January 26, 1998
SANTA ANITA
Santa Anita Park ran two stakes for the ladies this weekend. On Saturday the feature was the $200,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up going seven furlongs. Exotic Wood, making her first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) on November 8, 1997, grabbed the lead at the head of the stretch and won by three lengths over Madame Pandit. Advancing Star was third. Last year the mare owned by Pam and Martin Wygod finished second in the Santa Monica by half a length. Trainer Ron Ellis does not know what is next for Exotic Wood, who is a proven graded stakes winner with 10 victories in 14 races. She won the Santa Monica in time 1:21.07 under Chris McCarron. Radu Cool scratched.The other stakes race on the weekend was the $108,300 Santa Ynez Stakes for newly turned 3-year-old fillies, also at seven furlongs. Nijinsky's Passion faced her toughest foes yet, stepping out of the California-bred stakes and into open company for the first time. She proved herself up for the challenge, though, by defeating Well Chosen in time 1:23.15 under jockey Corey Black. Highly regarded Vivid Angel, who can be seen in the Shedrow section of The Turf Online, finished third. Trained by Tim Pinfield and owned by Imagination Stable, Nijinsky's Passion now has won three races of seven.
GULFSTREAM
Gulfstream Park also ran a pair of stakes races this past weekend. The deluge in South Florida caused the $100,000 Canadian Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) to be taken off the turf, resulting in Subordination's first victory on dirt. Since taking the blinkers off of Subordination, trainer Gary Sciacca has brought the 4-year-old colt into the winners' circle four consecutive times. Under Jerry Bailey, Gulfstream Park's leading jockey, Subordination ran the 1 1/8 miles in time 1:50 4/5, with Cimarron Secret second and Tour's Big Red third. Wild Event finished fourth after a bad trip. Winner of the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) last year, Subordination has won six races of 10, but has never even been in the money on dirt. Now that he has shown he can win on this surface, the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. I) is a possibility for the Klaravich Stables horse.Gulfstream ran the $75,000 Super Bowl Stakes on Super Bowl Sunday for 3-year-olds going 1 1/6 miles. The race produced yet another stakes winner for 100-year-old owner Fred W. Hooper in Draw Again. Joe Bravo rode the colt, trained by Bill Cesare, to the victory over United States in time 1:44 3/5. Buddha's Delight and East of Easy finished in a dead heat for third.
FAIR GROUNDS
Precocity, with Mark Guidry up, beat Moonlight Dancer in the $75,000 Diplomat Way Handicap with Prory third. Going 1 1/16 miles for 4-year-olds and up, Precocity won in time 1:44.19 for owner John Franks and trainer Bobby Barnett. Old campaigner Zarb's Magic came in fourth in the six-horse field.
AQUEDUCT
Sweetzie demonstrated a love for the slop by posting a stunning 10-length victory in the $84,500 Affectionately Handicap at Aqueduct Race Course on Saturday. The race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 1/16 miles was won carrying 113 pounds, including jockey Julio Pezua, in time 1:41.87. The Affectionately victory was especially sweet for Rita Nash, who bred, owns and trains the mare. This is Sweetzie's seventh victory in 38 career starts. Shoop was second and Gold Colony finished third in the field of 10.