Tue, 02/18/2003 - 00:00

Three riders injured in TuP spill

Jockeys Seth Martinez, Wilson Dieguez and O. A. Martinez, sustained injuries in a three-horse spill, Monday at Turf Paradise.

Seth Martinez, 24, the meet's leading rider, suffered an apparent broken collarbone. Dieguez, 29, sustained a contusion to the head. Both riders were taken to John C. Lincoln Hospital. O.A. Martinez, 38, suffered a broken nose and returned to the jocks' room.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

Winner's circle is her Final Destination

BENOIT PHOTO
Final Destination ($5.80) rallies to win her first stakes in the United States in the $150,000 Buena Vista Handicap on Monday.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A few years ago, the New Zealand import Happyanunoit was one of the top turf females in trainer Bobby Frankel's stable before her retirement in the summer of 2001.

Frankel may have found a suitable replacement from New Zealand in Final Destination.

On Monday at Santa Anita, the 5-year-old Final Destination won her first stakes in the United States in the $150,000 over a mile on turf.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

Two emerge from the pack

Horsephotos
Badge of Silver got a 108 Beyer Figure for winning the Risen Star. Next up: the March 9 Louisiana Derby.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Both Trust N Luck and Badge of Silver, who scored overpowering victories in the weekend's key 3-year-old stakes, came out of their races in good order and established themselves as the horses to beat in the next round of Kentucky Derby preps in March.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

Martha's Music will get wet track

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Monday's card at Aqueduct was canceled because of a severe blizzard, and the $75,000-added Rare Treat Handicap was moved to Wednesday.

Martha's Music, who is based at Philadelphia Park and shooting for her fifth straight win, is the one to beat. Owned by Leonard Green's D J Stable, Martha's Music is the 119-pound highweight.

On Monday, Martha's Music's trainer, John Servis, was shoveling snow after Philadelphia was hit with two feet over the weekend. He said he was confident Martha's Music would be on a van early Wednesday for the Rare Treat.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

Donn suddenly a more popular race

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The prospective starting lineup for Saturday's $500,000 Donn Handicap swelled to as many as 11 horses on Monday, in large part because of the defection of Lido Palace, who was withdrawn from consideration for the race on Saturday by trainer Bobby Frankel.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

El General has reason to improve

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As a half-brother to champion turf mare Perfect Sting, El General faced high expectations when he made it to the grass. He has failed to meet those expectations, and his connections took the most drastic of measures to try and turn his career around.

When El General runs in Wednesday's featured second-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park, he will do so as a gelding for the first time. El General, owned by Stronach Stable and trained by Malcolm Pierce, has won only two of his first 10 starts and should offer value in a full and contentious field.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

Explosive Beauty wins at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Explosive Beauty won her second straight stakes race Monday when she powered to a 5 3/4-length win over Hannah's Royalrock in the $50,000 at Oaklawn Park.

It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Adopted Daughter in third.

Explosive Beauty ($4.20) sat in fourth early behind Simply Siber, who ran the opening quarter of the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies in 21.82 seconds. Explosive Beauty began her bid on the turn, took the lead from Hannah's Royalrock near the quarter pole, and went on to cover the distance over a good track in 1:11.20.

Mon, 02/17/2003 - 00:00

Delta Downs: No Its Not loses for first time

Rhonesquarterwish ($12.80) handed even-money favorite No Its Not his first defeat at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., on Sunday night when he drew clear by 3 1/4 lengths to win the $50,000 Delta Mile. No Its Not was second best, finishing two lengths in front of pacesetter Freon Flier.

Rhonesquarterwish pushed Freon Flier through an opening half-mile in 47.72 seconds before taking over and going on to cover the distance over a track rated fast in 1:39.26.

Sun, 02/16/2003 - 00:00

Lacie Girl continues streak in Richmond Handicap

ALBANY, Calif. - Lacie Girl ($3.20), unbeaten in Northern California and at six furlongs, made up five lengths in the final quarter mile, edging Onslaught by a head in the $60,550 Richmond Handicap on Sunday at Golden Gate Fields.

Sun, 02/16/2003 - 00:00

Starrer victorious in Santa Maria

Horsephotos
Starrer ($4.20) wins the $200,000 Santa Maria Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on Sunday, her second consecutive stakes victory.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Showing that she is in the best form of her career, Starrer won her second consecutive stakes in Sunday's $200,000 at Santa Anita.

The victory was the 5-year-old Starrer's first success in a Grade 1 and the first win at that level for owner George Krikorian.

Benefiting from a ground-saving trip under Patrick Valenzuela, Starrer drew off in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths over You, a top 3-year-old of 2002. Rhiana finished third in the field of five fillies and mares, followed by Printemps and Se Me Acabo.