INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two years later than anticipated, Lonesome Dude has put together the sort of campaign that owners David and Holly Wilson, and trainer Vladimir Cerin expected when he was brought from Europe in the summer of 1999.
Sunday at Hollywood Park, Lonesome Dude won his second stakes of the year in the $73,500 Steinlen Handicap, outfinishing Kudos by three-quarters of a length. Ridden by Brice Blanc, Lonesome Dude ($18.20) ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:40.61.
Chicago Six dominated Illinois-breds with a victory for the second straight year in the $75,000 Illinois Coronet Handicap at Hawthorne. Carrying top weight of 126 pounds, Chicago Six ($4.40) cruised home by six lengths under jockey Alfredo Juarez, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.44 over a fast track.
San Pedro, the slight favorite, finished second, with Not Happening third.
In other stakes action:
Schaumburg is getting good. Claimed for $7,500 in April, he led at every call to take the $25,000 Buffalo Bayou Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park by 1 3/4 lengths over L.A. Spider Legs. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to favorite Coach Rags.
Schaumburg ($19.40), under regular rider Rita Helton, covered the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:43.60. Trained by Bill Pettit, he has won his last three starts.
Chauffe au Rouge and Strappado were scratched from the Buffalo Bayou.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Dat You Miz Blue, under John Velazquez, won the $75,000 Ready Jet Go Stakes on closing night at The Meadowlands. She stalked favored Big Bambu before rolling to a 7 1/2-length win in 1:08.79 for six furlongs. Arriana's Passion was second, La Galerie third.
Dat You Miz Blue ($6.80) had lost her last three races, all stakes. After two dull efforts using Lasix, Dat You Miz Blue was taken off the medication for Saturday's race by trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
Front Nine looked like he wanted to make the turn and play the whole 18 holes when he won the colt and gelding division of the $73,184 Friendship Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Balkan finished second with Onlynurimagination third.
Front Nine, ridden by Cathleen Garner, stalked the leaders before moving at will to the front while three wide on the turn. Under only token encouragement, he drew out to win in 1:10.52 for the six furlongs on a fast track.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Heads Will Roll and Alex Solis had trainer Bobby Frankel worried in midstretch of the $100,000 Matiara Stakes at Hollywood Park. Live Your Dreams was looking strong on the lead, and Frankel wasn't sure that Heads Will Roll was going to be able to catch her.
"I didn't think she'd get her at the eighth pole," Frankel said.
In the final sixteenth, Heads Will Roll caught Live Your Dreams and won by a half-length for her second consecutive stakes win, finishing 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.75.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Watch, a classy and consistent filly but until Saturday never a graded stakes winner, got a perfect trip under Craig Perret to win the 28th running of the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Watch, trained by Frank Brothers, finished a length ahead of 25-1 shot Sitka in the Grade 3, $169,350 Cardinal. Gino's Spirits, who had traffic trouble in the stretch, was another nose back in third.
Babae, the even-money favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares, had no apparent excuse, running sixth.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Queue entered Saturday's Long Island Handicap with only one win in her last 12 starts. But she had been a bit unlucky, suffering four of the 11 losses by less than a length.
Saturday, there was no need for excuses as Queue rallied five wide turning for home and powered her way to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $150,000, Grade 2 Long Island Handicap before 7,315 at Aqueduct.
Sweetest Thing, who enjoyed a perfect stalking trip, settled for second, a head in front of Lady Dora.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two years later than anticipated, Lonesome Dude has put together the sort of campaign that owners David and Holly Wilson and trainer Vladimir Cerin expected when he was bought from Europe in the summer of 1999.
On Sunday at Hollywood Park, Lonesome Dude won his second minor stakes of the year in the $73,500 Steinlen Handicap, outfinishing Kudos by three-quarters of a length. Ridden by Brice Blanc, Lonesome Dude ($18.20) ran 1 1-16 miles on turf in 1:40.61.