Sun, 07/21/2002 - 00:00

Strike Smartly takes Chinese Cultural Center

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Strike Smartly nailed entrymate Quiet Resolve on the wire to capture his first stakes on Sunday at Woodbine in the $336,300 Chinese Cultural Center, formerly the Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Stakes.

Strike Smartly raced about five lengths off the lead on the backstretch, as the more accomplished Quiet Resolve dueled with New York invader Speed of Light through moderate fractions. Quiet Resolve assumed command in the stretch, and seemed headed for a comfortable victory, but Strike Smartly rallied in the final furlong to prevail by a head.

Sun, 07/21/2002 - 00:00

Due To Win best in Delicada

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Overcoming a slow pace, Elvera Scarberry's Due To Win lived up to her name in Sunday's Delicada Stakes by rallying from last to first.

Pacesetter Blue Guru held on for second while McKinney, who was forced to steady in traffic inside the furlong marker, settled for third.

Sun, 07/21/2002 - 00:00

Erica's Smile wins Fairfield Stakes

VALLEJO, Calif. - Erica's Smile engaged Cinnful Bride in a hot pace duel and away heading into the stretch, holding off Benefit Party by two lengths to win the $46,980 Fairfield Stakes on Saturday at the Solano County Fair.

Erica's Smile ($9.60) covered six furlongs in 1:09.71 in winning the race for 3-year-old fillies as she scored her first stakes victory. Erica's Smile, who has three wins and three seconds in six starts, earned $23,510 to lift her career earnings to $73,910.

Sun, 07/21/2002 - 00:00

Hollywood carryover reaches $191,547

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A pick six carryover of $191,547 highlights Sunday's final

program of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting.

The bet must be paid out in its entirety on Sunday, even if no one correctly

selects all six winners.

The winners of Saturday's pick six races were Manly Valentine ($9.20), Worthy

Deed ($13.80), Happy's First Love ($9.80), Boyisdue ($109.60), Crowned Dance ($7.80) and Total Advantage ($11). None were favored, and many tickets were gone after the shock win from Boyisdue.

Sun, 07/21/2002 - 00:00

Crowned Dancer wires Hollywood Juvenile

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A convincing victory by Crowned Dancer in Saturday's $103,800 Hollywood Juvenile Championship left jockey Alex Solis anxious for the major 2-year-olds stakes of the upcoming Del Mar meeting.

"The way he finished, it looked like he wanted to go on," Solis said.

Crowned Dancer led throughout the Grade 3 Juvenile, winning by two lengths.

Owned by Charlie and Karen Cono and the Eastern Sky Unlimited Trust, Crowned

Dancer ($7.80) finished six furlongs in 1:10.10.

Sat, 07/20/2002 - 00:00

Poor start, nice finish by Jilbab

NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Mike Luzzi and Jilbab return after winning Saturday's Grade 1 CCA Oaks.

ELMONT, N.Y. - When Jilbab returned to North America from Dubai for her 3-year-old season, she was not deemed worthy of racing in the royal blue silks of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Racing Inc.

In the last five weeks, she has earned a permanent place in the barn.

Sat, 07/20/2002 - 00:00

An 'Allamerican' win in Oaks

STANTON, Del. - As Allamerican Bertie was being led into the winner's circle after her convincing victory Saturday in the $250,300 Delaware Oaks, co-owner Elaine Klein was overcome by a sudden rush of delight.

"We're going to Saratoga with her!" she exclaimed.

The 6 1/4-length score by Allamerican Bertie is her ticket to the Alabama Stakes, a Grade 1 race to be run Aug. 17 at Saratoga. Ridden by veteran Larry Melancon, Allamerican Bertie took command from Alternate on the backstretch of the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks, then steadily pulled away to her first stakes win.

Sat, 07/20/2002 - 00:00

Magic Weisner does it right in Ohio

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Owner-trainer Nancy H. Alberts' strategy worked to the letter in Saturday's $300,000, Grade 2 . Magic Weisner, trained by Alberts, prompted the pacesetting Wiseman's Ferry all the way - never letting him open up more than a two-length advantage - then dug in gamely under Richard Migliore to win the nine-furlong race by a neck.

It was 1 1/2 lengths back from Wiseman's Ferry to third-place finisher The Judge Sez Who, who was three-quarters of a length in front of Peekskill. Only 2 1/2 lengths separated the competitive four-horse field.

Sat, 07/20/2002 - 00:00

Bonapaw takes Hanshin on cruise control

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Norman Miller eats, sleeps, and breathes Bonapaw. Saturday, just after Bonapaw won the Hanshin Cup, Miller had to give him a bath.

"I guess I can leave him in good hands now," said Miller, jogging back to the winner's circle after hosing down a sweaty Bonapaw in the tunnel beneath the Arlington stands.

In the winner's circle, Miller could relish what he said earlier in the week would be the "greatest moment in my life."

Sat, 07/20/2002 - 00:00

Pompell wins seven at Fairmount

Highlighted by Tic N Tin's 5 3/4-length win in the featured $25,000 Shecky Greene Handicap, jockey Tommy Pompell won seven races on Fairmount Park's 10-race card Friday night.

Pompell won the first three races on the program. He rode B. J.'s Miss Belle ($12.40) to victory in the first, won the second on Basinbob ($3.60), and the third on Binabee ($5). Pompell's longest-priced winner of the night was in the fifth when he guided Three C's to a $16.20 win.