Delaware Park has received safety accreditation from a newly formed consortium, making it the fourth race track to be approved this year.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association said Wednesday that the track has been fully accredited by its Safety and Integrity Alliance following a review of all racing operations.

Delaware Park joins Churchill Downs and Keeneland in Kentucky and Belmont Park in New York as accredited tracks. Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore received provisional accreditation in May.

Delaware Park is to be commended for its commitment to the human and equine athletes who compete there, NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop said.

William Fasy, the tracks chief operating officer, said Delaware Park has started a program that provides a way for former racehorses to transition to second careers.

Among the next tracks to undergo review will be Arlington Park outside Chicago, Calder Race Course in Florida, Emerald Downs in Washington state and Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

Jealous Again has given trainer Wesley Ward and jockey John Velazquez a second win in two days at Royal Ascot with a victory in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Bursting out of the starting gate, the 2-year-old filly overpowered the field and finished five lengths ahead of Misheer in Wednesdays race.

She ran brilliantly. Im very proud of her, Johnny rode a great race and everything went just like we thought, Ward said. In America we train for speed and the reason I came over here was I thought the others in the race are trained to go on for next year.

I just thought Id get a jump on the other trainers over here. Your horses are bred to go longer and ours are bred for speed and it worked out.

A day earlier, the Ward-trained Strike The Tiger, with Velazquez aboard, became the first American-trained horse to win at Royal Ascot in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

In the opening race on day two of Royal Ascot, Ouqba gave Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum back-to-back victories in the Jersey Stakes with a narrow verdict over Deposer.

The owner, who also won with Aqlaam last year, saw the Barry Hills-trained 12-1 shot Ouqba win by half a length. Ashram was 3 lengths back in third.

Vision DEtat won the Prince of Waless Stakes by a half length over 6-4 favorite Tartan Bearer, after the 4-year-old colt from France made a powerful run from last to first in the final eighth-mile to win the Group 1 race.

My horse is not lazy and I just took a bit of time, said jockey Olivier Peslier said. I needed a chance and he moved out well.

Quality Road has a new trainer in Todd Pletcher, who says the Florida Derby winner could make his next start in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on Aug 1.

Previously trained by Jimmy Jerkens, the 3-year-old colt was transferred to Pletchers barn Monday by owner Edward P. Evans.

Quality Road was one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, but was sidelined with a hoof injury less than a week before the May 2 Derby. The colt returned to training earlier this month before Evans made the decision to switch trainers.

Hes a very good horse and we just hope we can do as well as Jimmy did with him, Pletcher said Tuesday after watching the colt gallop 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park. Were familiarizing ourselves with him and trying to get him into a work program.

The Jim Dandy is in the plan, followed perhaps by the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 29.

We know how talented he isweve seen him run, Pletcher said.

Quality Road has won three of four starts, including the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and defeated new stablemate Dunkirk in the Florida Derby.

He missed the Triple Crown races after developing a quarter crack in his right front hoof.

With Queen Elizabeth II on hand, Mastercraftsman rallied to win the St Jamess Palace Stakes by a neck Tuesday on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

The 5-6 favorite appeared headed for defeat when Delegator edged in front in the final furlong. But the Irish 2000 Guineas winner dug in and pushed his head in front at the finish.

Mastercraftsman, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, was one of three horses entered by trainer Aidan OBrien.

Hes an amazing horse with speed, stamina, and all ground comes alike to him, OBrien said. It was a great performance from the horse and a marvelous performance from Johnny.

In the opening race, Paco Boy, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Richard Hughes, won the Queen Anne Stakes.

The queen has been to every Ascot meet since 1945. The monarch arrived with the royal family in their traditional carriage procession around the course.

A historic Florida racetrack known for its flock of flamingos could open again as soon as December, the son of the parks owner said Monday.

Hialeah Park, which was built in the 1920s and had its last live race in 2001, will begin quarter horse racing in December if possible or in early 2010, said John Brunetti Jr.

The parks planned reopening is a result of a gambling bill Floridas governor signed Monday and a change from two years ago when the parks owner said racing would likely never return.

Looks like were going to be here for a while, said Brunetti, the parks vice president.

Still, spectators may be watching the first races from under tents when the park reopens. Thats because a series of hurricanes and years of neglect have left the park far from ready for spectators. Grass covers the oval racetrack. Pink and white striped awnings have holes. And a pond surrounding a statue of 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation stands dry. Just restoring the existing structures could cost $60 to $100 million, according to some estimates, though Brunetti said the park was still gathering estimates.

Even in disrepair, however, the park retains many of its grand elements. Chandeliers in an entranceway to the stands have spokes hanging at awkward angles like broken bones, but a circular stained glass window of three flamingos looks untouched. And the flamingos themselves, which flew over the track, still live at the park. On Monday, the view of them was obscured by overgrown hedges.

Theyll become more visible once we cut the brush, Brunetti said.

Eventually the Brunetti family hopes to convert a part of the grandstands to a gambling area as well as build an addition for the games. A drawing shows an area for a hotel, though how big it would be is still in discussion, Brunetti said.

The plans are possible because of a gambling bill Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed Monday before visiting the track, where he stood by the statue of Citation.

Now its on to racing, and its a great thing, Crist said.

Owners said they needed gambling at the track to revive it. Under the bill, the track can install lucrative slot machines two years after they begin quarter horse racing. In the first year, the track would need to run just 20 races.

If Hialeah Park begins racing in December, however, its races could overlap with those at nearby Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. Racing at Calder is going on now and runs through Jan. 2, starting again in April. Gulfstream picks up where Calder leaves off, opening Jan. 3 and running through April 23, 2010.

Both Gulfstream and Calder, however, race thoroughbreds not quarter horses.

In fact, quarter horse racing will be new for Hialeah Park. The track previously only raced thoroughbreds, not quarter horses, which are bred for sprinting, not long distances. The track had its thoroughbred racing permit revoked by the state in 2004 because it didnt run races it had asked for in 2002 and 2003. In March, however, the park got a quarter horse racing permit, which is easier to get.

To accommodate quarter horses the park will have to move striped poles marking distances because quarter horses run shorter races. But thoroughbreds could someday use the same track. Other parks like Los Alamitos Race Course in California and Lone Star Park in Texas already run both types of horses on the same track.

On Monday, a maintenance worker drove a grass cutter across the parks track. But Brunetti didnt offer any guess on an opening day or give the parks success any odds.

Sailors Cap beat Tam Lin by 1 lengths Sunday in the $103,500 Poker Stakes on the turf at Belmont Park.

Rallying four-wide turning for home, Sailors Cap stormed past the fading Kip Deville to secure his fourth win in 10 starts. Alan Garcia was aboard for trainer Jimmy Toner as Sailors Cap ran the mile in 1:36.50 on the soft course.

It was a disappointing effort by Kip Deville, the 3-5 favorite who won the Poker last year. In his first start since running 10th in Dubai in March, the 2007 Breeders Cup Mile winner charged right to the front and held the lead into the stretch before tiring and finishing fourth.

Sailors Cap paid $13.40, $4.90 and $7.50. Tam Lin returned $3.20 and $3.80. Yield Bogey paid $9.50 to show.

Coco Belle scored a front-running victory by 3 3/4 lengths as the 8-1 choice in Sundays $72,800 Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park, with favored Indian Blessing finishing out of the money.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Coco Belle covered six furlongs on the synthetic Cushion Track in 1:08.35 and paid $18.60, $7.60 and $37.60.

I wasnt surprised at the easy lead, I was surprised how great she ran, Smith said. I knew she was good, but she ran incredible. Shes just coming into herself right now and its certainly a good time with Del Mar coming up. She loves that track, too. Shes getting better and better and Im really excited about her.

Silver Swallow returned $8.20 and $40.60, while Shes Cheeky was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $43.60.

Indian Blessing, the 1-5 wagering favorite in the field of seven fillies and mares, finished fourth in her first race since placing second in the $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 28. Of the $522,293 bet in the show pool, $484,538 was wagered on Indian Blessing.

She brought the strongest resume into the race. Indian Blessing has nine wins and four seconds in 13 starts, and earnings of more than $2.8 million. She was the champion 2-year-old filly in 2007 and champion female sprinter last year.

I knew I was in trouble passing the three-eighths pole, jockey Victor Espinoza said. By the middle of the turn she was a little bit empty. She was slipping around and really couldnt handle the track all that well.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said he would ship Indian Blessing back East.

You never know how theyre going to react after Dubai, thats why I wanted to run her here, he said. Maybe she needs a little more time. Well just regroup and send her back East where she loves to be.

The victory, worth $43,200, increased Coco Belles career earnings to $450,113, with seven wins in 23 starts.

Fearless Leader drew off in the stretch to win the $70,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, beating DWild Ride by 2 lengths.

Trained by Michael Lerman and ridden by Daniel Centeno, the 5-year-old mare covered the six furlongs over a good main track in 1:09 and returned $34.40 and $10.40. With only five horses running, there was no show betting.

DWild Ride rallied in the final strides to edge All Giving by a nose, while Love for Not was a length back in fourth and the favored Access Fee was last.

It was the fifth career win for Fearless Leader, who boosted her earnings to $161,445.

—-
Gandolph Finch wins Churchill feature

Gandolph Finch took the lead leaving the backstretch to win Sundays $49,280 Morluc Purse feature race at Churchill Downs by 1 3/4 lengths.

Trained by Garry Simms and ridden by Leandro Goncalves, Gandolph Finch covered the five furlongs on firm turf in 57.74.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Sunday Break, Gandolph Finch paid $18.60, $8 and $4.20. Echo in Eternity returned $5.20 and $3.80, with Western Prospector finishing third in the field of nine and paying $3.20 to show.

The victory was worth $30,580 for owners Team Kentucky, and increased Gandolph Finchs earnings to $68,881.

Passmaster Hanover got up in the final strides to win a three-horse photo finish in the $500,000 Anthony Abbatiello SBOA New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.

Driver Tim Tetrick was boxed in behind heavily favored Dial Or Nodial and long shot Vintage Hanover before angling to the outside in midstretch and catching his competitors just before the finish line.

The 3-year-old son of Cams Card Shark paced the mile in a lifetime best of 1:50.2, winning for the fifth time in seven career starts. The Blair Burgess-trained colt paid $6, $4.20 and $2.40, and earned $250,000 for owners Jeffrey Snyder and the Brittany Farms.

Vintage Hanover, a 13-1 long shot with Andy Miller in the bike, finished second, a head in front of Dial Or Nodial and paid $10.60 and $3.20. Dial Or No Dial, who had won 10 of 15 career starts and 2 of 3 this year, paid $2.10 to show.

Passmaster Hanover and Dial Or No Dial won their eliminations for this race last weekend, but Burgess was not sure how his colt would do against Dial Or Nodial in the final.

I thought he had to get braver, Burgess said. He got a chance to get brave on the final turn and he responded.

Tetrick put Passmaster Hanover on the lead down the backstretch before Brian Sears moved Dial Or NoDial ahead, taking the field of 10 three-year-olds through the opening half-mile in 53.4 seconds.

Vintage Master challenged Dial Or NoDial on the final turn and those two dueled down the stretch until Tetrick found racing room and got Passmaster Hanover rolling in the final 100 yards.

The undercard had three stakes races worth $575,000, two of which Sears won.

Muscle Hill ($2.10) enhanced his credentials as the pre-Hambletonian favorite by romping to a 4 1/2 -length victory over entrymate The Chancellor in the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old colts and geldings. The Sears-driven son of Muscles Yankee took the lead on the backstretch and never looked back in trotting the mile in 1:53.3.

Margarita Momma ($6.80) closed on the outside in the stretch and scored a neck-length victory over Gabbys Dream in the $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Yankee Glide trotted the mile in 1:55.3 with George Brennan in the sulky.

Sears also won the $175,000 Thomas DAltrui SBOA Miss New Jersey final for 3-year-old fillies with Showherthemoney ($6.40). The daughter of Cams Card Shark paced the mile in 1:50.4 for a 2 1/2 -length victory over McGibson.

If I Can Dream won the $421,850 Art Rooney Pace on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway, beating Fireintheshark by three lengths.

If I Can Dream, driven by George Brennan, paced the mile in 1:52 1-5.

Monkey Off My Back third.

Leaving from post position No. 6 in the field of seven 3-year-old colts, If I Can Dream went right to the lead. He yielded to 2-5 race favorite Hypnotic Blue Chip, then sat second until the final turn.

Hypnotic Blue Chip made a break going into the stretch, and If I Can Dream, never far from the leader, rolled by. Hypnotic Blue Chip wound up leaving the course and finishing last.

If I Can Dream, a son of Western Hanover, returned $7.40 as the second wagering choice. He led a $52.50 exacta and $273 triple.

I wanted to get my horse involved early, because I knew he could leave the gate, Brennan said. I figured (Hypnotic Blue Chip) was the one I had to beat. I was going by, whether he had made a break or not.

The winner, with career earnings nearing $450,000, is trained by Tracy Brainard for Bulletproof Enterprises. The trainer and owner also won Saturday nights $293,970 Lismore Pace with the 3-year-old filly Not Enough.

Not Enough, a $30,000 supplemental entry, was driven to a three-length win in 1:53 4-5 by Jim Morrill Jr. She returned $2.90 as part of a favored three-horse entry. Jkmusicofthenite finished second, and Indulge Me was third.