VICTORY KID WINS BULL DOG STAKES

 

Making just his 10th career start and second against stakes competition, Victory Kid blew past odds-on favorite Tribesman for an authoritative 3 1/4 length score in the Bull Dog stakes, the traditional closing day feature as the Big Fresno Fair wrapped up its 2009 season on Sunday.  Tribesman was clearly second, and High Standards edged out Jack He's Tops for third.  The running time for six furlongs was 1:08.33.

 

Ridden for the first time by Frank Alvarado, who was a substitute for Alex Bisono, Victory Kid broke well but settled in fourth through the opening quarter mile in 21.85 as Candy Pull and Tribesman carved out the opening fraction together.  Given his cue by jockey Russell Baze, Tribesman took control near the quarter pole but proved to be no match for Victory Kid, who took control through the lane to win comfortably.

 

Victory Kid was last seen winning a starter allowance contest at Sacramento on September 5, and had just two official works since then: a bullet 47 half mile work at Pleasanton on September 23 followed by a seven furlong work there on October 9.

 

Trained by Guillermo Preciado for owners Sam and Debbie DeLaura, Victory Kid won for the third time and earned $31,000, putting his bankroll at $96,470.

 

BAR JF HOT TICKET DEFEATED BY SIBLING

 

In the AMRA Gold Cup, Bar JF Red Ticket ($23.40) defeated her older sister Bar JF Hot Ticket by two lengths in a stunning upset.  Red Rooster was third.  Owned by Don Jacklin and Becky Reimers and trained by Ruby Thomas, Bar JF Red Ticket covered the 440 yards in 24.89.  Both mules are by Sterling Sweet Water out of Holdalltickets.  Bar JF Hot Ticket is 6, while Bar JF Red Ticket is 4.

 

Bar JF Hot Ticket was ridden for the first time by James Wooten, Jr., who replaced Anthony Ayala.  Ayala had ridden her to eight straight victories this year after taking over for Danny Boag, who retired last year.

 

Bar JF Hot Ticket broke slowly, and was never comfortable, racing close to the rail and not really given a chance to run down her younger sister.  It was her first loss since August 2007 at the Sonoma County Fair, and trainer Ray Thomas wasn't pleased.

 

"My only instruction was to keep her off the fence," said Thomas.  "There will be a jockey change for her next start."

 

Wooten took off the remainder of his mounts after the AMRA Gold Cup.

 

NC CASEY JONES WITH ARC K CUCH JEDAN STAKES

 

N C Casey Jones tracked the pace, then had the best kick through the lane to score a minor upset in the $10,000 Arc K Cuch Jedan Stakes for Arabians at the Big Fresno Fair on Saturday.  Chris Russell was aboard for owner/trainer Leisa Belser.  Eagle One, making the final Fresno start finished second, and Bessemer, the heavily favored mare taking on the boys, was third.  The running time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:57.67.

 

Eagle One was prominent throughout, putting away Go the Limite comfortably in the run down the backstretch, while N C Casey Jones ($9.40) stalked.  Eagle One was unable to fend off N C Casey Jones through the lane, as the winner scored by 1 1/4 lengths.  Bessemer, fresh off a win over fellow distaffers last week, was never a serious threat and checked in third as the 3/5 favorite.

 

In the CARF Starter Race for Thoroughbreds, High Lode pulled off a major upset, defeating heavily favored In Session.  Owned by Clay Sides and trained by Roger Hansen, High Lode ($36.60) gave Hector Romero his second win on the program. 

 

Jet Fuel continued his winning ways, scoring an easy win in the AMRA Starter Stakes.  Owned by Roger Pelish, Jet Fuel was ridden by Sergio Ruiz.  Sandy Torok trains Jet Fuel, who, at age eight, is in the best form of his career.

 

Sunday is closing day of the 2009 season.  The traditional Bulldog Stakes will be run as the 10th of 13 races.  Tribesman will try to rebound from a disappointing effort in the Cal State Fair Sprint at Sacramento.  Russell Baze rides for Roger Hansen as they try to turn the tables on Dance For Gable, who won in Sacramento.

 

Bar JF Hot Ticket will have a new jockey as she looks to cap off a perfect 2009 campaign in the first race for mules, the AMRA Gold Cup.  James Wooten, Jr. takes over as the jockey for the 6-year-old daughter of Sterling Sweet Water, who is trained by Ray Thomas and owned by Dave Wood.

 

VICTORINA WINS HARVEST STAKES

 

Despite her record of eight wins and three seconds from 13 races at six furlongs, and her outstanding overall stats showing 14 wins, seven seconds and three thirds from 27 career starts, the experts and fans alike wondered whether Victorina would be able to handle her four rivals in the $50,000 Harvest Stakes on Friday at the Big Fresno Fair.

 

The answer was a resounding "yes", as Victorina ($5.40) took care of business, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths over pacesetter Carmel Coffee.  King City Kitty was third.  The running time was 1:09.27.

 

"She just loves her job, a blue collar stakes horse" said winning trainer Greg Gilchrist.  "I thought she would run well.  She shipped and trained well, and was in a perfect position at the quarter pole.  I told ( winning jockey William Antongeorgi III) that it was o.k. if she was last early, as long as she wasn't more than five or six lengths back." 

 

Victorina broke very alertly, but it was Carmel Coffee who found herself setting the pace, cruising through a half mile in 45.47.  King City Kitty, who was second most of the way, was unable to get by the pacesetter, while Victorina, who dropped back to last through the opening quarter, unleashed a strong rally through the stretch to outclass her opponents, getting just one reminder from jockey Antongeorgi in the final sixteenth as she was putting the field away.

 

"She was very sharp," said Antongeorgi.  "She's always been a good gate horse, and after she broke on top she settled nicely and finished very well."

 

Owned by the Estate of Harry J. Aleo, Victorina earned $31,000, taking her career bankroll to $725,168.

 

ROCKY ROAD CAPS OFF BIG DAY FOR HARRIS FARMS AND JOHN MARTIN

 

Two exciting come-from-behind victories stole the show as trainer John F. Martin answered the bell for Harris Farms, Inc. on Thursday afternoon, the start of closing week at the Big Fresno Fair.  In the sixth race, first-time starter Single Reason unleashed a furious rally to go from last to first, and in the very next race Rocky Road also rallied from well out of it to win.  Both were also bred by Harris Farms, Inc.

 

Single Reason, by Singletary, broke last and, as noted by Equibase, "was slow to find his best stride".  Once he did, the 2-year-old closed strongly to get up by a half-length over El Gran Bull, who appeared to be on his way to victory.  It was another two lengths back to Twain's Titan.  Single Reason is out of the High Brite mare Brite Maggie.  Ricky Frazier was aboard as Single Reason covered five furlongs in 58.16.

 

Rocky Road, making just his second start since May 2008, kicked into high gear around the far turn and caught class-dropping Public Image in the final strides to give the Harris-Martin team an opportunity to pose for pictures again.  A 5-year-old out of the Skywalker mare Image of Glory, Rocky Road won for the third time in 10 starts.  Hector Romero was aboard.  Public Image held second over Direct Connect.  The running time for six furlongs was 1:09.56.

 

Earlier on the card, Katkin, taking a significant class drop, easily handled his seven rivals, coasting to a victory in the fourth race for Arabians under Barrington Harvey.  Zell Lady N Red was second and Mountain Miss third.  The 7-year-old is owned by Edie Raymond and trained by Dale Raymond.

 

SNATCH THE CASH REBOUNDS

 

Snatch the Cash made up for a disappointing performance as the 1/9 favorite in his last start at the Humboldt County Fair, cruising to an easy 3 1/4 length victory under a hand ride from Ricky Frazier as the Big Fresno Fair wrapped up its first week of the 2009 season on Monday.  Going Forward, sent off as the even-money favorite, was second, while Fear the Storm checked in third.  The running time for 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:02.54.

 

Snatch the Cash broke alertly, raced head and head early with Fear the Storm but then took control at the three eighths pole.  The 8-year-old son of Unaccounted For made short work of his rivals, and Frazier, who won two races on the program, never even showed him the whip.

 

After rattling off five straight wins, Snatch the Cash turned in a very rare dull performance, finishing last of five in a starter allowance race at Ferndale in August.  Freshened up and racing for trainer John Martin, Snatch the Cash returned in style.  He won for the 13th time in 27 starts for owners Fallon, Saturday and Stratford.

 

Jockey Chris Russell won three races on Monday, and came within a nose of getting his fourth.  Russell scored aboard Balls to the Wall, Last Draw, and For Contrast.

 

There will be no live racing on Tuesday or Wednesday, but the Big Fresno Fair will be open for simulcasting on Wednesday, as Oak Tree will run.  There will be simulcasting from across the country as well.  First post times for the final week of racing have been revised and will be 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday, and closing day Sunday.  Friday's post will remain at 1:15 p.m. as originally scheduled.

 

The TOC Conformation seminar featuring owner/breeder John Harris will now be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 17.  It was originally scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

 

VADERATOR WINS VIA DISQUALIFICATION

 

Don Elias M. ran down pacesetter Vaderator to capture Sunday's allowance feature at the Big Fresno Fair, but after a stewards' inquiry into an incident shortly after the start, was disqualified and placed third behind Flaming Bullet.  Vaderator was awarded the victory, and Flaming Bullet was placed second.  Inoel Beato was aboard Vaderator for trainer Dean Pederson and owners Harris Farms, Inc., Antonsen and Marchese.

 

The stewards ruled that Don Elias M. drifted in shortly after the start, taking the path of Flaming Bullet, causing that rival to clip heels and costing him a chance at a better placing.

 

Flaming Bullet did finish well through the lane, but couldn't catch the top two finishers. Don Elias M. stalked, then pounced on Vaderator, who was allowed to set a soft opening quarter in 23.01.  The running time for six furlongs was 1:09.73.

 

In the AMRA 2009 World Championship Futurity for mules, Ears Lookingatyou, despite racing a bit erratically, scored over Coco Nelson, with heavily favored Dashn Bobi McGee a non-threatening third.  Owned and trained by Diana Skinner, Ears Lookingatyou was ridden by Jesus Arriaga.

 

There will be a special Columbus Day program tomorrow at the Big Fresno Fair, then no live racing on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Racing will resume on Thursday for the final four days of the meet.  The nine race holiday card kicks off at 1:15 p.m.

 

 

WARREN'S PEPE HOLDS ON IN CHARLIE PALMER MEMORIAL; BESSEMER REPEATS

 

Warren's Pepe lost the lead but fought back for an ultra-game nose victory over Full Power Ahead to capture the Charlie Palmer Memorial on Saturday at the Big Fresno Fair.  Chestnut Touch was third.  The running time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.67.

 

Ridden by Alex Bisono, Warren's Pepe ($4.60) was sent to the front and controlled the pace throughout, tracked by Full Power Ahead, who moved to engage the favorite around the far turn.  The two 5-year-olds were head and head through the stretch, with Full Power Ahead taking the lead with a furlong remaining, but Warren's Pepe, under a vigorous ride from Bisono, would not be denied, putting his nose in front when it counted.

 

Trained by William E. Morey, Warren's Pepe is now perfect in three starts since being claimed for $12,500 in August by owner Lamonte Isom.

 

The Charlie Palmer Memorial was named in memory of the longtime racing secretary who served for 40 years. Mr. Palmer passed away earlier this year. 

 

In the Fresno Golden Queen Distaff for Arabians, Bessemer rebounded from three straight losses this year to defend her crown stylishly, winning by two easy lengths over Anvirlik while geared down by her favorite jockey, Joy Scott.  Owned and trained by Dean Frey, Bessemer didn't hit the board in her three starts this year and hadn't won since rattling off four straight victories between August and October 2008.  She won last year's Golden Queen Distaff by 8 1/4 lengths under Scott.  The running time for six furlongs was 1:19.14. 

 

Sunday's 11-race card begins at 12:45 p.m.  Dashn Bobi McGee figures to be an overwhelming favorite in the AMRA World Championship  Futurity at 350 yards, which kicks off the program.  Trained by Ray Thomas for Dave Wood, the 3-year-old daughter of Coalee McGee will be ridden by regular jockey Anthony Ayala.

 

WIZARD OF DORMELLO MOWS 'EM DOWN

 

For the third consecutive day, jockey Jorge Ayarza had his picture taken in the Big Fresno Fair winner's circle.  In Friday's featured ninth race, Wizard of Dormello rallied strongly to catch Chop House George at the wire.  Trained by Susan Murphy for owner/breeder Chalres Knightstep, the 6-year-old won for the second time in 25 career starts.  Ayarza was also aboard for his victory over maidens on the Golden Gate turf in April. The running time for one mile was 1:37.83. 

 

"I like this track," said Ayarza.  "I've been coming here for 23 years".

 

Earlier on the program, Dunagule posted a front-running upset in the Arabian allowance race under apprentice Hugo Herrera.  Owned and trained by Helen Shelley, Dunagule hadn't finished better than sixth since her maiden-breaking score at Stockton.  The daugher of Virgule Al Maury had lost her last four races by a combined 62 lengths.

 

Racing resumes on Saturday.  The 12-race program features a Mule race, a Quarter Horse race, the Fresno Golden Queen Distaff Stakes for Arabians, and nine Thoroughbred races.

 

Please note that first post for Saturday's program has been changed to 12:30 p.m.  Oak Tree's first race is scheduled to be run at 12:40 p.m

 

 

FIVE STAR CHARM GETS UP

 

Five Star Charm put in a sustained rally to catch favored Fighting City Hall in winning Thursday's ninth race on day two of the Big Fresno Fair.  The win gave jockey Jorge Ayarza his second victory of the afternoon.  Trained by Armando Lage, Five Star Charm launched his rally past the half mile pole and was able to overhaul Fighting City Hall inside the final sixteenth.  The running time for 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:04.39.

 

Trainer John Martin saddled a couple of winners on the card.  Gary's Got Rhythm, ridden by Ayarza, won the fifth race, and Get Your Shinebox showed dramatic improvement in his second career start to win the seventh under Ricky Frazier. 

 

The most exciting race on the program was the fourth, an Arabian allowance race.  Balls to the Wall held on to win by a nose over Otis, who launched a wide rally and just missed.  Balls to the Wall, owned and trained by Candice Coffee, was ridden by Chris Russell.

 

PLENTY OF PRICES ON OPENING DAY

 

Fans who like to wager against favorites enjoyed a successful opening day as the Big Fresno Fair kicked off its 10-day season on Wednesday.  Only one of 10 favorites was able to find the winner's circle on a day where the pick six consolation paid on just three of six winners.

 

The longest price of the day came in the sixth race, as Spoonex ($33.20) showed dramatic improvement in scoring a front-running victory under Catalino Martinez for trainer Monty Meier and owner/breeder David Payne.

 

Although the late pick four started with the only winning favorite, it paid $5,138.50 for $1.  The early and late pick fours are offered as 50 cent wagers as well.

 

Earlier on the card, Bar JF JJ defeated his full brother Bar JF Flyin J by a nose.  Trained by Susan Andrus, who swept the early daily double, Bar JF JJ will meet his sibling again on Saturday.

 

The pick six carryover into Thursday's program is $1,386.

 

OPENING DAY!

 

The BIG Fresno Fair opens on Wednesday, and as the only live racing venue in Northern California for the first time in recent memory, the meet figures to be a HUGE success.  There will be 10 days of racing action, with the first week running Wednesday through Monday, October 12 for a special Columbus Day card.  The closing week will offer Thursday through Sunday racing.  The traditional highlight of the meet is the $50,000 Bulldog Stakes at six furlongs on closing Sunday, October 18.  The $50,000 Harvest Stakes on October 16 features fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs.  Special promotions include Small Dog Races in between the horse races on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 (enter your dog at www.norcalwienernationals.com).

 

The opening day program offers 10 races.  A Mule race and an Arabian race kick off the program, followed by eight Thoroughbred races.  In the opener, full brothers Bar JF JJ and Bar JF Flyin J will break from posts three and four in the 350 yard allowance race for mules. Chinook Pass, making his 90th career start, is the morning line favorite. 

 

In the five furlong Arabian race, Walk the Line returns from a layoff of nearly nine months and will try to remain perfect in two 2009 starts.  The 5-year-old son of Burning Sand, trained by Jose Gonzalez, won eight of 14 starts in 2008 but has never raced at Fresno.  Trainer Walter Frazier sends out an entry headed by Eagle One, the top earner in the field, who has participated in races featuring By Golly Sand in his four most recent starts.  An 8-year-old who is also by Burning Sand, Eagle One most recently was third in the Vallejo Arabian Handicap on July 25.  That effort followed a second-place finish in the Stockton Arabian Handicap.  From 10 starts this year, he was three wins, two seconds, four thirds, and a fourth.  This will be his first start as Fresno.

 

First post on weekdays, including the holiday program on Monday, is 1:15 p.m.  On weekends, first post will be at 12:45 p.m.