Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

They're not eager to face Officer

ARCADIA, Calif. - The expected matchup between and Menacing Dennis in Sunday's $100,000 Zany Tactics Stakes at Santa Anita may not occur.

On Sunday, trainer Jeff Bonde said that the undefeated Menacing Dennis has been nominated to "three or four" races, including the California Derby at Bay Meadows on April 13, and is not definite for the Zany Tactics.

"We're trying to see who's going to run in this race," he said, referring to the California Derby. "I'm not sure what we'll do."

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Woodbine: Rare Friends wins decisively

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Rare Friends overhauled front-running Wild Whiskey at the eighth pole en route to a decisive win in the $164,700 Achievement Handicap at Woodbine.

Rare Friends tracked Wild Whiskey through fractions of 22.15 and 44.85 seconds in the six-furlong race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Wild Whiskey gave way grudgingly in mid-stretch, and Rare Friends went on to win by 2 1/2 lengths under David Clark.

Shaws Creek closed belatedly to end up a half-length behind the runner-up while edging favored Chandra Prakash for third. The final time was 1:10.98.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Sunland: Forty Niner Deeds rallies

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Forty Nine Deeds rallied four wide on the turn and took over the lead in midstretch under jockey Donnie Meche to win the $77,100 Riley Allision Derby going away. Trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by his father, Keith, Forty Nine Deeds covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.64, just three-fifths of a second off the track record at the distance.

Forty Nine Deeds doubled his career earnings with the $46,620 winner's share to $92,610 while returning $3 as the chalk. It was his third win in six career starts.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Sam Houston: Coastalota defends title

Coastalota won her third stakes race of the Sam Houston Race Park meet Saturday night when she defended her title in the $30,000 Double Your Flavor Stakes by 3 1/2 lengths over Tip the Man. It was another half-length back in the third to June Spender.

Coastalota ($3.20) stalked a fast pace in the early stages of the seven-furlong race, then drew clear in the stretch, covering the distance in 1:23.60. Bobby Walker rode Coastalota for trainer Randy Mayfield. Earlier this meet, Coastalota won the $75,000 Martanza Handicap and the $30,000 Tomball.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Sunland: Invader takes Oaks

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - No Turbulence received a perfect outside stalking trip from leading rider Daryl Montoya, made a four-wide bid on the turn, and won Saturday's $77,700 Sunland Park Oaks by 2 1/4 lengths. An invader from the tough Southern California circuit, No Turbulence had finished third behind Bella Bella Bella in the Santa Ysabel Jan. 6 at Santa Anita.

No Turbulence, a Skywalker filly, is trained by Eric Kruljac and she covered the mile in 1:38.11. After the Beep finished a nose in front of Gray Ryder for the place.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Turfway: Becky Virtue upsets

Becky Virtue, ridden by Tony D'Amico, shook off favored Miss Pickums at the top of the stretch and went on to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Fairway Fun Stakes at Turfway Park.

Becky Virtue was always prominent after breaking from the rail in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. Owned by Stonerside Stable and trained by Mike Stidham, she returned $13.40 to win after finishing in 1:43.36 over a fast track.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

DQ'd True Rose tough vs. same

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Trainer Bill Turner knew he had a good one on his hands in True Rose, but the trainer had to exercise some patience before the filly showed her true colors.

True Rose, a 4-year-old, has really bloomed for Turner this year, winning back-to-back allowance races over the inner track. In her last start on March 15 on the main track, True Rose crossed the finish line in first, but was disqualified and placed second for drifting out late under jockey Robbie Davis's left-handed whip and interfering with the runner-up, Belle Artiste.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Lumpkins aims to dethrone Baze

SAN MATEO, Calif. - In this corner, the 26-time champion: Russell Baze. In the other corner, the up-and-comer: Jason Lumpkins.

Baze has not lost a riding title at a northern California meeting he has competed in since winning his first title at the 1980-81 Bay Meadows meeting.

Last spring, Lumpkins gave Baze a his sternest challenge for a championship during the 56-day Bay Meadows spring meeting.

Mon, 04/01/2002 - 00:00

Magic Doe scores a win for the ages

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.

Sun, 03/31/2002 - 00:00

Schvaneveldt suffers injury

ALBANY, Calif. - Jockey Chad Schvaneveldt suffered a fractured left clavicle when Moscow Princess suffered a fatal breakdown at the finish of Sunday's second race at Golden Gate Fields.

Moscow Princess, the 7-to-5 favorite, fractured her right front sesamoid at the finish line. She had to be euthanized.

Schvaneveldt is expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury. He finished fourth in the Golden Gate Fields jockey standings with 57 winners.