Horse Racing News

Bound for the winner's circle after Juniper Pass's hard-fought victory in Sunday's $150,000 San Luis Rey Stakes, owner Robert Irvin was understandably full of enthusiasm.

German-bred filly La Luna de Miel, making just her second start in the United States, collared Giants Play at the sixteenth pole and held on for a one-length win in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes on the Gulfstream Park grass March 20.

Chief of Affairs established himself as one of the top choices for next month's Grade 3, $200,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn Park when he won the $75,000 Hot Springs on Sunday in a meet-best time of 1:08.56 for six furlongs.

The Factor dominated from the start Saturday when winning by daylight in the 51st running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Malibu Pier shrugged off a threat from Lilly Fa Pootz to win Saturday's $150,000 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita.

It looks like Havre de Grace is sitting on an outstanding season. In her first start since running third in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in November, she rolled to a 3 1/4-length win over Blind Luck in the Grade 3, $150,000 Azeri at Oaklawn Park.

Starlight Partners and C.E. Glasscock's HILDA'S PASSION (Canadian Frontier) carried her speed to a facile victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Inside Information Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Daniel M. Ryan's homebred QUANTUM MISS set nearly all the pace in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct and had just enough left to hold the late run of Coax Liberty to score by a half-length on the wire.

Favored Doubles Partner closed with a rush in the final yards to snatch victory by a neck over Rahystrada in the Grade 3, $125,000 Tampa Bay Stakes on the turf March 19 at Tampa Bay Downs.

ECLAIR DE LUNE will seek to find the winner's circle again in Saturday's $150,000 Santa Ana S. (Grade 2) over nine furlongs on the turf.