UPI Horse Racing Roundup – June 8, 2015
June 8th, 2015By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
American Pharoah won the Triple Crown and Golden Horn took the Investec Derby in a spectacular weekend of racing. Now it’s on to see what they can do from here.
Along the way … Wedding Toast upset Untapable, Curalina was impressive in winning the Acorn and Honor Code provided trainer Shug McGaughey with his first win in the Grade I Met Mile.
In Japan, Maurice stepped up to win Sunday’s Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse in his first try in a Group 1 race. The makeup for next month’s Durban July in South Africa didn’t get any clearer. And Legatissimo was victorious in Friday’s Investec Oaks at Epsom.
With a happy smile, we start with …
The Triple Crown
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes victory will not be the swan song for American Pharoah, even though owner Ahmed Zayat has sold his breeding rights to Coolmore.
“After we freshen him up, we have options,” trainer Bob Baffert said early Sunday after reporting all is well with his Triple Crown winner and affording the assembled media an unexpected and likely unprecedented chance to pet the colt. Baffert, who finally won the Triple Crown on his third try, said the possibilities include the Grade I Haskell Invitational at Monmouth, the Grade II Jim Dandy and the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and a “little race” at Del Mar — the Grade I Pacific Classic. Those August affairs all point to the $5 million, Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Hallowe’en.
“We’ll have time to figure it all out, and right now we just want to love on him and enjoy him,” Baffert said.
It was a 37-year exercise in futility between Affirmed’s Triple Crown sweep in 1978 and American Pharoah’s win Saturday in the $1.5 million, Grade I Belmont Stakes. Twelve horses had tried and failed to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont, all within five pressure-packed weeks. The drama built through American Pharoah’s all-out victory in the Kentucky Derby and his domination in the slop in the Preakness Stakes. But, in the end, it was all triumph and little drama as the Pioneerof the Nile colt led all the way to a 5 1/2-lengths victory on Saturday. Jockey Victor Espinoza, winning the Triple Crown in his third try, hustled his mount to the front after missing a step when the gate opened. By the time they hit the first turn in the 1 1/2-miles “Test of a Champion,” he knew he was golden.
“I’m telling you, in the first turn it was the best feeling I’ve ever had,” said Espinoza, who will donate his earnings to the charity City of Hope. The expected challenge did not materialize on the run down the backstretch, allowing American Pharoah to catch a breather, and by the time he exited the sweeping stretch turn, he was full of run and in full flight. Frosted did his best with a mild bid at the top of the lane but American Pharoah was having none of that and easily shook clear.
“For about three strides, I started to call on him,” said Frosted’s trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin. “Then I looked back at the leader and said, ‘Oops’.” Frosted, owned by Sheik Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, held on for second while Keen Ice nipped UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij for third. Despite a moderate early pace, American Pharoah finished in a quite respectable 2:26.65.
“Once Victor got him in the clear and got him into that beautiful mode of the way he just goes over the ground, I just loved every fraction,” said Baffert, who had seen three previous Triple Crowns slip away in the Belmont Park stretch. “Turning for home, I was preparing for somebody coming because I’ve been through this so many times. I was just hoping for once and I could tell at the eighth pole that it was going to happen.”
Trainer Nick Zito, whose horses twice have turned back efforts to nail down a Triple Crown, couldn’t get the job done a third time Saturday with Frammento, who finished fifth. The New Yorker was full of praise for American Pharoah and Californian Baffert.
“We watched a great horse run yesterday,” Zito said Sunday morning. “Last year, California Chrome’s owner said we’ll never witness a Triple Crown in his lifetime. Nick Zito’s been saying this for years: Don’t change it. Don’t change it, because it’s the hardest thing to do in sports and when a great horse comes along, you’ll see it. Well, a great horse came along. The game won yesterday.”
The Derby
If American Pharoah is pointed toward the Breeders’ Cup, Saturday’s Investec Derby winner Golden Horn apparently is not.
Golden Horn, supplemented to the Derby somewhat reluctantly by owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer, handsomely rewarded the 75,000-pounds gamble with a decisive victory that stamps him as a potential star. With Frankie Dettori up, the Cape Cross colt belied his owner’s fears that he would struggle with the 1 1/2 miles. Instead, he got rolling only when the field hit the final quarter mile and it was well inside the last furlong that he got by stablemate Jack Hobbs. Storm the Stars was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third at the end of the classic. Golden Horn was supplemented after winning the Dante Stakes at York, with trainer John Gosden urging Oppenheimer to open the checkbook — a gamble that returned more than 813,000 pounds. Dettori acknowledged it took some doing to get Golden Horn going when the time came.
“He hit a flat spot and I thought, ‘My God, never mind staying. I can’t get him going!’ And then, once he found top gear, that was it, he was off. It was a brilliant feeling and I had to pinch myself, I couldn’t believe it,” Dettori said.
Gosden credited the rider. “The last thing I said to him beforehand was, ‘Ride a cool race.’ And he did just that. He waited and waited.” Golden Horn now will have a chance in all the remaining big races to prove his star quality. Gosden said Jack Hobbs “has run a superb race” and will point to the Irish Derby. Golden Horn, he said, is not in the Irish Derby, so the Group 1 Eclipse at Sandown on July 4 is the logical next place for him with the Juddmonte International at York a longer-term goal.
“He will not be going to the Breeders’ Cup,” Gosden added.
Other International
England
In Friday’s Group 1 Investec Oaks, the favorite, Legatissimo, rallied from a slow early pace to take the lead in the final furlong, only to be beaten by a head bob by late-running long shot Qualify. Another outsider, Lady of Dubai, finished third. Qualify, the least-fancied of three runners from Aidan O’Brien’s yard, won by a short head after circling some serious bumping nearer the rail in the stretch run. The Fastnet Rock filly, ridden by Colm O’Donoghue, became the longest-priced Oaks winner since Jet Ski Lady was victorious at 50-1 odds in 1991. Qualify also was off at 50-1. It was the third career win for the filly, who finished eighth in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
“We are lucky to have very high-class, quality horses and we knew she had ability because she worked like a good filly,” O’Brien said. “I was afraid the ground wouldn’t be quick enough for her today because she likes really hard, fast ground … Things didn’t go well for her in the Breeders’ Cup when she was unlucky and couldn’t get a run at the right time. When any horse wins any race it’s nice because there’s so much that can go wrong.”
Legatissimo might have had enough of a lead to withstand the late charge of the winner but for the entanglements earlier in the lane. Still, trainer David Wachman said she will drop back to 10-furlong races rather than continuing on the longer trip of the Oaks.
“We’ve got no excuses,” he said of Friday’s second.
Pether’s Moon got by the favorite, Dolniya, in the final jumps to win Saturday’s Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs by a neck. Flintshire was 1 1/2 lengths farther back in third and Sheikhzayedroad completed the short order of finish. Pether’s Moon, at 11-1 the longest chance in the field, got home in 2:33.76 with jockey Pat Dobbs taking his first Group 1 win at age 37.
“It’s well worth the wait,” Dobbs said. “But I didn’t think we could beat the two French horses,” Dolniya and Flintshire.
Trainer Richard Hannon said the winning owner, John Manley, “feels the horse goes really well for Pat, which is why he rode him.”
Dobbs settled the winner at the back of the field until the late going, found a way between horses late and helped Pether’s Moon overcome his tendency to wait while making the lead. The 5-year-old son of Dylan Thomas was beaten 18 lengths in his previous start, the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes last month at Newmarket and Hannon admitted, “This isn’t something I saw coming. So I’ve not really made any future plans.”
Japan
Maurice sat handy behind the pace in Sunday’s Group 1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse, biding his time until the field turned into the long, grueling stretch run. Then, jockey Yuga Kawada got after the 4-year-old Screen Hero colt and he slowly edged by the two front-runners to take a narrow lead with about 100 meters to run. Vincennes came running late outside Maurice but could get no closer than a desperate neck as the pair flashed under the wire. Clarente was third and Fiero was fourth. Maurice went to the post as the favorite after starting his season with three straight wins, including the Group 3 Lord Derby Challenge in his previous outing.
“He was a bit eager to go but I was able to keep him under control,” Kawada said. “He ran a really smooth race and we were able to slip out of the pack in good timing entering the straight.”
He finished the 1 mile on firm turf in 1:32.0. There were no foreign entrants for a race that often attracts one or two.
South Africa
Legislate won Saturday’s Group 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville in good order but trainer Justin Snaith said he is an “uncertain” starter for the upcoming Group 1 Durban July. Expressing concern about Legislate’s experiences in the starting gate, Snaith said he is more likely to be represented in Durban by Futura. Legislate scored by 3/4 length in Saturday’s race while Futura made a strong late run to get home fourth, beaten less than 1 length.
Italy
Dylan Mouth tracked the pace in Sunday’s Group 1 Grand Premio di Milano, worked his way to the lead with 2 furlongs to run and went on well to win by 5 lengths from Bilabong. Celticus was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third. Dylan Mouth, an Irish-bred, 4-year-old son of Dylan Thomas, now has four straight wins and nine of 10 for his career for trainer Stefano Botti.
Back in North America:
Belmont Saturday
Only three went to the post in the opening race on the card, the $150,000 Winstar Farm Easy Goer for 3-year-olds, and it was Japan who rallied from last to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the favorite, Stanford. Nona’s Boy led the way and was only a neck farther back in third and last. Japan, a Medaglia d’Oro colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.14 with Junior Alvarado up. He was coming off his maiden-breaker at Churchill Downs.
“I said before the race he’s the only horse that can upset American Pharoah,” said winning trainer Bill Mott. “I just had him in the wrong race.”
March put a nose in front of Cinco Charlie at the wire in the $500,000, Grade II Woody Stephens Stakes for 3-year-olds as pacesetter Ready for Rye finished a well-beaten third. The favorite, Competitive Edge, faded to finish sixth. March, a Blame colt, ran 7 furlongs in 1:21.37 with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. He was coming off a victory in the Grade III Bay Shore at Aqueduct two months ago.
“He came off a layoff in the Bay Shore,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “And he ran so well we figured, ‘You know, let’s just give him another layoff into the big race.’ When it came up tough, we were really just hoping to grab a piece of it, and like races often can on big racing days, when they broke, everything changed. We were in a great spot, and our horse showed up.”
Channel Marker got by pacesetting Something Extra in the stretch run in the $300,000, Grade III Jaipur Invitational and edged clear to win by 1 length over that rival. Ageless finshed third, 1/2 length farther back. The favorite, Mosler, finished sixth. Helwin, making his first U.S. start, pulled up while contesting the lead and was euthanized. Channel Marker, a 6-year-old Purim gelding, ran 6 furlongs on good turf in 1:09.48 with Francisco Torres at the controls. The winner was claimed 13 months ago at Churchill Downs for $62,500 and earned $165,000 for Saturday’s win — his first since the claim.
“He broke running today and involved himself early,” said winning trainer Philip Bauer. “That was our biggest problem previously this year, is having too much work to do.”
Wedding Toast led from the start in the $1 million, Grade I Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares and kicked clear easily in the lane, winning by 5 lengths from the favorite, Untapable, the reigning Breeders’ Cup Distaff champ. House Rules was third and Rosalind finished fourth. Wedding Toast, a 5-year-old Street Sense mare, was bred by Darley and is owned by Godolphin. Jose Lezcano rode the mare over 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.21, backing up her victory in the Grade II Ruffian a month ago. Lezcano said he expected to be sitting behind the early pace but went for it when no one else wanted to go.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin added, “There didn’t look like there was a lot of pace so he made a great decision when the gates opened. You have to make decisions. We can talk about it on paper, but it worked out great. They let her go easy and that was the difference. He deserves a lot of credit.”
The race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Coach Inge battled for the lead in the $400,000, Grade II Brooklyn Invitational, then just did cope with a late charge from V.E. Day (on D-Day) to win by a neck. It was 5 1/4 lengths back to Sky Kingdom in third. Coach Inge, running as an entry with Micromanage, got 1 1/2 miles on the main track in 2:27.17, just 3.17 seconds shy of Secretariat’s record. The 4-year-old Big Brown gelding was making his first stakes start for trainer Todd Pletcher. V.E. Day won last year’s Grade I Travers but has not visited the winner’s circle since.
“He came in off a very powerful allowance race and we just kind of had a feeling he’d handle the mile and a half,” Pletcher said. “So we’ve kind of been targeting this for awhile. I’ll tell you, it was a heck of a horse race … Plan A was we wanted to make the lead, but we were the next best thing stalking.”
Curalina rallied four-wide in the stretch run of the $750,000, Grade I Acorn for 3-year-old fillies and got by pacesetting long shot By the Moon in the final strides, winning by a neck. Wonder Gal, another one overlooked at the mutuels, was third. Condo Commando, the favorite, finished ninth — one of many involved in a bumping match right out of the gate. Previously undefeated Promise Me Silver got home 10th and Shook Up was eased late and vanned off after being bumped, clipping heels and stumbling. Curalina also was squeezed at the start but quickly reached a stalking position and responded willingly when asked by jockey John Velazquz. The Curlin filly ran 1 mile in 1:35.13, winning for the third straight time in her first stakes engagement.
“She got a horrible start,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “She got sandwiched from both sides. I thought she lost all chance right there. If you watch the head-on replay, it was a pretty remarkable effort.”
He said she likely will not run back in the Mother Goose in three weeks’ time but is a candidate for the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.
Tepin stalked the pace in the $700,000, Grade I Longines Just a Game Stakes for fillies and mares, worked to the lead with a sixteenth left and held off Filimbi by 1/2 length. Discreet Marq finished third and the favorite, Ball Dancing, was a dull eighth. Tepin, a 4-year-old Bernstein filly, got 1 mile on good turf in 1:35.65 with Julien Leparoux up. She has won all three of her 2015 starts, also including the Grade II Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.
“We broke good, but we were outside so I let the two horses in front just go ahead and then settled in third on the outside in the clear,” Leparoux said.
Trainer Mark Casse added, “We’re excited, we’re going to go to Saratoga for the first time in a long time. When you win a Grade 1 in front of a Belmont Day Stakes crowd, it’s pretty exciting.”
Honor Code came from last with a sweeping move to land the $1.25 million, Grade I Met Mile, winning by 3 3/4 lengths over the favorite, last year’s Belmont Stakes winner, Tonalist. Private Zone led into the lane and finished third. Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern went to his knees at the start, rushed up and then faded late to finish last of 10. Honor Code, a 4-year-old A.P. Indy ridgling, finished in 1:33.18. His dam is Serena’s Cat, a daughter of Storm Cat and Serena’s Tune. The latter is by Mr. Prospector out of the champion mare Serena’s Song, a daughter of Rahy.
“I was a little concerned with how far back we were,” said trainer Shug McGaughey, who won the Met Mile for the first time in his storied career. “But he kicked today and the speed came back to him. I saw the fractions, but I was also watching Tonalist because I knew if he kicks, that will come back to him, too. We just kicked harder today.”
Slumber rumbled from far back in a deep field to win the $1 million, Grade I Knob Creek Manhattan by 2 3/4 lengths over stablemate Big Blue Kitten, who rushed up from last. Legendary was third, Finnegan’s Wake was fourth. Slumber, an 8-year-old, British-bred son of Cacique, ran 1 1/4 miles on good turf in 2:01.23 with Irad Ortiz Jr. up. It was his first victory since August of 2013 in an optional claimer at Saratoga. Chad Brown trains the top two and said the addition of blinkers finally made the difference in getting Slumber back to the winner’s circle.
“After his last start at Churchill — wide, and he didn’t get the best trip and ran even again — I just thought, ‘Now’s the time to try it.’ It made all the difference. I thought Irad got beautiful position early, and really he was moving so comfortable halfway through the race he just needed a hole. He was a winner every step really.”
Belmont Friday
Cavorting and Enchanted Lady both rallied past the pacesetting long shot in the $150,000 Jersey Girl Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and Cavorting then edged clear to win by 3/4 length. Enchanted Lady, the favorite, stumbled at the start but held second, 3 lengths ahead of Spark. Cavorting, a Bernardini filly, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.08 for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. It was her first win since Grade II Adirondack at Saratoga last summer.
“She’s another one that’s taken a little bit of work because she ran poorly here in the slop and then at Gulfstream,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “Luckily, we have patient owners that allowed us to figure her out.”
Stonestreet Stables is the owner.
Cocked and Loaded rolled in from Arlington Park ready to live up to his name in the $250,000 Tremont for 2-year-olds. The Colonel John colt, trained by Larry Rivelli, took back early and came running late to score by 1/2 length over Paynes Prairie. Swipe finished third and the favorite, Uncle Vinny, was next-last of seven after being bumped just out of the gate. Cocked and Loaded, with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:04.17. He won his only other start, at Keeneland, in identical running style, and was sold to his current owners after that race. Rivelli commended Ortiz for his patience despite the good break.
“This horse is the real deal,” he said. “He’s a little guy but we call him ‘Mighty Mouse’. We’ll take him home to Chicago. He trains on the synthetic track just as good as he runs on this dirt track so we have a lot of options and could probably run him anywhere. We’ll let him catch his breath and then plan what’s next.”
Rock Fall came to the leaders exiting the turn in the $250,000, Grade II True North Stakes and kicked away in the lane, winning by 3 3/4 lengths over Stallwalkin’ Dude. Dads Caps was a neck farther behind in third. Rock Fall, a 4-year-old Speightstown colt, won for the fifth straight time in his first stakes try and appears to be a new force in the Sprint division. He ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.37 with Javier Castellano up for Todd Pletcher and Stonestreet Stables.
“When he broke his maiden last year I thought he was going to be a good horse, and then he followed it up with a nice allowance win,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He had to take a little time off, but to win five in a row now is pretty hard to do, especially sprinting. He’s really found his groove.”
Waltzing Matilda raced in mid pack through most of the $300,000, Grade II New York Stakes for fillies and mares, worked her way to the lead with a sixteenth to run and held off Eastern Belle’s late run by 3/4 length. The entry of Kitten’s Queen and Stephanie’s Kitten finished third and fourth, another nose and neck in arrears. Waltzing Matilda, a 4-year-old, Irish-bred filly by Danehill Dancer with only one previous win to her credit, was let go at odds of 23-1 in her first U.S. start. She finished the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:01.30 with Junior Alvarado in the irons. James Stack, son and assistant to winning trainer Tommy Stack, said the victory puts the filly’s future up in the air.
“The plan was for her to be sold in Keeneland in November or Fasig-Tipton, and she was going to run here,” he said. “I have to talk to the owner now. We might leave her here and give her another shot. We also might bring her home. I don’t know. Our plans are fluid.”
Innovation Economy had the best late kick at the end of 2 miles in the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational, getting by the favorite, Unitarian, to score by 1/2 length. Dynamic Sky was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Innovation Economy, a 4-year-old Dynaformer colt, finished in 3:22.17 with Irad Ortiz Jr. riding. He picked up his third straight win and fourth from six starts.
“This horse has been so consistent,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “He’s lightly raced, but has a tremendous amount of stamina for a horse that hasn’t run much … The ride that Irad gave him was perfect. The only instructions I gave him were, ‘Show them you’re the best turf rider in the game,’ and I think he did.”
Elsewhere:
Churchill Downs
Kiss Moon stayed close behind pacesetting I’m Already Sexy into the stretch run in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap for fillies and mares, then put her head in front at the end. Strike Charmer was third, 1 1/4 lengths farther back. Kiss Moon, a 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:40.94 with Corey Lanerie in the irons. She was coming off a poor effort in the Grade II Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on Derby Day, a run that trainer David Vance attributed to training setbacks.
“We tried to get her ready for Derby Day. That was our plan,” Vance said. “But the Oaklawn weather put us way back. We decided to run her (on Derby Day) because there was no place else to run her. We either had to run her or train her another five to six weeks … She’ll do good things this year.”
Santa Anita
Gimme Da Lute provided another graded stakes winner for Bob Baffert, taking Sunday’s $100,000, Grade III Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds by 1/2 length from the odds-on favorite, Prospect Park. Om and Cyrus Alexander completed the order of finish. Gimme Da Lute, a Midnight Lute colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.40 with Martin Garcia in the irons. He now has three wins, a second and two thirds from six starts. His last outing was an off-the-board finish at Pimlico.
“He’s a tough little horse,” said Baffert assistant Mike Marlow. “I think coming back to his home track helped a lot and short fields never hurt either.”
Uruguayan-bred Gaga A ran by pacesetting Brazilian-bred Gas Total to win Sunday’s $100,000 Possibly Perfect Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths. Irish-bred Halljoy finished third. Gaga A, a 6-year-old mare by T.H. Approval, ran 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:29.78 with Tyler Baze aboard.
Monmouth Park
Triple Threat closed boldly in the final furlong to take Sunday’s $200,000, Grade II Monmouth Stakes by a nose over Middleburg. Inchcape faded from the pace to finish third and the favorite, Ghurair, got home fifth. Triple Threat, a 5-year-old, French-bred son of Monsun, ran 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:49.89. It was his first U.S. start after a career in France that saw him twice victorious in Group events.
“He had to take back going into the first turn,” said winning jockey Jose Lezcano. “That was fine because we were close to the pack anyway with the slow pace. We had to go a little wide, but once we hit the quarter pole, he had a lot of kick left for the stretch.”
Bill Mott is Triple Threat’s new trainer.
Dreams Gone Wild pressed the pace in Sunday’s $50,000 John McSorley Stakes, surged to a clear lead in the lane and held off Scout’s Honor by 1 length at the end of about 5 1/2 furlongs. Two Notch Road finished third and the favorite, Buster Rose, was fifth. Dreams Gone Wild, a 6-year-old Freud gelding, got home in 1:02.24 over firm going with Trevor McCarthy in the irons.
Lady Shipman led all the way to a 1 1/2-lengths victory in Saturday’s $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Quaver was second and Harlan’s Honor finished third. Lady Shipman, by Midshipman, got the “about” 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:04.48 under Eduardo Nunez.
Woodbine
Are You Kidding Me swept by the early leader, Midnight Aria, at mid-stretch in Sunday’s $200,000 (Canadian), Grade III Eclipse Stakes and edged clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Za Approval was third. Are You Kidding Me, a 5-year-old son of Run Away and Hide, got 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:42.76 with Alan Garcia handling the reins. It was his first win since the Grade II Kent Stakes at Delaware Park last summer and came on the heels of a third-place finish in the Grade III San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate.
Pender Harbour won a long stretch battle in Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Steady Growth Handicap, besting Asserting Bear by 3/4 length. Keen Gizmo finished third and Millioninthemaking was fourth. The stewards, however, set Asserting Bear down to fourth for squeezing Millioninthemaking during the stretch duel. Pender Harbour, a 7-year-old Philanthropist gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:43.08 with Luis Contreras riding. It was the third win in this event for Pender Harbour, who also finished third in the 2011 Queen’s Plate.
Gulfstream Park
Requite shadowed Grand Bili through the early furlongs of Sunday’s $60,000 Big Cypress Handicap for 3-year-olds, dueled his way to the lead and won by 1/2 length over that rival. Southern Barbecue was third, 5 3/4 lengths farther back. Requite, a Warrior’s Reward colt, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.91 with Eddie Castro in the irons.
Grande Shores was along late to take Saturday’s $60,000 Parrot Key Stakes by 3/4 lengths over Trev. That’s Trev, not dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Treve. City of Weston finished third. Grande Shores, an 8-year-old son of Black Mambo, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:16.41 with Castro riding.
R Free Roll led throughout Saturday’s $60,000 Tiger Lily Handicap for fillies and mares and held on gamely to win by 3/4 length over Fascinate. Katie’s Kiss finished third. R Free Roll, a 5-year-old mare by Rockport Harbor, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 54.80 seconds with Edgard Zayas in the irons.
Huasca dueled down the lane with early leader Dogwood Trail in Saturday’s $60,000 Tangelo Handicap for 3-year-old fillies, finally prevailing by 1 length. Fond of Sarah, who pressed the pace, faded to finish third, 9 3/4 lengths farther back. Huasca, a Tiz Wonderful filly, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.99 with Castro up.
Canterbury Park
Stoupinator had the best late run in Saturday’s $75,000 Minnesota H.B.P.A Distaff, winning by 3/4 length over Notte d’Oro. Awesome Flower finished third. Stoupinator, with Dean Butler up, covered 1 mile on firm turf in 1:35.96. She is a 5-year-old mare by Stormy Atlantic.
Az Ridge set a pressured pace in Saturday’s $75,000 Brooks Fields Stakes, then edged clear in the late going to win by 2 1/2 lengths from El Seventyseven. Honor the Kitten rallied from last to get show money. Az Ridge, a 6-year-old Toccet gelding, ran 1 mile on the lawn in 1:35.91 for jockey Geovanni Franco.
Albuquerque
Pain and Misery provided some joy and cheer to his backers in Saturday’s $55,000 Charles Taylor Derby, leading most of the way to a 1 1/2-lengths victory. Where’s the Moon was second, a head in front of Dirt Monster. Pain and Misery, a Bob and John gelding, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:37.55 under jockey Alfredo Juarez Jr.
Emerald Downs
Kikisoblu ran to her notices in Sunday’s $50,000 Washington State Legislators Handicap, jetting off in the stretch run to win by 6 1/4 lengths. Lady of the Nile beat the others with I Think So finishing third. Kikisoblu, a 4-year-old Kodiak Kowboy filly, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.80 with Rocco Bowen up.
Hastings Racecourse
Quatre Cat rallied by pacesetting Finality’s Charmer in the lane in Saturday’s $50,000 (Canadian) Emerald Downs Handicap for 3-year-old fillies and worked clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths over that one. Saffron finished third. Quatre Cat, a daughter of Abraaj, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:17.93 under Ryan Pacheco.
Bluegrass Angus dueled for the lead in Saturday’s $50,000 (Canadian) River Rock Casino Handicap for 3-year-olds, then drew off smartly in the stretch, winning by 6 1/4 lengths over Sam Slick. Legion of Boom was third and the odds-on favorite, Cederberg, got home fourth, beating only one rival. Bluegrass Angus, a Bluegrass Cat colt, ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.15 with Richard Hamel aboard.
Arabella’s Muse was on the lead but under pressure throughout Sunday’s $50,000 (Canadian) Vancouver Sun Handicap for fillies and mares but persisted and got home first by 1 length over Hollywood Miss. Touching Promise finished third. Arabella’s Muse, a 4-year-old filly by Finality, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.58 with Hamel up.
Parx Racing
Warriorscumoutplay tracked the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 Jostle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, took over in the stretch and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Darling Sky. The early leader, Truth in the Lies, held third. Warriorscumoutplay, a daughter of Warrior’s Reward, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:17.68 with Jamie Theriot in the irons.
