ARCADIA, Calif. - An upset win by Nazirali in Saturday's $200,000 * at Santa Anita did more to confuse than clarify California's marathon turf division.
Nazirali ($16) won the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo Handicap in his stakes debut.
Denon, the winner of the Hollywood Derby last November, finished fourth as the 3-5 favorite after being trapped on the rail on the final turn.
ALBANY, Calif. - Hall Of Gold broke down after winning the $59,163 Richmond Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
The 4-year-old filly won the six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length over Bullish Miss, who won a four-way photo for second. Hall Of Gold ($7.60) ran the six furlongs in 1:09.48 before suffering a fractured sesamoid in her left front leg as she pulled up into the turn after the race.
"She gives you what she's got every time, and it's usually enough," said winning jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, after Hall Of Gold won for the sixth time in 10 starts.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- R C Mr Hay Boy ended Leaping Plum's seven-year domination of the Grasmick Handicap Saturday afternoon at Fonner Park, posting a $58.20 upset in the process.
Leaping Plum, in what is thought to be a world record, had won the Grasmick each year since 1995. An 11-year-old, trained by Joe Moss, Leaping Plum finished third Saturday, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - In a race that played out like a carbon copy of last month's Holy Bull Stakes, Booklet held off Harlan's Holiday after a spirited stretch duel to take Saturday's $200,000 * at Gulfstream Park.
The Fountain of Youth, like the Holy Bull at 1 1/16 miles, saw Booklet dart off to a clear lead early, forcing Harlan's Holiday to try to catch him. He almost did, but Booklet held on bravely to win by a nose.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap at Santa Anita on Monday is simply a launching pad for Astra's 2002 campaign, according to trainer Laura de Seroux.
A Grade 1 winner last year, Astra makes her first start in six months in the Grade 2 Buena Vista, which is run at a mile on turf, a distance shorter than her optimum trip.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Just 24 hours after 2-5 shot Pleasant County finished out of the money and wiped out $396,410 in show bets at Gulfstream, Nice Boots Baby, who had $253,506 riding on her in the show pool from a total pool of $275,489, finished last as the 2-5 choice in Saturday's $80,750 Dearly Precious Stakes at Aqueduct.
LAUREL, Md. - Unlike two years ago, when Affirmed Success looked every bit the 1-2 favorite winning the Grade 2 General George Handicap, there are legitimate concerns regarding his chances in Monday's renewal of the $200,000 General George at Laurel Park.
Affirmed Success, now 8 years old, has spent the last two years unsuccessfully chasing the Breeders' Cup Mile on turf. Since winning the General George, Affirmed Success is 1 for 4 on dirt, his win coming in the off-the-turf Jaipur Handicap.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Three and a half years after winning his first Grade 1 race, Cetewayo struck again on Saturday, parlaying a devastating run around the final bend into a convincing 3 1/4-length victory over 5-2 favorite Band Is Passing in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap*.
LAUREL, Md. - The connections of Xtra Heat won't learn until Monday night whether their fleet filly will be honored with an Eclipse Award for her exploits of 2001. On Saturday, before a boisterous crowd at Laurel Park, Xtra Heat began to stake her claim for a title in 2002.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Five trainers were fined and suspended for positive drug tests for the prohibited Class 3 medication Clonidine found in horses last year at Fonner Park. The rulings, dated Jan. 31, were released Friday and Saturday by the Nebraska State Racing Commission.
