While favored Golden Antigua was trapped along the rail, Star Queen surged to the lead in midstretch and went on to victory in the $50,000 Dade Turf Classic at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Ridden by James Lopez, Star Queen ($16.40) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.56 over a soft turf course. Fast Delivery was a late-running third in a field of 11 fillies and mares.
In their last meeting, at Arlington, Golden Antigua won at 7-1, with Star Queen second as the 2-1 favorite.
Trainer Cole Norman has made a habit of knocking out a big chunk of the stakes program here with reformed claimers. He was at it again Saturday, sending out Aviesallstar to victory in the $50,000 Barksdale Handicap. Main Street, the longest shot in the field at 28-1, turned in a late rally to finish second, followed by L. A. Spider Legs.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Two time defending Iowa-bred horse of the year Sure Shot Biscuit was in control throughout and scored a handy two-length victory over Fruitcake Jim in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile, Ralph Hayes Stakes at Prairie Meadows as part of the Iowa Classic Night program, which included six Thor-oughbred stakes for Iowa-breds.
French Assault rolled to an overpowering 11 3/4-length win in the $100,000 El Joven on Saturday night at Retama Park near San Antonio. The one-mile race for 2-year-olds was scheduled for turf, but was moved to the main track because of wet weather. Premeditation checked in second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Front Nine.
French Assault raced well off the pace in the early stages of the El Joven, then overtook the pacesetters into the stretch and cruised home. He covered one mile over a track rated fast in 1:40.62, and returned $12.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - El Prado Essence upset previously unbeaten 3-year-old Meadow Gem in the $113,000 Seaway Stakes for fillies and mares. El Prado Essence dueled with Meadow Gem through an opening quarter of 21.98 seconds, and drew clear on the turn. She began to weaken in the final furlong, but jockey Patrick Husbands got her home on top by a neck.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Slewsbox made it five sprint stakes victories in a row when she posted an impressive 3 1/2-length victory over Carson Jen and five other fillies and mares in the $53,250 Mae de Vol Sprint Stakes at Bay Meadows Saturday.
With Dennis Carr aboard, Slewsbox ($5.20) , trained by Chuck Peery, dueled for the lead with Phaenna, opened up briefly turning for home, was challenged by Carson Jen in early stretch but then drew off inside the eighth pole to win in 1:09.76.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - What trainer Louis Roussel saw in Zarb's Magic over the winter at Fair Grounds wasn't visible to everyone. Zarb's Magic, a stakes winner who had fallen off the map, had withered down to skin and bone. A few days after Roussel bought him privately, Zarb's Magic stood listlessly in his stall, threatened people who tried to handle him and practically refused to train. The winner of the 1996 Arkansas Derby and $780,456 could not even win a $10,000 claiming race.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The result was expected, but not the way it happened. El Corredor, the prohibitive 1-5 favorite, won the $250,000 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap for the second straight year on Sunday, but only after a stirring stretch drive that found three horses battling it out.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan - Jockey Tim Moccasin won with his first four mounts on Saturday night's card at Marquis Downs, running his streak to a North American-record 14 consecutive winners before losing with his final two rides on the card.
Moccasin actually won 13 consecutive races before his mount in Saturday's fourth race was scratched, then came back to win the fifth race on Intricate Stitch by 11.25 lengths.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - What Blazing Fury lacked in experience he made up for with sheer explosiveness, finishing full of run once settling into the stretch to dominate Sunday's $100,000 Saranac Stakes by four and three quarter widening lengths before a crowd of 63,186 on the penultimate day of the 2001 Saratoga meet..