Sun, 03/31/2002 - 00:00

Lord Juban king of the Caltech Handicap

Bill Denver/Equi-Photos
Lord Juban, who carried highweight of 120 pounds in the Caltech paid $5.60 as the favorite in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tim Ritvo's decision to duck the 1-5 favorite Orchard Park here Friday in the Gravelines Stakes proved the right choice after he sent out Lord Juban to a one and one quarter length victory over Mystic Salse in Sunday's $75,000 Caltch Handicap.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Irisheyesareflying an odds-on winner

ALBANY, Calif. - Irisheyesareflying, a $50,000 claim who won $500,000 last year, scored his first victory of 2002, winning the Berkeley Handicap (G3) at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Owner-trainer John K. Dolan took his time deciding whether to run the 6-year-old horse in the race after a tough trip in Santa Anita Handicap on March 2 and a faster-than-expected 58.80 five-furlong work on Monday.

But he was happy with his decision after the race as Irisheyesareflying ($3.80) held off Boss Ego by one-half length to win the one-mile race in 1:35.41.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Kalookan Queen takes Potrero Grande

ARCADIA, Calif. - The year of milestones continues for Kalookan Queen.

In January, she won her first Grade 1 in the Santa Monica Handicap. On Saturday, she beat males for the first time in the $197,700 at Santa Anita. She became the first filly or mare to win the Grade 2 Potrero Grande in the 20-year history of the race.

"We expected her to win today," said trainer Bruce Headley. "It feels great because she's a great filly."

Ridden by Alex Solis, Kalookan Queen was part of a favored entry with Rapidough and was forwardly placed throughout.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Mongoose can't catch Hal

Bill Denver/Equi-Photos
Hal's Hope holds off Mongoose in the Gulfstream Park Handicap after a heady ride by Roger Velez.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Stirring up the echoes of his memorable victory in the 2000 Florida Derby, Hal's Hope became a Grade 1 winner for the second time in his career when he outgamed Mongoose to post a half-length victory in Saturday's $300,000 . Red Bullet, the 1-2 favorite, finished last in a field of five older horses.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

New role keeps Baez in the action

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Suffolk Downs has named many of its stakes for local legends, past regional champions, and prominent figures in the track's history. Rudy Baez is all of those things, and he is still leaving his mark on the local sport despite being confined to a wheelchair for the past 2 1/2 years.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Davila's broken body back in shape

OLDSMAR Fla. - It's usually not cause for great celebration when a rider wins twice in a week. But when Mike Davila Jr. captured a race Tuesday at Tampa Bay Downs, then came back Friday with another tally, he might just as well have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Perfect Fantasy repels challenge

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Perfect Fantasy found another gear when challenged briefly in the stretch by Snowball King to win the $61,000 Rainbow Stakes by five lengths over a sloppy main track at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. It was another length back in third to My Good Trick.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Magic Doe proves age no object

CICERO, Ill. - Between them, owner William Cortesi and trainer James Eckrosh have spent 175 years on this planet. Saturday, Magic Doe won them a trophy in the $100,000 Chicagoland Handicap.

Leading from start to finish, Magic Doe set a fast pace and narrowly held off Classic Appeal and Freeway Ticket in deep stretch to win the Chicagoland by a neck under Randy Meier. He paid $10.80 to win and ran six furlongs in a meet-best 1:09.73.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Derby hopefuls work

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Kentucky Derby contenders Repent and Booklet got in their final south Florida works of the season Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park. Both 3-year-olds were scheduled to leave their winter home and ship to Kentucky on Sunday.

Repent, with jockey Jerry Bailey aboard, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 seconds. Booklet went a half mile in 49.20 seconds with exercise rider Allen Rennie up.

Sat, 03/30/2002 - 00:00

Raging Fever keeps Hennig-Evans hot

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Aqueduct's winner's circle was a familiar spot for owner Edward P. Evans and trainer Mark Hennig during the holiday weekend. After winning Friday's Next Move Handicap with With Ability, Evans and Hennig won Saturday's $142,300 with Raging Fever.

Raging Fever, the 6-5 favorite and 120-pound highweight of the Grade 2 Distaff, was a 3 3/4-length winner over Prized Stamp. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to La Galerie in third. Cat Cay, the second choice, finished fourth. Shiny Band and Two Item Limit completed the order of finish.