Thu, 04/11/2002 - 00:00

Field of 8 drawn for Wood

JAMAICA, N.Y. - A field of eight Kentucky Derby hopefuls were drawn Thursday morning for the 78th running of Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday. The Grade 1, 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds will be contested as the eighth race on a 10-race program for a purse of $750,000.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Santa Anita carryover at $114,773

ARCADIA, Calif. - A string of longshots on Wednesday at Santa Anita has created a pick six carryover of $114,773 for Thursday's program.

The winners in Wednesday's pick six races were Calista's Star ($6), Guiding Force ($12), Continental Miss ($32), Sotogrande ($17.80), Continental Stitch ($69.20) and Hasta Lavista Baby ($6.60).

Thursday's pick six carryover marks the 22nd time in 76 days of racing at this meeting that the pick six carried forward.

Here is a look at Thursday's pick six races.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

He's 8, but still Breezy Creek

CALGARY, Alberta - Breezy Creek, who runs in Friday's feature, has been fond of Stampede Park since 1998.

That year, Breezy Creek emerged from the claiming ranks to blossom into the hot horse of the spring meet for trainer Rod Haynes.

Breezy Creek, a son of Chapel Creek, is small in stature but is all heart as he demonstrated when he won the Herald Gold Plate in 1998. He went on that year to earn a nomination in Alberta's champion older horse category but was edged out by Timely Ruckus, who had defeated him in Northlands Park's Spangled Jimmy.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Miss Guts makes local farewell

ARCADIA, Calif. - In the last six weeks, Miss Guts has gone from being the winner of a claiming race for maidens to the object of a private purchase.

Following her win in a $62,500 claiming race on March 29, her third consecutive win, Miss Guts was sold by a partnership to Lloyd DeBruckyer of Montana.

On Friday, she runs in a non-claiming race for the first time since September in a $53,000 optional claimer for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course. She is scheduled to be shipped later this month to Prairie Meadows in Iowa, where DeBruckyer campaigns a stable.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Fantasy come true for two fillies

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The nightmare ends Friday for Lake Lady and Chamrousse. There is no Take Charge Lady to chase in the Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, something of a dream come true for those two, who have been left in the wake of the East's top 3-year-old filly in their last two starts.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Roman Romance holds edge

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine introduced a lucrative new program this year of maiden special weight races and first-level allowance races restricted to Ontario-sired runners. Two races for Ontario-sired horses are the only two non-claiming races on Friday's 10-race Woodbine card.

The featured eighth race, a five-furlong first-level allowance race for older fillies and mares, is worth $59,100.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Maker's Mile attracts class acts

LEXINGTON, Ky. - If the quality of a race can be fairly gauged by the trainers with horses in it, the Maker's Mark Mile is top-shelf indeed.

Bobby Frankel and Neil Drysdale have sent horses from the West. Bill Mott and Jim Bond have horses stopping by on their way from Florida to New York. Mark Frostad and Dallas Stewart are represented by recent arrivals from the Fair Grounds.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Up-and-coming Mr. Mellon could be Derby sleeper

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Looking for a late-developing Kentucky Derby prospect? Then take a look at Mr. Mellon, the Rushaway Stakes winner who could go favored Saturday in the Grade 2, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/8-mile race drew a field of 11 on Wednesday, with Mr. Mellon set to break from post 10 under Larry Melancon.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Victory Ride comes back just as she left - a winner

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Victory Ride, making her first start since winning the Grade 1 Test Stakes last July and then undergoing surgery several weeks later, made a triumphant comeback Wednesday, winning the inaugural running of the $111,300 Madison Stakes at Keeneland.

With Edgar Prado riding for owner Watts Humphrey and trainer Rusty Arnold, the 3-2 favorite Victory Ride defeated Celtic Melody, the 4-1 third choice, by a length.

Away finished third, while Nasty Storm, the 5-2 second choice, faded to fifth in a field of seven fillies and mares.

Wed, 04/10/2002 - 00:00

Screen Idol wins at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Screen Idol overtook pacesetter Cojet on the final turn and went on to a 1 1/2-length win over Missme in the $75,000 Northern Spur Stakes on Wednesday at Oaklawn Park. It was another half-length back in third to Thunderpumper.

Screen Idol ($12.80) raced in third early in the one-mile race behind Cojet, who opened up about 10 lengths on the field down the backside, running the opening four furlongs in 44.60 seconds. Screen Idol advanced on the final turn, and went on to cover the distance in 1:38.20.