Columbus, Neb. - Bengal Gal and Dazzling J. R. took different routes in overcoming a slow, deep track to win their respective divisions of the Nebraska Breeders' Sweepstakes.
Bengal Gal captured the $14,250 NBS Debutante by leading gate to wire for a 5 3/4-length victory. The tiring track was taking its toll by the end of the six furlongs.
Trained by Marv Johnson, Bengal Gal returned $4.40 as the slight favorite in a field of five, finishing in 1:22.20 on a slow track.
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Jockey Jake Barton was all smiles at Hastings Park after winning the $104,869 Jack Diamond Futurity aboard David Forster-trained Long Rifle by a half-length over Commodore Craig. Barton was named on Long Rifle in the Futurity when leading rider David Wilson opted to ride 3-5 favorite No Time Flat, who finished a disappointing sixth.
Long Rifle ($11.10) covered 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track.in 1:18.78.
Heavily favored Dancing Dreams won for the fourth time in a row for trainer Cole Norman, holding off a late charge from another Norman charge, Queen of the Isle, to win the $40,000 Delta Miss Stakes at Louisiana Downs.
Dancing Dreams quickly made the early advantage with Anthony Lovato riding and was in front by 3 1/2 lengths with a furlong to run, with enough of a cushion to prevail by a length. East Coast Soldier turned in a mild rally to finish third, fourth lengths behind Queen of the Isle.
Jumron Won, under Ben Russell, made a late-running drive to win the $125,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Derby.
Jumron Won, winner of seven Emerald Downs stakes races and Horse of the Year there in 2000, returned $11.20 for his victory.
Jumron Won relaxed in fifth position in the field of eight until the final turn. Coming into the lane five-wide, he finished strongly, catching I'm Free in the final strides by a half-length.
POMONA, Calif. - The $49,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes was bet like it was a one-horse race at Fairplex Park on the opening weekend of the Los Angeles County Fair meet. Feverish started at 3-5 in the 1 1/16-mile race (1:44.34) for fillies and mares, but it was a surprising Cee Dreams ($10.40) who rolled by 6 1/2 lengths while Feverish struggled in second. Cee's Elegance finished a length back in third.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Keeneland Race Course hopes to link several of its upcoming major stakes in multirace wagers with events from other major jurisdictions, a track official said Monday at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Kentucky Racing Commission.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Heads turned when Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez spent the highest price ever in a Washington State Sale for Collect Call in the Marshall Naify Dispersal Sale last August. Sure, she had looked good winning her maiden in the Lassie Stakes at Hastings Park but $250,000 seemed like a lot of money for a 2-year-old filly who had just finished third in a minor stakes at Emerald Downs.
Leading trainer Cole Norman picked up his sixth stakes win of the meeting, sending out Tricky Storm ($5.20) to a sharp nine-length win in the $40,000 Minstrel Stakes at Louisiana Downs.
Ruling Star, also trained by Norman, finished second. Favored Nuclear Assembly chased Tricky Storm in vain for the first half-mile of the six-furlong race while attempting to get out in the turn then faded down the stretch to finish fourth.
The scratch of Thunderello, who would have been the heavy favorite in the $48,500 Comet Stakes at The Meadowlands, left the door open for Final Table to win the 2-year-old race.
Final Table ($7.60) set a sharp pace and hung on to win the six-furlong Comet by a half-length over Boston Common. It was another 6 3/4 lengths back to the favorite, Winning Talk, in third.
EDMONTON, Alberta - A virtual unknown at the start of the Northlands Park season, the Ernie Keller-trained Rancour stole the show in the $100,000 Speed to Spare.
Keller and owner Dennis Dale claimed Rancour, a Kentucky-bred 4-year-old in June. Since then he has won two stakes and boosted his year's earnings to over $127,000.
Rancour probably will be pointed toward the $100,000 Premier's Handicap at Hastings Park on Oct. 14.