NEW ORLEANS - Half-trainer, half meteorologist - it's a potent combination at Fair Grounds. Niall O'Callaghan entered Katy Kat in the $144,500 Bayou Breeders' Cup and came out a 2 3/4-length winner when the Bayou Breeders' Cup was taken off turf and run on a sloppy main track.
Another dirt horse, Pretty Gale, set the early pace but was no match for the pace-pressing Katy Kat ($4.80) in the stretch, finishing second, four lengths ahead of Temis. Katy Kat was timed in 1:50.67.
OLDSMAR Fla. - Trainer Gerald Bennett, who won a stakes during his three-month stay here, has shipped his string to Sportsman's Park, which began its meet Friday. All indications are that Bennett will have a powerful string for that Chicago track's winter stand.
ALBANY, Calif. - Front-running Secret Liaison, under constant pressure throughout, pulled away through the lane and scored a two-length victory in the $55,750 Sacramento Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
Secret Liaison ($3.60) set brisk early fractions of 22.19, 45.69 and 1:10.58 as she discouraged Phaenna early. She got a bit of a breather on the turn and spurted away after De Goddaughter ranged up along side heading into the stretch. The winning time was 1:36.01.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Showing improved speed with blinkers added, odds-on favorite Bema tracked pacesetter Cobblestone Road along the backstretch, caught that rival on the far turn, and drove clear under Javier Castellano for a 3 1/4-length triumph in Saturday's $80,875 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct.
Bema, whose task became easier when recent Busanda winner Totaly Wild was scratched because of an upper respiratory infection, ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.99 for her first stakes victory, and earned $48,525 for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Came Home, in a thoroughly dominating performance, raced to a three-length victory in Saturday's $200,000 at Santa Anita, an effort that likely will embolden his owners to stretch out Came Home another furlong in next month's Santa Anita Derby.
Came Home stalked the early pace of Werblin, wrested the lead from that rival at the top of the stretch, and drew clear while being merely ridden out by his jockey, Chris McCarron. Easy Grades rallied sharply for second after a wide trip, beating Werblin by a head.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - What looked like a two-horse race on paper turned out to be a one-horse race on the track as Forest Secrets easily ran away from main rival Summer Colony in the stretch en route to a convincing three-length victory in Saturday's $200,000 at Gulfstream Park.
NEW ORLEANS - After a glorious debut on Mardi Gras Day, the 3-year-old colt Seattle Glory can take another step toward stakes company Monday at Fair Grounds. Seattle Glory stretches out to two turns in his second career start, and faces nine rivals in a first-level allowance race over one mile and 40 yards.
If Seattle Glory runs as well in a route as he did in his sprint debut, and there is little reason to think he won't, the colt could be bound for stakes races.
ARCADIA, Calif. - High Society pulled an upset in her U.S. debut in Friday's $113,150 La Habra Stakes at Santa Anita, triggering a pick six carryover of $109,746 for Saturday's important Santa Anita Handicap program.
Only one favorite won during the pick six, which covered the third through eighth races. The winners were Qui's Rush In ($9.20), Musaranho ($19.60), Nick of Time ($8.40), Spend Spend Spend ($40.60), High Society ($21.60) and Timely Runner ($10.20).
NEW ORLEANS - The handicap division is looking for leaders.
Injury and retirement have gutted the ranks of top-class older horses this year, and Saturday's 14-horse free-for-all in the Santa Anita Handicap may not bring the picture into focus. Perhaps Fair Grounds can help.
Sunday's $500,000 New Orleans Handicap brings together a field of nine, and while there are no easy throwouts, Kiss a Native, Valhol, and Graeme Hall are the ones who can step up and prove they belong in the upper echelon of the handicap division.
