UPI Horse Racing Roundup – July 7, 2014
July 7th, 2014By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Sea the Moon was the most impressive winner in weekend racing, running away with the Deutches Derby, while other Europeans did quite well, thank you very much, on American shores during the Independence Day weekend.
From sea to shining sea, American racing provided some good clues to the upcoming summertime and year-end battles in divisions ranging from the Classic to the juveniles. In the latter case, check the 2-year-old filly report on Wonder Gal.
Belmont Park’s restructuring of two $1 million turf races onto Saturday’s card was a huge success, especially for the Phipps Stable’s Mr Speaker, who trounced some good Euros. Among them was UAE Derby winner Toast of New York, who was toasted in New York.
Read on. There’s plenty more where that came from!
Turf
Some very promising European 3-year-olds were lured to Belmont Park by the $1.25 million, Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational. While several of them ran well enough, in the final furlong of the 1 1/4-miles grass event, they couldn’t handle Mr Speaker, who found room on the inside and went on to triumph by a neck. Adelaide, coming off a second-place finish in the Group II King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, looked like a winner, found another gear after Mr Speaker ran by him and came up just short in a valiant effort for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Flamboyant finished third in his third U.S. start and French invader Gailo Chop got home fourth. Disappointments included Toast of New York, who was making his first start since winning the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night; Pornichet, making his first start since finishing third in the French 2,000 Guineas; and home team favorite Bobby’s Kitten, who tired late. Mr Speaker, a Phipps Stable homebred son of Pulpit with Personal Ensign on the dam side of his pedigree, finished in 2:01.18 with Jose Lezcano riding.
British import Main Sequence was off a step slowly in Sunday’s $500,000, Grade I United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park, took the overland route into the stretch and was still up in time to win by a neck over Twilight Eclipse. Side Glance led the way and held on well to finish third, just 1 length farther back. The favorite, Kaigun, tired late to finish fifth. Main Sequence, a 5-year-old Aldebaran gelding, ran 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:14.13 with Rajiv Maragh up. The victory came in his first start of the year. Main Sequence won the first four starts of his career in 2011 and 2012 but had gone winless since in 10 races, albeit frequently in the money. He was trained in England by David Lanagan but was saddled Sunday by H. Graham Motion.
“He can be quirky in the mornings, but Rajiv rode him great,” Motion said. “He’s not fond of getting to the lead too early, but he showed a tremendous turn of foot. The way he’s been working, I’ve been really anxious to run him for three or four weeks now. I think the Breeders’ Cup is now something we can consider.”
Side Glance recorded his best showing since winning the Group 1 Longines Mackinnon Stakes last fall at Flemington in Australia. He had raced since then in Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore and England.
Aldous Snow came from just off the speed in Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian), Grade III Singspiel Stakes at Woodbine, worked his way to a narrow lead in the lane and fended off Perfect Timber’s late bid to score by a nose. Dynamic Sky led briefly and held on for show money. The favorite, Forte Dei Marmi, couldn’t keep up with the others in the stretch and settled for fourth. Aldous Snow, a 5-year-old son of Theatrical, ran 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:28.85 with Javier Castellano up. It was his first win in four graded stakes tries — including a fifth-place showing in last year’s Singspiel. He now is 2-for-2, however, after being gelded during the winter.
“We always want to give these guys the best chance to win, if that’s possible,” said co-owner Rick Balaz. “We felt he’d do better by being gelded and obviously he has. So it was a good decision.”
Turf Mile
Friday’s $100,000 Forbidden Apple Stakes at Belmont Park lost a bit of its sparkle with the scratch of Za Approval, grudging runner-up to Wise Dan in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile. Of those left, Sayaad was clearly best, leading all the way and winning by 2 1/4 lengths over the favorite, Kharfa. Bio Pro finished third. Sayaad, a 4-year-old Street Sense colt who was making his first start since last fall, finished in 1:38.27 over yielding turf with Jose Ortiz riding.
Wise Dan, meanwhile, is reported recovering well from colic surgery and could reappear late in the Saratoga meeting.
Five came out of the companion Perfect Sting Stakes for fillies and mares on Belmont’s Independence Day card and a sixth, Lady Ten, dumped her rider just as the gate opened. Of the four who actually ran, Joy was the 11-1 upset winner, rallying from last and drawing off late to score by 3 1/2 lengths over Mah Jong Madness. The odds-on favorite, Waterway Run, finished third and Orion Moon faded from the lead to finish last. Joy, a 4-year-old Pure Prize filly, got home in 1:40.08 over the testing surface with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
Friday’s $75,000 Elkwood Stakes at Monmouth Park came off the turf and 12 scratches resulted. Slim Shadey proved best of the five who ran the 1 mile on the sloppy main track, getting home 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Midnight Cello. Joe Tess was third. Slim Shadey, a 6-year-old, British-bred gelding by Val Royal, finished in 1:36.90 with Charles Lopez up.
Filly & Mare Turf
Minorette, making her third U.S. start after racing in Ireland, charged by pacesetting Sea Queen in the final sixteenth to take Saturday’s $1 million, Grade I Belmont Oaks Invitational by 2 lengths. Sea Queen held second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Summer Solo. Some highly regarded foreigners trailed — Xcellence in fourth and Wonderfully in fifth. Rosalind, making her first start after an unprofitable trip to Royal Ascot, ran ninth the whole way and finished in that position, beating only Recepta. Minorette, an American-bred Smart Strike filly, is owned by the Coolmore principals and trained by Chad Brown. She finished third in her U.S. debut at Keeneland and second in the Wonder Again at Belmont in May. Saturday’s victory earned her a place in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf through the “Win and You’re In” program.
“The more I got to train her, even before we first ran her, she just moved and looked like a mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Brown said. “I gave her a local prep and it worked, because that’s what preps are for. She got a run over the course, and the jock got to know her. When the money counted today, he rode her perfect.”
Aigue Marine dawdled near the back of the field through the early furlongs of Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park. She started picking things up around the turn, finally got the lead with a furlong to go and went on to score by 1 3/4 lengths. Topic led briefly, finished second and was set down to ninth for being bad. That promoted Concise and Always Kitten into the trifecta. Aigue Marine, a 5-year-old, British-bred mare by Galileo, ran about 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:14.71 with Kendrick Carmouche up. That time shaved nearly a full second off the 17-year-old course record. It was her first stakes win, though she has hit the board repeatedly in graded stakes company in earlier races. Carmouche credited trainer Christophe Clement.
“This was a perfect job by Mr. Clement and his team,” he said. “I was just a passenger today.”
Overheard overhauled pacesetting stablemate Deceptive Vision in the stretch run of Sunday’s $200,000, Grade II Dance Smartly Stakes for fillies and mares at Woodbine and won by a nose over that one. Savvy Hester and English Class pressed the early pace and held on for third and fourth, respectively. Overheard, a 4-year-old Macho Uno filly, ran about 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:44.25 with Eurico Da Silva up. Overheard has never finished worse than third in 13 career starts, with six wins, four seconds and three thirds. She won the Grade III Valley View Stakes at Keeneland in her last race of 2013. She finished second Tannery in the Miss Liberty at Monmouth Park before the Dance Smartly. The top two are trained by Malcolm Pierce.
“Both fillies ran hard and both deserved to win,” Pierce said. “Unfortunately, one has to be a loser. But it’s nice to get the exactor.”
Classic
When Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome is sufficiently recovered to return to the wars, he’s going to find a new rival on the scene — Shared Belief. Shared Belief, last year’s U.S. 2-year-old champ, was bumped from the Kentucky Derby trail by injury. But after a comeback win last month on the Golden Gate Fields all-weather course, he showed he is all the way back with a resounding triumph in Saturday’s $500,000, Grade II Los Alamitos Derby. With Mike Smith up for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, the Candy Ride colt stalked the pace set by Can the Man, took the lead approaching the stretch and kicked clear to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Candy Boy ran well late to take second and it was another 7 1/4 lengths back to Tonito M. in third. Shared Belief, making his first start on the dirt, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:47.01. He remains undefeated after five starts.
“My main concern honestly was would he handle the dirt, would he run the same as he has on synthetic,” Smith said. “I wasn’t worried about the distance and I wasn’t worried about him being fit. I knew within 100 yards out of the gate that he was going to handle the dirt.”
Hollendorfer added, “I thought I had him prepared and apparently he was because he won pretty much in hand.”
Kid Cruz appears to be coming into his own in the 3-year-old ranks. The Lemon Drop Kid colt shouldered his way into running room early in the stretch drive in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade III Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park and doggedly ran down entrymate Captain Serious to win by 3/4 length. Ulanbator was well back in third after a stumbling start. With the entry first and second, the trifecta went down to Spot, the fourth-place finisher. Kid Cruz, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.12. He won the Private Terms and Federico Tessio in Maryland but finished eighth in the Preakness. He bounced back from that to win the $150,000 Easy Goer at Belmont in his last previous start.
“The horse seems to be getting better all the time, perfecting his trade,” said winning trainer Linda Rice. She said she thinks he has what it takes to “hopefully” point for the Grade II Jim Dandy on July 26 and the Grade I Travers — the “Midsummer Derby” — on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.
Irish You Well also is starting to make a little noise in the sophomore division. The Broken Vow colt shadowed the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park, took over the lead when asked by jockey Orlando Bocachica and held off Just Call Kenny late to win by 1/2 length. Early leader Encryption faded to finish third. Irish You Well, trained by Wayne Catalano, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.55. He finished third in the Grade III Illinois Derby in April and third in the Grade II Peter Pan in May — both times as a maiden. He finally won in June, in his ninth start, when Catalano dropped him back into a maiden race at Monmouth. Catalano said he plans to keep pushing Irish You Well up the class ladder with the $1 million, Grade I Haskell Invitational on July 27 next on his agenda.
Amongst the older handicap horses, Zivo rallied from last of 11 to upset Saturday’s $500,000, Grade II Suburban, easily passing pacesetter Moreno and winning by 3 lengths over that one. Prayer For Relief was a stubborn third while the favorite, Romansh, ran evenly to finish fifth. Last Gunfighter showed little and finished ninth. Zivo, a 4-year-old, New York-bred colt by New Direction, had been beating up on state-bred rivals, winning his last five starts and six of his last seven at Aqueduct and Belmont. Chad Brown trains both Zivo and Last Gunfighter.
“This horse has really come around well,” Brown said of Zivo, “and it was time to step out of New York-bred company and try him in an open company race with a big purse.”
He said Last Gunfighter had to steady during the run down the backstretch, throwing off his running style.
Junior Alvarado, who rode Moreno, said, “At the end, a better horse passed me.”
Does this go in the Classic or the Distaff?
Lexie Lou pulled off the Woodbine Oaks-Queen’s Plate double with an off-the pace, stretch-running victory in Sunday’s $1 million (Canadian) Queen’s Plate for Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds. The Sligo Bay filly, under Patrick Husbands, closed from well back to challenge at the top of the lane, bumped with pacesetting Asserting Bear and then went on about her business, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over late-running Ami’s Holiday. Asserting Bear held on for third, 5 1/2 lengths to the good of the favorite, We Miss Artie, who reared at the start. Lexie Lou ran 1 1/4 miles on the all-weather track in 2:03.94. In her last previous start, Lexie Lou won the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, by 4 1/2 lengths over Wild Catomine. She now has five wins from 12 starts. She becomes the 35th filly to win the classic in 155 runnings since its inauguration in 1860 and the sixth filly to win the Oaks-Plate double. The last had been Inglorious in 2011.
“Everybody left running,” Husbands said. “My filly was so relaxed. I had so much confidence in her coming into this race … I called everybody in Barbados Saturday to say I was coming home to celebrate the Queen’s Plate.”
Trainer Mark Casse, who won the Plate for the first time, said he was “confident as you can be. But there’s so many things that have to go right. So many things can go wrong. Asked about running in the July 29 Prince of Wales, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, Casse said, “We’ll see. It’s a possibility.”
Distaff
Fortune Pearl got first run to the lead in the stretch in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade II Delaware Oaks and the favorite, Joint Return, couldn’t catch her after a tardy start. At the wire, it was Fortune Pearl by 2 lengths with Joint Return a nose in front of Aibhilin, who held the lead briefly. Fortune Pearl, a Mineshaft filly, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.69 with Trevor McCarthy up. She finished third in the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico in her first stakes try and now has three wins from seven starts. Trainer H. Graham Motion said he didn’t give McCarthy much in the way of instructions.
“I was not really surprised she was far back early,” Motion said. “We really did not have a game plan coming into the Oaks. She is a very straight forward filly to ride, so I really left it up to Trevor.”â€
Sprint
Saturday’s $400,000, Grade III Belmont Sprint Championship looked like a pretty competitive affair on paper. But when Clearly Now, after stalking the pace, hit the afterburners in the stretch, he found no one to go with him and won off by 6 1/4 lengths. Palace chased him home and finished second, a nose in front of Salutos Amigos. Moonlight Song and Dads Caps showed the way and dead-heated for fourth and fifth. Clearly Now, a 4-year-old colt by Horse Greeley, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in track-record time of 1:19.96 with Jose Lezcano in the irons. It was his first victory since the Grade III Bold Ruler last fall over the same course.
“When he broke a little slow I thought, ‘Oh boy, here we go again,'” said winning trainer Brian Lynch. “But when he cruised up on the inside … I could tell Jose had a lot of horse.” Asked what’s next, Lynch said, “We’ll look at some spots at Saratoga and, ultimately, the Breeders’ Cup would be in play.”
Coup De Grace rallied from last of seven to win Saturday’s $50,000 Oh Say Stakes for 3-year-olds at Delaware Park by a neck over Favorite Tale with Debt Ceiling third. Coup De Grace, a Tapit colt, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.24 with Kerwin Clark in the irons. Coup De Grace, who finished 10th in that fateful Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, came back to win the Grade III Bay Shore at Aqueduct, then finished sixth in the Grade II Woody Stephens at Belmont Park. He now has four wins from six starts.
Turf Sprint
Something Extra didn’t really need anything extra in Sunday’s $200,000 (Canadian), Grade II Highlander Stakes at Woodbine. The 6-year-old Indian Charlie gelding stalked the initial pace, went to the lead and got home first by 1 1/4 length over Phil’s Dream. Lockout finished third. Something Extra, Eurico Da Silva in the irons, ran 6 furlongs on firm turf in a speedy 1:07.78. She had not won in more than 13 months and finished seventh in this race last year.
Like the “most interesting man in the world,” Saint Leon doesn’t always win. But when he does, he seems to prefer the Arlington Sprint. The 9-year-old Stravinsky gelding, once a $5,000 claimer, led all the way in Saturday’s $75,000 renewal of the listed event and held on to win by 1 length over Positive Side. Anyriderill Do rallied to snatch third. Saint Leon, with E.T. Baird doing just fine in the irons, got 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 1:03.45. Saint Leon now has won 16 of 35 career starts. But in the Arlington Sprint, he is 3-for-3. Trainer Michelle Boyce, asked if he might go for a “four-peat” at age 10, said, “Who knows? Maybe.”
Dirt Mile
Itsmyluckyday got by pacesetter Bradester in the stretch run to win Sunday’s $150,000, Grade III Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park by 1 1/2 lengths. Valid finished third. Itsmyluckyday, a 4-year-old Lawyer Ron colt, finished in 1:34.88 over a fast track with Paco Lopez up. It was his second straight win following a fourth-place finish in the Grade II Gulfstream Park Handicap back in March.
“This was another test,” said winning trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., “and he passed with an A-plus. He was three-wide around the entire turn and still managed to kick away in the lane. He kind of pulled himself up in the end. Plesa said Itsmyluckyday will be back for the $200,000, Grade II Monmouth Cup at 9 furlongs on July 27, “barring anything unforeseen.”
2-year-olds
Highway Boss won a stretch battle with Global Magician in Sunday’s $50,000 Everett Nevin Stakes for state-bred 2-year-olds at the Oak Tree meeting at Pleasanton, winning by a head over that rival. Lucky Flame finished third. Highway Boss, a Street Boss gelding, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.50 with Dennis Carr up.
2-year-old fillies
Circle this one: First-time starter Wonder Gal came from last of five to win Sunday’s $125,000 Lynbrook Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-old fillies at Belmont park — by 14 1/2 lengths. Accelebrate beat the others and Saluda finished third. Wonder Gal, a Tiz Wonderful filly out of the Dixie Union mare Passe, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.14 with Taylor Rice in the irons.
“We hope she lives up to our expectations, said winning trainer Leah Gyarmati. “She’s young, still. She’s big, but she’s still young. You have to keep that in mind. There are bound to be some bumps along the way.”
Do the Danse was quickly out front in Saturday’s $50,000 Juan Gonzalez Memorial at the Oak Tree meeting at Pleasanton and kicked clear late to win by 3 lengths over Myrna Lou. Princess Bertrando missed by another nose and was just a nose in front of Sea Mona. Do the Danse, a Kafwain filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.36 with Russell Baze in the irons for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
International
Sea the Moon ran away with Sunday’s Group 1 German Derby at Hamburg, winning by 11 lengths as jockey Christophe Soumillon steered him — alone — to the stands side of the rail in the stretch and virtually eased the colt in the final furlong.
“We were confident,” said trainer Markus Klug. “But I did not expect him to win like that.”
Sea the Moon, a Sea the Stars colt, went right to the lead and was never in any danger of losing. Klug said he discussed the odd stretch run with Soumillon, hoping to reverse the colt’s history of hanging during the late going. Whether it worked or not is a moot point because the race was well and truly won before it would have mattered. Lucky Lion finished second and Open Your Heart was third. Two expected contenders, Ballydoyle’s Geoffrey Chaucer and Godolphin’s Pinzolo, were never in the race and finished 17th and 15th in the field of 18. Sea the Moon remains undefeated in three starts and now is eyed as a serious contender for the big races in England and France, including this fall’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.
England
Saturday’s Group 1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown turned into a total eclipse for the favorites as Mukhadram took command in the final furlong and went on to win convincingly by 2 lengths over Trading Leather. Extreme long shot Somewhat made the early going and stubbornly stuck around to finish third. The favorite, The Fugue, had a bit of a rocky start, raced last early and found some traffic when jockey William Buick called on her. She finished sixth. Aidan O’Brien’s contingent, War Command and Verrazano, finished seventh and ninth respectively, split by Night of Thunder, the 2,000 Guineas winner who also finished second to Kingman in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Mukhadram, a 5-year-old son of Shamardal, finished second to African Story in the Dubai World Cup in March but then was fourth in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, a race won by The Fugue. The Eclipse was the first Group 1 win for the William Haggis trainee.
“If there is a horse that deserves it, it’s him,” said winning rider Paul Hanagan. “Hopefully there is more to come now.” Haggis said he is looking to the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Ascot next month, expecting Mukhadram to be even better at 1 1/2 miles — a quarter-mile farther than the Eclipse distance.
Pomology rallied to the lead late in Saturday’s Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock and stayed on to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Sultania, a stablemate in John Gosden’s yard. Talent finished third, remaining winless since landing the Epsom Oaks some 13 months ago. Pomology, a 4-year-old New Approach filly, ran the 1 1/2 miles over good to soft going in 2:31.60 with Graham Lee up. Owned by Princess Haya of Jordan, Pomology won all three of her starts last year and was making her first appearance of 2014.
South Africa
Legislate was awarded victory in Saturday’s Group 1 Vodaphone Durban July at Greyville when the stewards, after a lengthy look, ruled that Wylie Hall had caused interference while getting home first. Legislate, the officials ruled, had initial contact with Wylie Hall but the latter than came out, carrying his rival along in the late going. Trainer Justin Snaith said Legislate, a 4-year-old son of Dynasty, will tackle a few local targets next season, then enter the lengthy quarantine process required to ship South African horses overseas.
Also Saturday, Bilateral posted a huge upset in the Group 1 Zulu Kingdom Golden Slipper for 2-year-old fillies, the Mike De Kock-trained favorite, Alboran Sea in the final yards to win by 3/4 length. In the Group 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe, Afrikaburn, owned by internationalist Fred Krabbia, survived a slow start to win convincingly over De Kock’s One Fine Day.
Elsewhere:
Gulfstream Park
The Hallandale oval celebrated its newfound South Florida Thoroughbred monopoly with five sprint stakes on Saturday, each worth $75,000.
Madam Giry rallied from well back to win the Bob Umphery Turf Sprint by 2 1/2 lengths over pacesetting Jo Jo’s Comet. Cajun Breeze finished third. Madam Giry, a 5-year-old Castledale mare, ran 5 furlongs on good turf in 55.80 seconds with Edgar Prado riding.
Heart Stealer came from off the pace to take the Paseana Stakes for fillies and mares by 2 1/4 lengths from Kipling’s Joy. Salamera finished third. Heart Stealer, a 4-year-old filly by Speightstown, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the good main track in 1:16.61 under Edgard Zayas.
Little Alexis outfinished Nesso to win the Cash Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 3/4 length over that rival. Florida Sun made up ground late to finish third. Little Alexis, a Mr. Greeley filly, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in 1:17.19 with Prado up.
C. Zee came out for running room in the stretch in the Cherokee Run Stakes for 3-year-olds and got home first by 1 length over Casiguapo. Victory Nor Defeat rallied from last of 11 to get show money. C. Zee, an Elusive Bluff colt, completed 6 1/2 furlongs on a good track in 1:16.37 with Abdiel Jaen aboard.
Finally, Mr. Baker was on the engine from the git-go in the Housebuster Stakes, then opened up in the lane to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Grande Shores was best of the rest and Bahamian Squall settled for third. Mr. Baker, a 5-year-old son of Imperialism, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in 1:15.63 with Zayas in the irons.
Woodbine
Eighty Nine Red got by pacesetting favorite Flashy Margaritta in the late going of Saturday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Achievement Stakes and went on to post the 16-1 upset win by 1 length. Flashy Margaritta held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Spadina Road. Eighty Nine Red, a 4-year-old Bold Executive gelding, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:10.28 with Jesse Campbell up.
Stacked Deck stalked the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 (Canadian) Charlie Barley Stakes for 3-year-olds, took command in mid-stretch and just lasted by a nose over Speightsland. Florida Won put in a late bid from far back to finish third. Stacked Deck, a First Samurai gelding, got 1 mile on firm turf in 1:33.45 with Chantal Sutherand-Kruz in the irons.
Los Alamitos
Sky Kingdom stalked the pace in Friday’s $75,000 American Flag Stakes, took the lead entering the stretch and held off Handsome Mike for a 3/4-length win. The pacesetter and favorite, Magic Mark, held third. Sky Kingdom, a 5-year-old son of Empire Maker, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.32 with Victor Espinoza up for trainer Bob Baffert. He was making his first start since last August.
Legacy outfinished Onna Bugeisha to win Sunday’s $75,000 Cypress Stakes for fillies and mares by a nose. Irish Presence was third, another 1/2 length back. Legacy, a 4-year-old Sightseeing filly, ran 1 1/16 miles under Joe Talamo in 1:41.84 over a fast track.
Pleasanton
Streamside led from the early going in Friday’s $75,000 Oak Tree Sprint and got home first, 1 1/2 lengths in front of the favorite, Moonshine Bay. Zeewat finished third. Streamside, a 5-year-old E Dubai gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.72 with Juan Hernandez riding.
