Joey Franco Turns It Around

Nearly a month after one of the worst performances of his career, Joey Franco started a new win streak in the $250,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Monday.

A winner of three in a row at Hollywood Park before trailing as the 2-1 favorite in the San Diego Handicap on Aug. 3, the 4-year-old Avenue of Flags colt prevailed by two lengths over 5-1 shot Reba’s Gold in 1:35.70 for the mile.

Owned and bred in California by Jerry Frankel and trained by Darrell Vienna, Joey Franco, who paid $11.60, won for the eighth time in 16 starts. He’s also now three for four at Del Mar.

Fourth down the backstretch while longshot Seattle Shamus set a fast pace (21.96 and 45.37 for the first half-mile), Joey Franco and jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who won two other races Monday, moved up on the outside to take the lead into the stretch and went on to his second graded stakes win of 2003.

Captain Squire, the 6-5 favorite, finished sixth.

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Making his first start in a graded stakes, Grand Hombre, a 5-1 shot, remained unbeaten by capturing the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby over a muddy track at Philadelphia Park.

Owned and bred by Earle Mack and trained by Dennis Manning, the 3-year-old Grand Slam colt, who was ridden by Joe Bravo, overhauled 29-1 shot Gimmeawink and drew away in the final eighth of a mile to win by 5 1/4 lengths. He ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.

Ashmore, a 36-1 outsider, was third. Toccet, the 5-2 second choice, was fifth, ending his four-race win streak. Dynever, the 3-2 favorite, finished sixth and is now 0 for 2 on wet tracks.

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Take Charge Lady, the 1-5 favorite, easily defeated five outclassed rivals to win the $150,000 Arlington Matron Handicap at Arlington Park.

Ridden by Shane Sellers, the 4-year-old Dehere filly completed the 1 1/8 miles over a muddy surface in 1:50.19.

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Shoal Water, who chased Wando in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, enjoyed his first visit to the United States, winning the $100,000 Saranac Handicap at Saratoga.

Ridden by John Velasquez, who finished the season with a record 61 victories, the 3-year-old Smart Strike gelding and 11-10 favorite beat Urban King by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:55.43 for the 1 3/16 miles on turf.

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By By Jj, the 3-1 second choice, beat 12-1 shot Dash of Perry by a neck to win the $1.9 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, N.M.

Bred in New Mexico by owner Rosello Prieto, the 2-year-old Jj Shot Glass gelding covered the 440 yards under jockey James Gonzalez II in 21.10 seconds.

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Ninebanks, the 9-5 favorite, won the $100,000 California Turf Championship Handicap for the second consecutive year, holding off Surprise Halo in 1:37.47 for the mile.