Blue Steller split rivals in mid-stretch and pulled clear late to win Sunday's $100,000 Bay Meadows Derby Handicap at Bay Meadows, the colt's first stakes win.
Ridden by Alex Solis, Blue Steller rallied from last to reach contention on the final turn. Racing on the inside, Blue Steller rallied between pacesetters Irish Warrior and Sea to See in midstretch and won by 1 1-2 lengths. Blue Steller ($3.40) finished about 1 1-8 miles on turf in 1:46.81.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Still a 3-year-old, Golden Apples showed on Sunday she can compete with California's top older fillies and mares on turf.
Closing from last in the field of nine, Golden Apples caught pacesetter Dancingonice in the final 50 yards to win the $250,000 Las Palmas Handicap at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.
Golden Apples was making her first start against older fillies and mares, having won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and finished second in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland since arriving from Europe in late summer.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Nearly three years after he was bought for $2 million, Morocco has found his niche.
Morocco starts Monday in the $100,000 Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita, a sprint over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. The Morvich is the feature race on the closing day of the Oak Tree at Santa Anita meeting.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Yougottawanna, who has never run in a graded stakes, upset Officer, one of the nation's top 2-year-olds, in Saturday's $125,000 California Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. Officer, a three-time major stakes winner, was returning a week after finishing fifth as the odds-on favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park.
MIAMI - After winning the last four Calder training titles Bill White went into the 2001 season the odds-on favorite to add another trophy to his mantelpiece. He did not disappoint the chalkplayers, running away with the crown by a comfortable margin over Ralph Ziadie and Manny Tortora.
White, who has also won or shared the last three Tropical titles, took the victory in stride.
FORT ERIE, Ont. - Jockey Jack Lauzon was named aboard four runners Saturday and four on Sunday at Fort Erie. Lauzon, 39, who moved his tack here from Woodbine in June, had been sidelined since being injured in a spill Oct. 4 at Woodbine.
"I was riding Vice N Friendly when he broke a leg," said Lauzon. "I went down and two horses following ran me over. I was clipped and got bruised up pretty good. I had multiple contusions and muscles were torn."
More than the usual concern for an injured rider was exhibited that day.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Pecos Star, one of Fort Erie's best-known performers, has been retired. The 9-year-old gelding who was the king of the quarter-milers here had developed a habit in which his rear left leg would strike his front ankle during an all out run. Serious cuts would result.
Despite special boots, shoe modifications, and bandaging, trainer Ted Dobbie couldn't eliminate the problem. "Enough is enough. I just couldn't do it to him anymore," said Dobbie, who claimed the horse
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - In a rerun of the 2000 Canadian Oaks, Catch the Ring collared front-running Mountain Angel in the final strides to capture the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine.
Catch the Ring ($2.90) trailed early in the 1 1/4-mile race, as Mountain Angel set uncontested fractions of 23.95 seconds, 48.22, and 1:12.76. Catch the Ring commenced a four-wide rally on the far turn under Robert Landry, and prevailed by a half-length in a time of 2:03.62. Madame Red finished third in the eight-horse field.
This time, there were no traffic problems to hinder La Reine's Terms.
Making amends for a near-collision that wiped him out of contention as the favorite in last month's Maryland Million Turf, La Reine's Terms ($7.40) bounced back by winning the $75,000 Find Handicap at Laurel Park.
Ridden by Larry Reynolds for trainer Larry Murray, La Reine's Terms covered 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:50.12. New York shipper My Request rallied strongly to finish second, a half-length behind the winner.
MIAMI - Raponera, who had not won a race all season and had never won on grass, broke both of those losing streaks in high style when she rallied to a 1 1/4-length victory over Golden Saint in the $54,560 Powder Break Handicap at Calder.
Raponera ($34.80) avoided some severe crowding to her immediate outside leaving the gate, raced within easy striking distance on the backstretch, readily overtook the tiring leader I No Best leaving the far turn, and, after drawing clear in midstretch, withstood a closing surge from Golden Saint.
