Vogue Girl, the 7-2 second choice, led from gate to wire in the $100,000 Blue Hen Stakes, leading by a length turning for home and then holding off a late surge by favored From Away to win by three-quarters of a length.
From Away was running sixth in the field of seven at the six-furlong mark when she was stuck behind horses along the inside. She moved clear and closed fast, but never seriously threatened the winner in the mile race for 2-year-old fillies.
Richetta, the 1-9 favorite, was bottled up along the rail under Ramon Dominguez at the top of the stretch in the $60,000 Heavenly Cause for Maryland-bred 2-year-old fillies. But then she blasted through a hole, shot to the front, and drew off to a 1 1/4-length victory.
Richetta ran the seven furlongs in 1:24.04 and paid $2.20 to win. Of $66,028 bet to show on the race, $62,722 was bet on Richetta.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Grey Memo has become a fixture in the $250,000 California Cup Classic at Santa Anita, having started in the race for the last three years.
Unfortunately for the partnership that owns the 6-year-old Grey Memo and for trainer Warren Stute, the annual appearances have so far ended in frustration.
Grey Memo was sixth in the Classic in 2000 and 2001, and a troubled fourth last year. He returns in the Classic next Saturday, hoping to end a brutal streak of losses at Santa Anita.
ARCADIA, Calif. - It is becoming increasingly difficult to fill races in Southern California, for one simple reason. Said Santa Anita racing secretary Mike Harlow: "No horses."
For the second consecutive Sunday at Santa Anita, the featured stake race did not fill. The $75,000 Hidden Light Stakes for 2-year-old fillies was canceled when only four entered the mile turf stake. The race will be rescheduled as an allowance, and the Sunday stake race replaced by a first-condition sprint that goes as race 7. One week ago, the Lure Stakes was scrapped with only four entrants.
ARCADIA, Calif. - There is a carryover of $102,741 on Saturday's pick six at Santa Anita.
The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races and includes three turf races, two sprints on dirt and a route race.
Unlike many recent days at Santa Anita, the Saturday program features several full fields. The smallest field in the pick six is nine runners.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Five Point Star will try to carry his speed 1 1/16 miles in the feature race at Hastings Sunday, an allowance race for 3-year-olds that have not won a stakes worth $20,000 or more in 2003.
Five Point Star, who races for his breeder and trainer, Bruce Unwin, is one of the top sprinters on the grounds, and was brilliant winning his last race by seven lengths in a very fast 1:16.05 for 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 27. He also won a $50,000 optional sprint in June, and was stakes placed behind Illusive Force in the City of Vancouver Stakes May 10.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - After demolishing his competition in his career debut, Value Plus lost his next two starts. On Sunday at Aqueduct, Value Plus will try to regain the brilliant form he flashed in his first start in the Grade 3, $100,000-added Nashua Stakes.
Eleven 2-year-old males were entered in the one-mile Nashua, a prep for the Grade 2 Remsen Nov. 29. In its 27 runnings, the Nashua has had very little impact on the Triple Crown, save for Pine Bluff, who won the 1992 Preakness after winning the 1991 Nashua.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Existing in the enormous shadow of the Breeders' Cup, the Iroquois Stakes long has been an afterthought within the 2-year-old division. Yet a quick historical reference reveals that there is sufficient precedent for a horse to win the Iroquois and immediately become a divisional player.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jerry Hollendorfer has wrapped up his 27th straight Bay Meadows training title. On Sunday, he'll saddle Secret Corsage in the $60,000-added Bay Meadows Lassie, as she tries to win 2-year-old filly of the meet honors.
Secret Corsage's eight-length victory at a mile Oct. 13 makes her one of the fillies to beat in the one-mile Lassie. The probable favorite in the field of five is unbeaten Church Editor, who began her career in a $25,000 maiden claimer. Church Editor recently scored her third straight win, capturing the 1 1/16-mile Black Swan at Fairplex.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - With 40 racing days remaining in New York this year, trainer Todd Pletcher is on his way to winning his first year-end training title.
Counting Friday's card, Pletcher has saddled 114 winners this year from 440 starters in New York. Richard Dutrow Jr. is next in the standings, with 77 winners from 331 starters. Dutrow won the title the last two years and Pletcher was second. Pletcher also was the runner-up in 1999 to John Kimmel.