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HORSE RACING TOP MOMENTS 2005
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ROCK HARD TEN WINS 2005 BIG CAP
Rock Hard Ten is a huge handful of a horse, always bursting with great promise but never quite reaching the top level of the game, until this year. Under the tutelage of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, the behemoth colt found his best stride and overpowered a strong field of eleven to win the 68th running of the $1-Million Santa Anita Handicap this past winter. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was aboard. The dramatic victory made Rock Hard Ten an early favorite for Horse of the Year honors (March 6). |
2005 SANTA ANITA DERBY FIELD RUNS AWAY WITH KENTUCKY DERBY HONORS - WINNER
Prior to the running of this year's Kentucky Derby, the California contingent of 3-year-olds coming out of the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby was given short shrift by the national media. Most of the pundits believed that the best performers in this year's Kentucky Derby would emerge from races run at Aqueduct or Keeneland. Instead, four of the top six finishers in Louisville on the first Saturday in May were the ones who prepped for the classic in the Santa Anita Derby. Longshot Giacomo, fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, finished first in the Run For The Roses and not far behind were Santa Anita Derby starters Don't Get Mad, Buzzards Bay and Wilko (April 9). |
JAPANESE FILLY WINS AMERICAN OAKS IN RECORD TIME
Cesario became the first Japanese-bred to win a Grade I race in North America as she dominated 11 rivals with a four-length victory in course record time in the 2005 American Oaks. The 3-year-old filly, ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga, set off a wild winner's circle celebration after reaching the wire in 1:59.03 for 1 miles on the Lakeside Turf Course. The Japanese Oaks winner was followed from Japan by a huge fan base and more than 30 members of the media for the historic occasion (July 3 at Hollywood Park). |
LAVA MAN ERUPTS IN HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP
Lava Man, claimed for just $50,000 a year earlier, cruised to a record 8 length victory in the 2005 Hollywood Gold Cup. Outfitted in blinkers to focus his attention when he began a winning streak two starts earlier by trainer Doug O'Neill, Lava Man earned his first Grade I victory in the prestigious Gold Cup. He was voted Horse of the Meeting by the media. The 4-year-old races for Steve, Tracy and Dave Kenley of Phoenix, who make up STD Racing Stable, and their partner, Jason Wood of Rancho Santa Margarita. "They gave me the instructions, and they said, 'Unless he looked like he was in dire straits, take him, we want him,'" O'Neill said of the claim. "They really wanted him, but never in our wildest dreams did we think we'd be posing for a picture in a Grade 1, that's for sure." (July 9 at Hollywood Park). |
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