Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Histoire Sainte owns this course

NEW ORLEANS - In the Sixty Sails, there are at least two salient questions to ask.

How will the newly turned 4-year-olds fare against their elders? And is there any point trying to beat Histoire Sainte at Fair Grounds?

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Easy game: Just follow Valdez

PORTLAND, Ore. - Hot-riding Felipe Valdez, who has scarcely slowed down since riding seven winners here on Dec. 23, may hold the key to Sunday's featured ninth race at Portland Meadows.

Valdez has been the regular rider for three of the top entrants in the feature, a mile race for older $2,500 claimers that has drawn a field of 10. It may be highly significant that Valdez winds up on Shy Boots, leaving the reins on Our C. C. and Oxford Circus to others.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Statebred day set for December

The inaugural Great State Challenge, the new six-race event designed for the top horses of statebred programs, will be run on Dec. 7 this year, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced.

The NTRA had already selected Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, to host the inaugural event. Organizers said the Dec. 7 date was selected because of mild weather in Houston at that time of year and because most states hold their statebred championships in October, so a December date avoids many potential overlaps in scheduling.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Churchill donations draw fire

The state chairman of Common Cause of Kentucky, a political watchdog group, has filed an ethics complaint against Churchill Downs, calling the racetrack company's recent donations of $15,500 to Kentucky legislators "damaging to the political process."

Richard Beliles, the chairman, filed the complaint on his own behalf, he said Friday. The filing is expected to trigger an investigation by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission, which would not comment on the complaint on Friday.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Hard to look past 'Sainte'

NEW ORLEANS - In the Sixty Sails, there are at least two salient questions to ask.

How will the newly turned 4-year-olds fare against their elders? And is there any point trying to beat Histoire Sainte at Fair Grounds?

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Little certain in San Miguel

ARCADIA, Calif. - There is plenty of turmoil in the field for Sunday's Grade 3 San Miguel, a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Two of the six entrants - Royal Moro and Bring Jung - are in the process of being sold. Another, Distinction, is a five-start maiden who cost $4.2 million. The other three - Expected Program, Popular, and Roman Dancer - enter the San Miguel off abysmal efforts at short prices.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Bridgmohan having a happy new year

JAMAICA, N.Y. - What a difference a year makes.

A year ago, jockey Shaun Bridgmohan was watching his mounts win races at Aqueduct while he was at home nursing a punctured lung and four broken ribs suffered in a Dec. 23 spill that sidelined him until Jan. 26.

Twelve months later, Bridgmohan, 22, is riding up a storm at the Big A's inner track meet.

Through Friday's card, Bridgmohan has booted home 23 winners from 129 mounts and is third in the standings. Bridgmohan only trails the leader, apprentice Lorenzo Lezcano, by four wins.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Time to fish or cut bait

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tout Charmant, once a model of consistency, has been a puzzle for trainer Ron McAnally in the last few months.

In 2000, Tout Charmant earned more than $1 million and was in the top three in all seven of her starts. In 2001, she was unplaced in three starts in the final four months of the year.

A 6-year-old, Tout Charmant has a chance Sunday to convince McAnally and owners Bob and Janice McNair that her racing days are not over. Tout Charmant starts as the 120-pound highweight in the $150,000 San Gorgonio Handicap, a Grade 2 over 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Two nice 3-year-olds changing hands

ARCADIA, Calif. - The changing complexion of the Santa Anita 3-year-old division will undergo further revision this weekend, pending the sale of Royal Moro and Bringem Jung, principal entrants in Sunday's Grade 3 San Miguel Stakes.

Fri, 01/11/2002 - 00:00

Munger still knows how to win

PORTLAND, Ore. - Astute handicappers have long recognized Don Munger as one of the most consistent and productive trainers in Northwest racing. Though he has never trained enough horses to compete for leading trainer honors, Munger has regularly sent out a high percentage of winners, and he has often provided a positive rate of return for win bettors.