Indy Point joined the list of leading contenders for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with his comprehensive win in Sunday’s $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship at the same track.
The win gave Indy Point’s backers a reason to forget his last-place finish as the favorite in the Arlington Million in August.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Royal Delta maintained her role as Breeders’ Cup Distaff favorite, though her position is less secure than before a pair of Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont Park and Santa Anita.
In the Beldame at Belmont, Park, Royal Delta finished second to 3-year-old filly Princess of Sylmar. However, Princess of Sylmar is likely finished for the year and not expected to run in the Distaff.
In the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita, 3-year-old filly Beholder scored a decisive win over Authenticity and Joyful Victory to emerge as second choice for the Distaff.
Last Friday’s Eddie D Stakes could yield multiple starters for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. This should come as no surprise considering the Eddie D was run on Santa Anita’s unique about 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course, the same course this Turf Sprint will be decided on. Good downhill form has been a harbinger of success in past Turf Sprints run at Santa Anita.
AUBURN, Wash. - Del Rio Harbor raced to a rain-soaked 1 1/4-length victory in the $67,500 Gottstein Futurity on Sunday, laying claim to Emerald Downs’ traditional 2-year-old championship on the closing day of the meeting. Earlier on Sunday’s “getaway day” card, Dallon’s Gold splashed to an upset victory in the $48,465 Cahill Road Stakes as Emerald pulled down the curtain on a 75-day stand.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Under a perfectly timed ride by Frank Fuentes, Stepupforthemoney upset the heavily favored Hopeseeker by a nose in the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings at Hastings on Sunday. Stepupforthemoney paid $53.50.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Nine months after he came out of retirement, jockey Gary Stevens had a season-best weekend at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday, winning four stakes, including Sunday’s $151,750 John Henry Turf Championship on Indy Point.
The wildly successful two days led the 50-year-old Hall of Famer to dream about more success in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.
“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams it would be like this,” he said.
In Trouble completed a banner day for Maryland-based 2-year-olds Sunday at Belmont Park when rallying from off the pace for a convincing 2 1/4-length decision over 9-5 favorite Corfu in the $200,000 Futurity.
In Trouble, stabled with trainer Tony Dutrow at the Fair Hill Training Center, followed the Bowie-based Miss Behaviour, who captured the Grade 2 Matron earlier on the card.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Broadway Empire gave trainer Robertino Diodoro and jockey Rico Walcott the richest wins of their careers Sunday at Remington Park, where he upset 1-5 favorite Departing in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.
Departing finished fourth while seeking to win his fifth stakes of the year and his third straight derby following scores in the Grade 2 Super Derby and the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Montana Native, one race removed from a run-in with Princess of Sylmar, won a tight photo over Gold Medal Dancer in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks on Sunday. Marathon Lady, the 4-5 favorite, finished fourth in the race, which was one of six stakes on a card featuring the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Moonlit Beauty ($19.30) won the $126,200 Classy ‘n Smart Stakes for the second year in a row under David Moran at Woodbine on Sunday.
Moonlit Beauty ($19.30) was unchallenged while setting a pedestrian pace in the 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired fillies and mares. She opened up a three-length lead on the far turn and then coasted home on top by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:45.13.
