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Races/Results Archive

Weekend Results & News

– A big crowd of 49,000 turned out to watch former $50,000 claimer Lava Man win the $1 million Big ‘Cap at Santa Anita on Saturday. “It really is a dream come true,” said co-owner Steve Kenly after. “From a claimer to the Big ‘Cap. It’s amazing.” Giacomo finished fifth, with no apparent explanation, other than that the race just didn’t set up for a deep closer like last year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
– Harlington wins the Gulfstream Park Handicap in his stakes debut; Mister Fotis the Richter Scale; and a fresh Wend leads all the way in the Honey Ryder.
– Saturday could have been called “Bobby Frankel Day.” The trainer started 11 horses on the 11-race card, but unfortunately, only went to the winner’s circle once, when First Word won the eighth, an allowance.
– Brother Derek wins the Santa Catalina; Corinthian beats First Samurai in the Fountain of Youth only to be disqualified and placed third for interference; and the field is the favorite in pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. More details, plus weekend workouts, in Derby Watch.

Posted in Races/Results on March 5, 2006

Rousing Return for Round Pond

Trainer John Servis was right about not keeping Round Pond in the barn for another month:

Unleashing a devastating turn of foot in midstretch, Round Pond launched her 4-year-old campaign with a 1 1/2-length victory over Miss Elsie in the $40,000 allowance feature for older fillies and mares Thursday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Round Pond ran the fastest 6 furlongs of the meeting (1:09.93), yet was never asked for her best by regular rider Stewart Elliott.

“You can’t say anything after that,” trainer John Servis said. “You know what I’ll say? I’ll say the same thing Stew said after the last time he worked her : Wow!”

Posted in Races/Results on February 17, 2006

Rockport’s Back

And showed that he’s ready to be a player in the handicap division, winning Saturday’s Essex Handicap at Oaklawn by 2 1/4 lengths over Cougar Cat in his first start in nine months. Displaying the same toughness and heart he did as a 2-year-old, Rockport Harbor took an early lead and fended off a challenge from the runner-up, who managed to get a nose in front briefly at the top of the stretch. “Turning for home, that horse came to him and I asked him to run and he gave me what he had,” said jockey Stewart Elliott. “He was game. He showed that he was back.” He was also a little rank at the break, appearing to lose focus in the first few yards. “The big thing with him is mentally. This race is going to move this horse way up,” said trainer John Servis after, who suggested that Rockport’s next start could be the March 12 Razorback.

More: Rockport earned a Beyer of 98 for the Essex.

Posted in Races/Results on February 12, 2006

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