Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Two Pletcher attractions staying in barn

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The prospective starting lineups for two of this week's key attractions lost some of their luster when trainer Todd Pletcher announced he will not run Smok'n Frolic in Friday's $250,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes or Smooth Jazz in Saturday's $150,000 Swale Stakes.

Smok'n Frolic finished a disappointing seventh making her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes on Feb. 24. She had closed out her 2-year-old campaign with easy victories in the Grade 3 Tempted and Grade 2 Demoiselle stakes in New York.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Northern Quest to defend title in Golden Gate BC

ALBANY, Calif. - Yougottawanna became the meet's top 3-year-old by winning the El Camino Real Derby last weekend, and on Saturday the meet's top older horse will likely be determined in the $200,000 Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap.

Nineteen were nominated to the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile turf race, with trainer Bobby Frankel planning to send two horses up for the race.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Saarland primed for 3yo debut in Gotham

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Saarland, unraced since winning the Remsen Stakes last November, arrived at his Belmont Park barn Monday afternoon to continue preparations for his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's $200,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct.

After working a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.20 Saturday at Gulfstream Park, boarded a van along with a few other Shug McGaughey-trained horses on Sunday morning. He arrived at Belmont at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

"He got in here just fine,'' said Buzz Tenney, assistant to McGaughey. "I assume it was a pretty uneventful trip.''

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Fair Grounds: Filly handles class rise

NEW ORLEANS - You'llbeinmyheart ($3) won her third start in as many chances, easily making the transition to stakes racing with a one-length win in the $75,000 Battler Star Handicap at Fair Grounds.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Fonner Park: Tate's Way comes on late

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Tate's Way, last year's 3-year-old champion at the Fonner Park meet, used a late run to wear down Yankee Ruler and capture the $25,700 Ogataul Handicap for older statebreds.

Trained by Kelly Von Hemel, Tate's Way carried Armando Martinez to a 1 1/4-length victory in 1:12.80 for the six furlongs over a fast surface. The $15,420 winner's share boosted his earnings to more than $65,000.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Laurel: Winter Leaf in an upset

Winter Leaf scored an upset victory over seven rivals in the $60,000 Conniver Stakes at Laurel Park.

Winter Leaf ($34.40) set the pace in the seven-furlong Conniver for Maryland-bred fillies and mares and won by three-quarters of a length over Your Out. The favorite, Case of the Blues, finished third, two lengths behind the runner-up.

Winter Leaf, owned by North Highland Farm, covered the distance in 1:23.18 over a fast track. Trained by Ron Cartwright, Winter Leaf was ridden by Larry Reynolds.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Sportsman's Park: Secret Romeo rallies

With a furious rally in the middle of the track, Secret Romeo ($10.40) caught the pace-setting Tic N Tin to win the $100,000 Lost Code Handicap by three-quarters of a length. Bet on Joe finished 3 1/2 lengths back in third, and favorite Magic Doe finished last in the field of seven. Final time for six furlongs over a sloppy track was 1:11.96.

Ridden by T.D. Houghton and trained by Gerald Bennett, Secret Romeo won his second stakes of the year in the Lost Code. Secret Romeo has won 14 of 23 career starts and has earned more than $425,000.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Carryover a puzzling chase

ARCADIA, Calif. - Neither time nor money will guarantee victory for horseplayers attacking the pick six races Wednesday at Santa Anita, where a $205,959 carryover is at stake in races 3-8.

In fact, hours of handicapping may lead many to consider Wednesday's pick six virtually unhittable. None of the six races includes a standout, many apparent contenders are flawed, and only one sure-fire way exists to insure a winning ticket.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Invisible Ink no lock off hiatus

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - His former cronies are done, at least the more celebrated ones. Point Given, Monarchos, and A P Valentine, all of whom at one point outdid Invisible Ink during the Triple Crown last year, have gone to the breeding shed, leaving Invisible Ink as one of the few luminaries still remaining from the class of 2001.

Mon, 03/11/2002 - 00:00

Mr Ross, Crafty Shaw to meet

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Mr Ross, one of the top handicap horses in the region with earnings of $1 million, and Crafty Shaw, who earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 113 last month winning his fourth consecutive race in the Grade 3 Essex at Oaklawn Park, will meet for the first time Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Razorback Handicap. Both horses are based in Hot Springs.