The Colleen Stakes

$50,000

For Fillies, Two Years Old

Five And One-Half Furlongs - Main Track

Saturday, August 3, 2002   Race  9

Track: Fast                Turf: No Turf Racing

Finish Wire:

The field was sent off to a good start as Forever Partners raced to the lead as Grand Natalie Rode was outraced to the front and settled in a length and one-half behind the leader down the backside in second.  I’ll Be The One ran another head back in third as Dance Hall Girl ran another head back in fourth position.  Forever Partners ran the opening quarter in a snappy 21.81 as the field made its way through the far turn.  At the top of the lane Forever Partners opened up on the field and pulled away to a convincing eleven length win as Grand Natalie Rose lost second position in the stretch to I’ll Be The One before coming back at the wire to out nose Skippers Mate to claim the place spot as Slippers Mate settled for third.  Forever Partners is a two-year-old dark bay/brown filly owned by Skeedattle Stable, trained by Anthony W. Dutrow and was ridden by Chuck C. Lopez, Jr.

Forever Partners wins The 2002 Colleen Stakes.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  21.81, 44.31, N/A, 1:03.12

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The Lamplighter Stakes

$65,000

For Three-Year-Olds

One And One-Sixteenth Miles - Haskell Turf Course

Sunday, August 4, 2002    Race 5

Track: Fast                Turf: Soft

Finish Wire:

Jeb’s Wild led the field through and opening three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.32 one and one-half lengths in front of Alphabetical as Entitlement stalked the two front runners in third position.  In the stretch, Jeb’s Wild continued to lead as Entitlement moved into second position having measured the two front runners and getting ready to make his final bid to the wire.  Alphabetical was trying his best in third position but not gaining late.  Nearing the wire Entitlement passed a begrudging Jeb’s Wild and won the Lamplighter by a length at the wire.  Jeb’s Wild, after setting nearly all the fractions, settled for second as Alphabetical held on for third.  Entitlement is a three-year-old bay colt owned by Brereton C. Jones, trained by John K. Hennig and was ridden by Pat Day.    

Entitlement draws off to win The 2002 Lamplighter Stakes with Pat Day in the irons.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  23.55, 46.87, 1:12.32, 1:38.56, 1:45.07

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The Battlefield Stakes

$65,000

For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

One and One-Eighth Miles - Haskell Turf Course

Sunday, August 4, 2002      Race 7

Track: Fast                Turf: Soft

Finish Wire:

Viva Pentelicus set the early pace, after a good start, and managed to run the first three-quarters in 1:13.27 as Spruce Run tracked the leader another head back in second position.  Revved Up was another length and one-half back in third as One Eyed Joker and Autonomy ran fourth and fifth.  In the stretch, Viva Pentelicus widened the lead to a half-length but on the outside Autonomy found clear racing room and passed Spruce Run in second and then passed the leader as he drew off by three-quarters of a length to win the Battlefield Stakes in a final time of 1:50.66 over a turf course labeled soft.  Revved Up finished gamely for second as Spruce Run finished willingly for third.  Autonomy is a five-year-old bay horse owned by Brian Klatsky, trained by Philip J. Oliver and was ridden by Carlos Cruz.

Carlos Cruz guides Autonomy to victory in The Battlefield Stakes.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  23.49, 48.73, 1:13.27, 1:38.37, 1:50.66 

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The Eatontown Handicap

Grade III  (The 32nd Running)

$100,000

A Handicap For Fillies And Mares, Three-Years-Old And Upward

One and One-Sixteenth Miles - Haskell Turf Course

Sunday, August 4, 2002     Race 9

Track: Fast                Turf: Soft

Finish Wire:

Presumed Innocent led the field through the opening three-quarters in 1:12.38 as Laurica sat a length and one-half back in second as Clearly A Queen saved ground and was preparing for a stretch run to the wire in third.  In the stretch, Clearly A Queen moved into second and cut the lead of Presumed Innocent to a half-length as Laurica dropped to third.  At the wire Clearly A Queen passed Presumed Innocent and fought off Laurica to win the Eatontown Handicap by a nose on the wire.  Laurica finished a nose back in second as Presumed Innocent, after setting the early pace, finished third.  Clearly a Queen is a five-year-old bay mare owned by John Franks, trained by Theresa Pompay and was ridden by Eibar Coa.

Clearly A Queen (white shadow roll) battles to the wire first to earn the victory in The Eatontown Handicap.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  24.07, 47.88, 1:12.38, 1:37.63, 1:44.02

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The Teddy Drone Stakes

$65,000

For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

Six Furlongs - Main Track

Sunday, August 4, 2002    Race 10

Track: Fast                Turf: Soft

Finish Wire:

Sea Of Green was quickest to the front and led the opening quarter in a very brisk 21.58 as True Passion sat off the leader another half-length back in second. It was another length back to Beware Avalanche running in third. Through the far turn, True Passion took the lead by two lengths over Sea Of Green, who was starting to tire in second, as Beware Avalanche was still running in third position. Another three lengths separated Holiday Music, Esteemed Friend and Summer Swing in places four through six as True Passion ran the half-mile in a blistering 43.80. In the stretch, the hot early pace did not seen to bother True Passion as he led until nearing the wire when Summer Swing, who started his move five wide in the turn, passed most of the field en route to victory by a neck at the wire just out finishing True Passion who had to settle for second. Ticket to Freedom, who ran last early on finished third. Summer Swing, who has now captured three stakes at this meeting, is a five-year-old dark bay/brown horse owned by Gerald F. Sleeter, trained by Kevin G. Sleeter and was ridden by Eddie King, Jr.

Summer Swing closes quickly en route to victory in The $65,000 Teddy Drone Stakes.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  21.58, 43.80, N/A, 1:08.84

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The Haskell Invitational Handicap

Grade I (35th Running)

$1,000,000 

A Handicap For Three-Year-Olds

One and One-Eighth Miles - Main Track

Sunday, August 4, 2002      Race 11

Track: Fast                Turf: Soft

Finish Wire:

After War Emblem settled down in the gate the field was sent on their way in the Haskell Invitational. The field allowed War Emblem to get away on an early uncontested lead and cruise through opening fractions of 23.83, 47.23, 1:10.67 as none of the competitors were eager to run early on with the Derby winner. However, Victor Espinoza was not even moving on the leader, as he was strolling down the backside, while the others were already working. Mr. Mellon did his best to keep the leader honest in second but could not get closer than a half-length as Puck ran another head back in third. Magic Weisner was another length and one-half back in fourth but more importantly three plus lengths off the leader, who was running on a slow uncontested lead as the field made its way through the far turn. On the far turn, War Emblem was starting to get away from the field as he entered the stretch with a four and one-half length lead as the others were not doing enough to make it a race. Magic Weisner made a wide move at the top of the lane to get some running room trying to close on the leader. Through the stretch and to the wire War Emblem strolled home under a hand ride in convincing fashion to win The Haskell by three and one-half lengths at the wire. Magic Weisner closed well for second as Like A Hero finished willingly but settled for third. War Emblem is a three-year-old dark bay/brown colt owned by The Thoroughbred Corporation, trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden by Victor Espinoza.

War Emblem, with Victor Espinoza in the irons, wins The Grade I Haskell Invitational Handicap.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  23.83, 47.23, 1:10.67, 1:35.41, 1:48.21

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The Spruce Fir Handicap

$50,000 

A Handicap For Fillies And Mares, Three-Year-Olds

 And Upward Registered New Jersey Breds

One Mile - Haskell Turf Course

Saturday, August 10, 2002      Race 8

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Willies Luv led the field through the opening quarter and half-miles in 23.39 & 47.15. Salina's Gift sat two lengths off the leader in second as Prime Juice ran another half-length back in third tracking the leaders intently. As the field moved through the far turn Willies Luv continued on a two length lead as Salina's Gift continued in second while Sea Femma put a head in front running third as Twilight's Prayer was moving five wide now in fourth. Willies Luv ran three-quarters in 1:11:43 as the field made its way into the lane. In deep stretch, Willies Luv was desperately trying to hold his lead as Twilights Prayer was now gaining with every stride while Glorious Jet was another eight lengths back in third trying for the show spot. At the wire, Twilight's Prayer had drawn off by one and one-half lengths to win The Spruce Fir Handicap over Willies Luv, the early pacesetter, who finished second. It was another four and three-quarter lengths back to Gaelic Bay who closed well for the show spot. Twilights Prayer is a four-year-old chestnut filly owned by Matthew Sheerin, trained by Gary C. Contessa and was ridden by Dale Beckner.

Twilights Prayer wins The Spruce Fir Handicap.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

Scratched Horses: Niblick, Drum Money, Our Cozzette, Primary Colors

  23.39, 47.15, 1:11.43, 1:36.28

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The Sapling 

Grade III (68th Running)

$100,000 

For Two-Year-Olds

Six Furlongs - Main Track

Saturday, August 10,  2002      Race 9

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

After a good start Valid Video took to the early lead and zipped through a torrid opening fraction of 21.39 for the first quarter as Farno was pressing the leader another head back in second. Hear No Evil was another half-length back in third position as the field made its way through the far turn. Valid Video continued on the lead as he blistered a half-mile in 44.45 as he had opened up a full length on Farno as Hear No Evil continued in third position. In the stretch, Valid Video, looking like a professional race horse, changed leads and opened up by two and one-half lengths en route to victory by two and one-quarter lengths at the wire in a final time of 1:09.88. Farno held on for second as Boston Park got up for third. Valid Video is a two-year-old dark bay/brown gelding owned by Mack Fehsenfeld, trained by Dennis J. Manning and was ridden by Chuck C. Lopez.

Valid Video draws off to an impressive victory in The Grade III Sapling.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  21.39, 44.45, 56.90, 1:09.88

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The Lincroft Handicap

$50,000 

A Handicap For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

 Registered New Jersey Breds

One Mile - Haskell Turf Course

Sunday, August 12, 2002      Race 9

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Spectacular Slew led the field through an opening quarter mile in 22.61 as Dixie Two Thousand sat two lengths off the leader in second as Red Weasel settled in another three lengths back in third position. Spectacular Slew continued to lead at both the half-mile and the three-quarter markers as Dixie Two Thousand got within a half-length of the leader as the field moved into the lane for the final drive. In the stretch, Spectacular Slew continued with a length lead as Red Weasel moved into second position while American Freedom was eased outside and came on nearing the wire, passing the leaders,  to earn a game score in the Lincroft Handicap. Catechol, after running in the back of the pack early on closed well for second as Red Weasel who ran evenly throughout earned the show spot. American Freedom is a four-year-old gray/roan colt owned by Freedom Acres, Inc., trained by Jamie Woodington and was ridden by Jose Velez, Jr.

Jose Velez, Jr. guides American Freedom to victory in The Lincroft Handicap.

© 2002 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

Scratched Horses: Selective, Sometimesalvation

  22.61, 45.54, 1:09.86, 1:36.10 

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