Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Inner should revive Diversa

JAMAICA, N.Y. - Last week, after It All Adds Up won a second-level allowance race by nearly seven lengths, trainer John Kimmel said he might point her to the Affectionately Handicap on Jan. 12 unless he thought she needed more experience.

Kimmel can afford to be patient with It All Adds Up because he could just as easily be represented in the Affectionately with Diversa, who looks well-spotted Wednesday in Aqueduct's feature, a third-level allowance race at a mile and 70 yards over the inner track.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Misanello - four in a row?

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The best claim of the autumn in Southern California might have been Misanello at Santa Anita in October.

Now raced by a partnership and trained by Barry Abrams, Misanello followed his victory in a $25,000 claimer on Oct. 21 with two wins in the span of a week at Hollywood Park in mid-November, quickly recuperating the cost of the partnership's investment.

On Wednesday, Misanello will attempt to win his fourth consecutive start, a $42,000 allowance race/optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs at Hollywood Park.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Gerard Melancon wins 2000th

NEW ORLEANS - For jockey Gerard Melancon, the bookends of his career have been the times to remember. A successful apprentice rider in his teens, Melancon has come back from substance abuse problems and a tarnished reputation, and Sunday at Fair Grounds he won the 2,000th race of his career.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Monarchos begins to get serious

MIAMI - Kentucky Derby winner * got to really stretch his legs for the first time since returning to south Florida two weeks ago, working a half mile in 46.60 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Sunday morning.

"He was a little anxious the first part but then settled down nicely and galloped out quietly," said trainer John Ward who timed the work in 47 and change while watching alongside Monarchos's regular rider, Jorge Chavez. "I'm happy with the way he went. He obviously hasn't forgotten how to run. And I'm also very pleased with the racetrack. It is very consistent."

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

'Tali' can relate to Rodney Dangerfield

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - *, the 2-year-old filly who starts in Sunday's Hollywood Starlet Stakes, is a Grade 1 winner in need of respect.

Her victory in the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita in late September was tainted by the late scratch of top contender Habibti, the winner of the Del Mar Debutante who later finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Belmont Park.

Tali'sluckybusride never left California this fall. She needed to be supplemented to the Juvenile Fillies, but her connections - owners Ron and Susie Anson - focused instead on the Starlet.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Hawthorne: Paddy's Spy upsets in High Alexander

Paddy's Spy ($52) got through along the rail en route to a surprising 4 1/2-length triumph Saturday in the $102,060 High Alexander Stakes at Hawthorne.

Spanish Hall, part of a favored entry at 9-5, finished second, 1 1/2 lengths before Cane Ridge in a field of 12 Illinois-bred 3-year-olds and upward.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Sam Houston: Dusty Spike rallies to win Alamo

Dusty Spike ($25.20) stalked the leaders early, then rallied through the stretch to a one-length victory over De Real Deal in Saturday night's $25,000 Alamo Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston.

It was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to 2-5 favorite Boston Common, who set a pressured pace before weakening over a track rated good.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Golden Gate: Lil Sister Stich steals one

ALBANY, Calif. - "They fell asleep," said trainer Armando Lage, explaining Lil Sister Stich's victory in the Golden Poppy Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Lil Sister Stich ($9.40) stole the 1 1/16-mile turf race, opening a five-length lead despite slow fractions on a turf course listed as good.

Lil Sister Stich looked as if she would be passed by a flying Slow Down in the stretch, but she dug in after Slow Down pulled along side her and won the race by one length over Slow Down.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Turfway Park: Fast Delivery takes My Charmer again

Fast Delivery ($15.80) closed best of all to repeat as champion in the $50,000 My Charmer Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

Fast Delivery, ridden by the meet's leading jockey, James Lopez, has earned over $263,000 in a 23-race career.

Mon, 12/10/2001 - 00:00

Aqueduct: Seeyouinmydreams saves odds-on entry

JAMAICA, N.Y - Seeyouinmydreams, the lesser-regarded half of Flying Zee Stable's odds-on entry, rode the rail all the way around and held off Lucky Sucre late to win the $80,000 East View Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Sunday Driver, the part of the entry the betting public surely fancied. Pacesetter Moonlightandbeauty and Our Breadwinner completed the order of finish. Multiple Wins was scratched, and entered in a preliminary allowance race on Wednesday.