LOUISVILLE, Ky. - No wonder racing fans say they have favorite horses. Old warriors like Buff never seem to go away, their reliability exceeded only by their desire. Buff has been a fixture at Churchill Downs since early in his 3-year-old season, when he developed into a successful turf specialist for Frank Brothers by winning the Jefferson Cup.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - There aren't many turf stakes on the New York Racing Association calendar that trainer Bill Mott hasn't won. But Tuesday's $75,000-added Pilgrim at Aqueduct has been a stumbling block for the Hall of Fame trainer.
Mott has finished second in the past two runnings of the Pilgrim, a 2-year-old grass race, with King Cugat and then Baptize, two horses whose Pilgrim losses can be forgiven as they have gone on to earn more than $1.7 million between them.
This year, Mott has the probable Pilgrim favorite in Miesque's Approval.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Tuesday isn't exactly known as the day you showcase your finest Thoroughbreds, either at Churchill Downs or virtually any other track in North America. So when a couple of stakes-caliber fillies surfaced in the eighth race here Tuesday, most horseplayers might have been mildly surprised.
De Bertie, winner of the Rampart and Sabin handicaps, and Maltese Superb, most recently second in the Grade 3 Matron at Arlington Park, are the principals in a field of six fillies and mares in the feature race, a $59,800 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Saturday's California Cup program at Santa Anita was a day for the former claimers.
Four of the five winners of races worth $150,000 or more were acquired by their current owners through the claim box.
The biggest winners on Saturday were the partnership that owns Irisheyesareflying, the winner of the $250,000 California Cup Classic.
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.
