Alphie's Bet wins Snow Chief at Hollywood Park
April 25, 2010INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -Alphie's Bet raced to his third victory in his last four starts, beating Working Capital 2 1/4 lengths Saturday in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park on Gold Rush day for California-breds.
Under Mike Smith, Alphie's Bet moved to the outside on the backstretch, moved closer to the leaders around the turn, then ran past pacesetter and 18-1 shot Working Capital in the final furlong.
Alphie's Bet ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:51.15, and paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10.
``He's still a big, young boy and still has a lot of play in him,'' Smith said. ``He hasn't really gotten serious about it yet. He is figuring it out race by race and I think down the road they might have a really nice colt.''
Working Capital set the pace under Joel Rosario and paid $9.20 and $6.40. Mr Tokyo, a 29-1 outsider, paid $6.80 to show.
Alphie's Bet has three wins in seven starts for owners Peter O. Johnson Sr. and Teresa McWilliams, who bred the colt, and trainer Alexis Barba. He has earned $261,320.
The 18th running of the Snow Chief was the marquee event of the $910,000 California Gold Rush program, a series of eight stakes races restricted to California breds.
In other stakes:
-U R All That I Am, the 1-2 choice, won for the second time in two starts on the Hollywood Park main track, taking the $147,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes. The 4-year-old filly prevailed by a half-length over Ruffled Feathers, paying $3, $2.40 and $2.10.
-Fantasy Free rallied along the rail to beat Bestdressed and six others in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes. Fantasy Free paid $22.80, $8.60 and $5.60. Fantasy Free won for the eighth time in 41 starts and has earned $299,884.
-In the $150,000 Melair Stakes, Camille C beat Salty Fries by 3 lengths. The 3-year-old Roman Dancer filly won for the third time in 13 tries for owner Carlos Polanco and trainer Marcelo Polanco. She paid $8.20, $4.60 and $2.20.
-Excellent News and Bejarano teamed to win the $73,200 Warren's Thoroughbred.