Thu, 01/15/2004 - 00:00

Turf Paradise: Rockin On tops Sun Devil

PHOENIX - Rockin On faces two major hurdles in Saturday's $40,000 Sun Devil, a one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. The Sun Devil is Rockin On's first start around two turns, and she faces two swift Southern California invaders in a field of 10.

Rockin On took on winners here in her debut Nov. 17, and did well to run third to stakes-caliber It'slonelyatthetop. She followed that up with big wins in the Arizona Breeders Futurity and the Valid Leader, beating many of her Saturday foes in both outings. Regular rider Glen Corbett again will ride her for trainer Kory Owens.

Thu, 01/15/2004 - 00:00

A Special Sno Flo starts year in Sand Dollar

California Challenge Derby winner A Special Sno Flo makes her first start since finishing third in the Grade 1 Challenge Derby Championship Nov. 1, in Saturday nights $18,000 Sand Dollar Beach Handicap for 4-year-old fillies Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

In the Challenge Derby Championship, A Special Sno Flo ran a strong race but could not contend with the fast 19.62-second time recorded by winner Prima LD. A Special Sno Flo finished three-quarters of a length behind.

Thu, 01/15/2004 - 00:00

More dirt on tap for Freefourinternet

Freefourinternet's win in an off-the-turf race two starts ago has opened up a whole new world for him, as he starts as the 119-pound highweight in Saturday night's $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park.

A 6-year-old, Freefourinternet has built his reputation on turf, with wins in races like the Grade 2 Kelso Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park last October. But when he captured a tough optional claimer on dirt at Fair Grounds on Dec. 14, his connections began looking at some main-track races for the horse, starting with the Maxxam.

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

Distance ideal for Bare Necessities

Four Footed Fotos
Bare Necessities won four handicaps last year, including the Sixty Sails.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bare Necessities was third as a heavy favorite in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park last month, a disappointing end to a 2003 campaign that included four stakes wins.

returns in Friday's $75,000 Paseana Handicap at Santa Anita, where she will be favored to win a race designed as a prep to the $250,000 Santa Maria Handicap on Feb. 16.

"I figured she'd need a race in between," trainer Wally Dollase said of the time between the Bayakoa and Santa Maria. "She will be dead fit."

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

With 'Action' out, others are in

ARCADIA, Calif. - The absence of Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day from Saturday's $150,000 Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita has opened the race to a wider group of 3-year-olds, some contenders and some pretenders for the Triple Crown races.

The category that fits each of the eight probables for the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile race will be better known after the Santa Catalina is run.

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

Bombs away: Carryover hits $761K

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After another parade of longshots visited Aqueduct's winner's circle Wednesday - and with Thursday's card canceled due to expected inclement weather - there will be a pick six carryover of $761,021 heading into Friday's scheduled card.

New York Racing Association officials believe this is third-largest pick-six carryover in the history of the wager in the state. There was a carryover of $817,345 heading into the Aug. 12, 1988, card at Saratoga and a carryover of $804,118 entering the Aug. 10, 1990, card, also at Saratoga.

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

Aqueduct schedules make-up card for Wednesday

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Forced to cancel part or all of seven cards since Dec. 5, Aqueduct has added Wednesday, Jan. 21, to its live racing schedule. That day was originally scheduled as dark because Aqueduct will be open Monday, Martin Luther King Day, for live racing.

Aqueduct canceled its Thursday card because of a forecast that called for cold temperatures and snow. It was the fifth full card scrapped since the inner track opened. Two other cards were canceled after races had been run.

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

Second of June's stock rising daily

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Several months ago, Bill Cesare was entertaining offers to sell Second of June for a nice chunk of change, but the terms of a couple of proposals were not to his satisfaction, and a deal never got done.

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

Cat's Glow tries 'logical spot'

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It's all about the grass. While racetracks in more wintry climates are still several frigid months from hosting turf racing again, Gulfstream Park on Friday will flaunt its tropical allure by carding its two best races on grass.

The slightly richer of the pair, the eighth race, could have Cat's Glow as a deserving favorite, while the supporting feature, the sixth, appears to be a more a wide-open affair, in which more than half the field appears capable of winning.

Wed, 01/14/2004 - 00:00

Claimers have class in feature

Claiming horses are viewed by some horseplayers as being outclassed when matched against allowance runners. In Friday's $32,000 ninth race at Fair Grounds, four claimers may prove their doubters wrong.

The ninth race, an optional claiming race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, offers an even balance of four two-other-than allowance horses and four horses running for a $40,000 tag.