INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Story had a Hollywood ending after all.
The 2-year-old filly, already graded stakes-placed but still a maiden after four starts, broke through for her first victory at an opportune time on Sunday when she captured the Grade 1, $349,500 before 8,832 at Hollywood Park.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Katdogawn completed a Saturday stakes sweep for jockey Mike Smith and recorded her third stakes victory of the year when she rallied to take the Grade 2, $150,000 Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park.
Smith had won the Hollywood Futurity earlier on the card with Lion Heart.
Katdogawn, a 3-year-old filly, was making her first start against older runners. She had won three times in nine starts earlier this year, including Del Mar's Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap, but this was a significant step up in class.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lion Heart put in his final bid for champion 2-year-old colt on Saturday by winning the Grade 1, $382,000 in a front-running performance that put trainer Patrick Biancone on the campaign trail as soon as Lion Heart crossed the wire.
"If it was only my vote, I would vote for him," Biancone said after Lion Heart ran his record to 3 for 3 with a 3 1/2-length victory over four rivals. "I'm not saying that because I train him. He's an exceptional, exceptional horse. I said before the race he needed to give an outstanding display. He did it."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Savedbythelight has a date in the breeding shed next year with Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, but after winning Saturday's $112,100 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct, her connections might not be that eager to breed the filly.
MIAMI - Like every other 3-year-old in trainer Barclay Tagg's barn, Changing World has lived in the shadow of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide throughout the year. But on Saturday at Calder, Changing World was the one taking all the bows after an impressive two-length victory over 3-2 favorite Campsie Fells in the $100,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes.
MIAMI - Storm Flag Flying, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2002, has returned to serious training at the Palm Beach Downs training center and is expected to make her much-anticipated return to action within the next couple of months.
Storm Flag Flying, who capped off an undefeated 2-year-old campaign with a game victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, made only two starts as a 3-year-old and has not raced since finishing sixth in the Acorn Stakes on June 6.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Information is the lifeblood of the wagering public. Spotting the hot stable or live new rider before the public catches on is what every bettor dreams about.
While there have been only three racing programs completed at the new meeting at Tampa Bay Downs, some early trends are emerging. Stables have converged here from all over North America, and the tracks these horses last raced at finished their meetings at different times; thus, the conditioning of the horses from different areas can be difficult to gauge.
Here are some early observations.
NEW ORLEANS - Snowdrops looked like a filly good enough to win a stakes race. But she hadn't, and that is why trainer Christophe Clement sent her from his Payson Park base in south Florida to run in the $75,000 Pago Hop Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Snowdrops responded with the best performance of her career, making the lead at the top of the stretch and finishing strongly to hold off the heavily favored Baie by a half-length.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Capitalizing on a fast pace, longshot Leading Lioness rallied past favored Ready and Tough to win the $50,000 Gowell Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths.
Under a well-timed ride by Mark Johnston, who shifted his tack from Maryland to Kentucky in November, Leading Lioness closed rapidly from seventh to catch 7-10 favorite Ready and Tough in the final 70 yards. Papa Sids Girl finished third, a length behind the runner-up. Down by the Sea and Roller Girl were scratched.
Trainer Michael Dickinson sprung another successful invasion of Laurel Park, winning the $60,000 Challedon for Maryland-breds with 6-year-old gelding Acrolect.
Acrolect, the third choice in the betting at 6-1, stalked the pace under Jose Caraballo, opened a two-length lead in upper stretch, and was not threatened the rest of the way.
Aggadan, the 3-5 favorite, closed from fourth to get second, beaten 2 1/2 lengths. Implicit was another head back in third at 20-1. Acrolect ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.59 and paid $15.20.
