ARCADIA, Calif. - A late jockey switch and the presence of a red-hot favorite could not prevent Redattore from scoring a front-running win in Saturday's $400,000 .
An hour before the race, Alex Solis replaced Laffit Pincay, Jr. on Redattore. Pincay was involved in a one-horse spill in Saturday's fifth race and took off his final three mounts complaining of body soreness.
When Bob Baffert decides he does not want to train anymore, he can play quarterback, because he knows how to call an audible. When Baffert on Thursday morning found out that the speedy Omega Code would not run in Saturday's $200,000 , he decided to enter the equally speedy Rojo Toro.
Baffert's last-second decision paid dividends, because Rojo Toro successfully stretched out around two turns and captured the one-mile San Rafael, a prep for next month's Santa Anita Derby.
ALBANY, Calif. - Halo Cat ($4) reversed a New Year's Day loss to I'madrifter, stalking the speedster before pulling away in the stretch to win the $61,350 San Carlos Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
I'madrifter, who won the Lafayette Handicap in wire-to-wire style on New Year's Day, again opened an easy lead over Halo Cat. But Halo Cat moved up into the lane and put his head in front at the eighth pole.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Allamerican Bertie made a happy anniversary even happier for her owners Bertram and Elaine Klein when she coasted to an easy 7 3/4-length victory over Smok'n Frolic and four other overmatched rivals in Saturday's $200,000 at Gulfstream Park.
The Kleins, who, with their son Richard, own and bred Allamerican Bertie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday.
Allamerican Bertie's winning margin was the largest in the 24-year history of the Grade 2 Rampart. She paid $2.80 to win and was responsible for a minus show pool of $88,791.
NEW ORLEANS - Quick Tip likes wet turf, and Quick Tip likes 1 1/8 miles. Quick: Who won the Bayou Breeders' Cup on Saturday at Fair Grounds?
Quick Tip skipped over a yielding turf course and nailed Histoire Sainte in the final strides of the Bayou BC. Rating in midpack behind a soft pace, Quick Tip came between horses coming off the turn, took dead aim on Histoire Sainte, and was up by a neck.
Ridden by Robby Albarado, owned by Will Farish, and trained by Neil Howard, Quick Tip paid $9.60 to win, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:54.61.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Bobby Frankel had the last laugh after all. The trainer kept Medaglia d'Oro out of Saturday's $1 million because he was not satisfied with the weights, but he still won the race with Milwaukee Brew, who became only the second horse to win the Santa Anita Handicap twice, joining the legendary John Henry.
Milwaukee Brew was kept surprisingly close to the lead by jockey Edgar Prado, but the strategy paid off. A moderate pace prevented the late runners from gaining any appreciable ground, as Milwaukee Brew and Congaree had a torrid battle down the stretch.
Champali, ridden by Jason Lumpkins, passed several crucial tests Saturday when he improved his career record to 6 for 7 by winning the $100,000 at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Not only did Champali overcome the far outside post in the field of nine 3-year-olds, but he also raced one of the most accomplished opponents of his career, Grey Comet, into defeat turning for home.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Elegant Designer had to work a lot harder than she did in her previous races to capture the $81,450 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, her fourth consecutive victory.
Elegant Designer, the 3-2 favorite in the seven-horse field of 3-year-old fillies, was a head winner over Xtra Heart. It was another neck back to Xtra Heart's entrymate, Virgin Voyage, in third.
Cyber Secret, Golden Damsel, Formal Dancer, and Bavarian Girl completed the order of finish.
Cherokee's Boy ($3) erased any doubts about his ability to handle two turns when he drew off to a 7 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.
Although Cherokee's Boy has won 5 of 10 starts, including four stakes, the 1 1/16-mile Deputed Testamony was his first victory beyond seven furlongs.
