacques Cartier

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Wake At Noon wore down a fading Olympian in the stretch to post a three-length victory in Sunday's $132,625 Jacques Cartier Stakes at Woodbine.

It was the second straight triumph in the six-furlong Jacques Cartier for Wake At Noon, who stalked Olympian through splits of :22.24 and :45.02. He overhauled Olympian at the sixteenth pole, and went on to stop the timer in 1:10.26 under Emile Ramsammy.

Sun, 04/07/2002 - 00:00

McCarron wins three grades stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Chris McCarron on Saturday became the first jockey to win three graded stakes on the same day at Santa Anita.

Aside from Came Home's popular win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, McCarron won two $150,000 races - the Grade 2 San Bernardino Handicap on Bosque Redondo and the Grade 2 Arcadia Handicap aboard Sienne.

"It's something to be proud of," McCarron said.

The track mark for most stakes wins in a day is five, set by Laffit Pincay, Jr., on California Cup Day in 2000.