ARCADIA, Calif. – Lady of Shamrock may have a stablemate working in her favor when she starts in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on May 25.
Lady of Shamrock finished second in Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita, and was promoted to first when Viva Carina was disqualified for causing interference in the final furlong.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Dan the Tin Man rode a speed bias to victory in his first start as a gelding Sunday at Woodbine in the $154,200 Woodstock Stakes.
Dan the Tin Man was hounded by Black Hornet early and set fractions of 22.48 and 45.37 seconds in the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds. Dan the Tin Man, ridden by Patrick Husbands, opened up a daylight lead around the quarter pole, and then held off the charging favorite Five Iron to score by a half-length, in 1:10.21.
Power Phil checked in third in a field reduced to five with the scratches of Lennon and Kitten Candy.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Procurement ran the best race of his career in Sunday’s $72,260 La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita, zooming through 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.33.
“That’s fast,” said trainer Tom Proctor, who watched the race from Kentucky. “He might be a little better than I gave him credit for.”
Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Procurement ($3.60) had an ideal trip, stalking Counting Days and Little Jerry, who disputed the early pace. Procurement was third on the backstretch, circled the leaders on the turn, and won by 3 1/2 lengths.
CHURCHILL DOWNS Sunny Temp. 40 Track Fast
LOUISVILLE - A busy morning got things rolling on the Kentucky Derby workout watch with five potential starters breezing at Churchill Downs on Sunday, including Verrazano and Normandy Invasion, the first two finishers from the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, along with Revolutionary and Mylute, the first two across the wire one week earlier in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
Vannistelrooy Star put forth a tenacious effort to fend off the heavily favored King Henny by a nose in Saturday's $58,800 Golden Circle Stakes at Prairie Meadows.
The Golden Circle, a six furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, was eventful from the start as second choice Favorite Uncle was sluggishly away and the previously undefeated Vervata blazed a trail through fractions of 22.20 and 44.92 seconds. Vannistelrooy Star ($8.80), who was never far away, put his head in front approaching the three-sixteenths marker.
Breaking alertly under Eddie Martin, Jr., Jossy Do It controlled the pace throughout and coasted home 5 3/4 lengths in front in Saturday night’s $50,000 Hallowed Dreams Stakes at Evangeline Downs.
Ada Mae outfinished 5-2 favorite My Lady Lauren for second. The final time of the 5 1/2-furlong dash was 1:03.92 over a fast track.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs that no decision will be made until as late as next weekend as to whether Winning Cause will run in the 139th Kentucky Derby.
Winning Cause became eligible for the May 4 Derby by earning 20 points with his 6-1 victory Saturday under Julien Leparoux in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
CHARLES TOWN, W. Va. - Mike Smith wasn’t concerned when longshot Percussion outbroke him and Game On Dude in Saturday night’s $1.5 million Charles Town Classic.
He had other concerns.
“My main concern was he was slipping a lot,” Smith said. “I slipped leaving there. I slipped in the first turn. I slipped in the middle of the turn, but he just wouldn’t stop.”
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - In a dominating performance that may have been a career best, Dance to Bristol romped to a nine-length victory in Saturday night’s $200,000 Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town.
Holiday Soiree finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Bayonne. Kalambaka Queen, Katie Get Excited, and Dangerous Vixen completed the order of finish.
The complexion of the Sugar Maple changed when Book Review, the even-money morning-line favorite, was scratched after getting a temperature upon her arrival from Southern California.
Candy Bites stalked a tepid early pace and rallied into the stretch to win the $50,000 Howard Noonan Stakes at Beulah Park on Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Jeff Engler and ridden by Yuri Yaranga, Candy Bites ($17) was to the outside of pacesetting Quasi Folle and Blazing Bling for the first half-mile. Yaranga went to work in the stretch and Candy Bites held on for a half-length victory. Plain Ol' Willard was a hard-charging second and Blazing Bling, the only filly in the race of 3-year-old Ohio bred horses, held on for third.
