HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Three strikes and you're out!
Trainer Shug McGaughey's attempt to launch Saarland's 3-year-old campaign in a seven-furlong allowance dash failed for the third straight time Saturday as the race scheduled for Monday again died with only three names in the box.
"I can't believe they couldn't make the race go," said McGaughey, "that they couldn't get a couple of horses who have been running for $30,000 or $40,000 to go in there to fill it."
Philadelphia Park has clustered most of its top races in one big holiday weekend package.
A three-day Pennsylvania Derby Festival will feature the finals of the Claiming Crown, plus three more stakes on Labor Day, capped by the Grade 3, $500,000 Pennsylvania Derby for 3-year-olds.
The first three runnings of the Claiming Crown, a joint venture between the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, were held at Canterbury Park.
NEW ORLEANS - A division lacking a standout might have found one in Descapate, who won the Chou Croute Handicap at Fair Grounds by seven lengths.
Descapate's performance was strong enough on its own, but she also had to overcome post 10 in a crowded field while making her first start in a stakes race.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Crafty Shaw won his fourth consecutive race in commanding fashion when he wired the field in the Grade 3, $75,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park, finishing 4 3/4 lengths clear of Kiss of Lion. It was another length back in third to Remington Rock.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Smooth Jazz lived up to the expectations of his trainer and the betting public, rallying from just off the pace to win the $82,950 by 2 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.
Tank's Expectation, trained by Dale Capuano, got up for second, one length ahead of stablemate President Butler.
Double My Prospect, War Native, White Ibis, Eye of the Comet, Final Table and Cool Cash completed the order of finish.
Though Smooth Jazz had just one race under his belt entering the Best Turn, his lack of experience was not evident.
ARCADIA, Calif. - In a sprint that took on the appearance of a match race, Above Perfection held off Kalookan Queen to win Saturday's $128,375 Las Flores Handicap at Santa Anita.
Above Perfection, who carried 117 pounds, and Kalookan Queen, the 122-pound highweight, were never more than a length apart in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - For Smok'n Frolic, Sunday's $100,000 Davona Dale Stakes is simply a beginning - the start of what trainer Todd Pletcher hopes will be a long and successful season, as well as a prep for Smok'n Frolic's main goal at the meet, the Grade 2 Bonnie Miss Stakes.
But for several of the other 3-year-old fillies in the lineup, the 1 1/16-mile Davona Dale is an opportunity to show that they belong at this level, as well as an opportunity to earn starting berths in richer and more prestigious races, beginning with the Bonnie Miss on March 15.
NEW ORLEANS - Bonapaw may run for international glory a month from now in Dubai, but Sunday he runs to maintain his crown as king of the Fair Grounds sprinters. Bonapaw was one of six horses entered in the Taylor's Special, a six-furlong handicap with a $100,000 purse.
Bonapaw seems likely to race for a $2 million purse March 23 in the Dubai Golden Shaheen, but don't expect his connections to pull any punches in the Taylor's Special.
"Believe me, we're not running for second," said trainer Tucker Alonzo.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The Grade 3 Baldwin Stakes - a 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint - is generally not considered a prime goal for 3-year-olds. Yet that is precisely the Baldwin's purpose this year - a sensible late-winter objective for colts and geldings whose future will more likely be on turf, rather than 1 1/4 miles on dirt.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - No trainer-jockey team in the last decade at Gulfstream Park has been more successful than Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey. On Friday, the Hall of Fame pair struck again when Orchard Park rallied to win the 16th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes.
Orchard Park, the solid favorite in a field of 12 3-year-olds, triumphed by 1 3/4 lengths over 20-1 shot Lord Juban and returned $4.60 to win. It was another
1 1/4 lengths back to Red's Top Gun in third, and another half-length to Union Place in fourth.