JAMAICA, N.Y. - Apprentice Lorenzo Lezcano concluded his first season riding in New York with the first stakes win of his career in the $84,850 Alex M. Robb Handicap at Aqueduct aboard Sweet Ricky, a three-quarter-length winner over Mount Intrepid.
Lezcano is the leading rider at Aqueduct since racing switched to the inner track Dec. 5.
Spectacularspencer, the even-money favorite, finished third in the field of 10 New York-breds.
Veteran Mike Morgan suffered the worst injuries among four jockeys who were taken to a local hospital following a chain-reaction spill Sunday in the second race at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Morgan, riding Polish Colleen, suffered a broken wrist in the incident, which occurred when his mount suddenly broke down after having taken the lead entering the stretch. Trailing horses ridden by Jimmy Lopez, Jose Calo, and apprentice Chris Rosier were unable to avoid the spill and also threw their riders.
ALBANY, Calif. - Owner Ronald Parker had never won a stakes race in California with a horse he solely owned before the weekend. After Steady Rollin won Sunday's $55,500 Sutter Stakes at Golden Fields, he had two stakes victories.
His Runaway Ab won the Corte Madera Stakes on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
Steady Rollin ($12.80) won the six-furlong Sutter by one and one-half lengths over Mighty David in 1:10.51 over a sloppy track.
Steady Rollin had to overcome trouble twice in the race.
ARCADIA, Calif. - After a series of losses in major races in late summer and fall, the comfort of the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap* (click here for chart) suited Irish Prize on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Rallying from the back of a large field, Irish Prize successfully defended his title with a head victory over an unlucky Sligo Bay.
The victory ended a three-race losing streak for Irish Prize, but was the 6-year-old's gelding fifth stakes win in the last year.
NEW ORLEANS - When the Florida-based Gold For My Gal gets to New Orleans her eyes light up. Her latest trip to town resulted in her second straight win in the $75,000 Truly Bound Stakes* (click here for chart), which she won Sunday at Fair Grounds by a half-length over Instinct.
The victory was only her second in nine races since she won last year's Truly Bound by six lengths. Two seasons ago, Gold For My Gal shipped in to finish second in the Tiffany Lass Stakes and a close fourth, at odds of 99-1, in the Fair Grounds Oaks.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - When the New Year arrives on Tuesday, Xtra Heat* will be on a van headed north on Interstate 95 to Aqueduct, where she will run later that day in the $75,000-added Interborough Handicap.
The Laurel Park-based Xtra Heat's travel plans may get a little more involved later this year: John Salzman, her trainer and co-owner, said he is game for a trip to Dubai in March for the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen against males.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Freespool can start the 2002 racing season in Southern California with a milestone victory in Tuesday's $100,000 El Conejo Handicap at Santa Anita.
A 6-year-old, Freespool is attempting to win the El Conejo for the third consecutive running. Such an accomplishment has not been achieved in Southern California since Track Gal won the Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar from 1995-97.
MIAMI - August Storm, who stole the Hollywood Wildcat Stakes when allowed to set a slow pace in her 2-year-old finale, may have to work a bit harder if she is to keep her unblemished grass record intact when she launches her 3-year-old season in the $100,000 Calder Oaks on Tuesday. A full field of 12 newly turned 3-year-old fillies will contest the 1 1/16-mile Oaks, which shares top billing on the New Year's Day program with the Grade 3 Calder Derby.
ALBANY, Calif. - There are two types of trainers waiting to welcome the New Year on Tuesday at Golden Gate Fields: those who are hoping the rains will continue and those who are hoping the rains will stop.
That's because Tuesday's $100,000 Lafayette Handicap is carded at one mile on the turf. Ten horses entered the race, whose turf status is in question. When the race is run, whether on dirt or turf, it's likely the field will be much smaller.