ALBANY, Calif. - Mellow Fellow, who had not raced in a stakes race since finishing third in the Los Angeles Handicap (G3) in June 2000, made an explosive move in the stretch to win the Montclair Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
Mellow Fellow ($12.60) defeated Radar Contact by two lengths as he won the six-furlong race in 1:09.19.
Mellow Fellow was eighth in the early going as El Dorado Shooter and Gibson County cut out rapid 21.46 and 44.22 fractions.
NEW ORLEANS - The Oaklawn Park-based colt Crafty Shaw stole into town and left with the money, winning the $75,000 Diplomat Way Handicap on Sunday at Fair Grounds by a neck.
Crafty Shaw, a 4-year-old owned by Lucky Seven Stable and trained by Pete Vestal, struck a blow for Turfway Park winter form and showed that he's come back strongly from an injury that cost him much of his 3-year-old season.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hours after their 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, Monarchos, made an uninspired seasonal debut, owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward were re-energized when Booklet stamped himself as their Derby hope for 2002.
Under a front-running ride from Eibar Coa, Booklet went gate to wire to win Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 * at Gulfstream Park by three-quarters of a length over 4-5 favorite Harlan's Holiday. It was 11 lengths back to Thiscannonsloaded, who nipped Nokoma by a head for third.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The much-anticipated 2002 debut of Monarchos proved less than triumphant, as the reigning Kentucky Derby winner finished a nonthreatening third behind Mongoose under optional claiming and allowance conditions at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Labamta Babe took advantage of a bad start for odds-on favorite Siphonic, then held off Siphonic before drawing clear for a 5 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 * at Santa Anita.
Labamta Babe had finished fourth, behind Siphonic, in last month's Hollywood Futurity. But a combination of factors propelled Labamta Babe to victory in the Santa Catalina. He rated sensibly early in third place, and benefited by the bad luck that befell Siphonic.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Already proven as a top turf miler, Irish Prize will attempt something new in the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes on Monday's holiday card at Santa Anita. The nine-race Martin Luther King Jr. Day program also includes the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes, which will be run as the fifth race.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Westerholme will return to her best distance in Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day feature at Portland Meadows, a mile affair for fillies and mares eligible to be claimed for $4,000, and for that reason stands a good chance to return to the winner's circle.
ALBANY, Calif. - Despite the presence of the two highweights, Above Perfection and Hall of Gold, Monday's $55,000-added Orinda Handicap at Golden Gate Fields has drawn a field of nine.
Above Perfection, who carries 123 pounds, and Hall of Gold, listed at 120 pounds, bring unimpeachable credentials into the race.
Perhaps the reason trainer Darrell Vienna is running Above Perfection in the race is the reason so many others are willing to challenge him.
"It looks too good [to pass]," said Vienna, whose filly is also eligible for $16,500 in Cal-bred bonuses.
OLDSMAR Fla. - It's not often a track the size of Tampa Bay Downs has a Grade 1 stakes winner in its feature race, but it will happen Tuesday when Exciting Story, winner of the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile at 56-1 last May, makes his 2002 debut in the $50,000 Super Stakes at seven furlongs.
Exciting Story, a winner of six of 18 lifetime starts with earnings of more than $800,000, has been sidelined since September, but, according to Greg Degannes, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, the horse will not be using Tuesday's race as a public training session.
