OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Second in Command was always in control and splashed to an 8 3/4-length win in the slop in Saturday's $82,800 at Aqueduct.
With Jean-Luc Samyn in the saddle, Second in Command jumped out to the early lead in the six-furlong Best Turn, which was run under rainy conditions.
Never seriously challenged, Second in Command drew away early in the stretch.
Super Fuse, the second choice in the field of eight 3-year-olds, finished second, a length in front of Mustbinthefrontrow.
Xtra Heat powered to her 25th added-money victory, winning the Grade II, $200,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap for the second consecutive year Saturday at Laurel Park in Maryland.
Ridden by Rick Wilson, Xtra Heat ran the seven furlongs in 1:24.76 through a thick fog and over a sloppy track to defeat runner-up Carson Hollow by 1 3/4 lengths and pay $4 to win. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Spelling in third.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - With Jerry Bailey scheduled to ride in California next Saturday, trainer Steve Flint has secured the services of John Velazquez to ride Allamerican Bertie in that day's $200,000 Rampart Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
On Saturday morning, Velazquez got acquainted with Allamerican Bertie by guiding her through a five-furlong workout officially timed in 1:02.80 over Gulfstream's main track.
"I wanted him to get a little feel for her," Flint said. "When the exercise rider gets on her, she tends to go a little too fast. Maybe I should put him on her."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Mandy's Gold, who shed her label as a one-dimensional sprinter when she won last year's Grade 1 Ruffian Handicap, may return to her sprinting roots Monday in a six-furlong allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
Mandy's Gold was entered as part of an entry with Bruanna by trainer Michael Gorham. Gorham said he wanted to review the past performances of the field before deciding which one to run.
NEW ORLEANS - Badge of Silver remains on target to make his next start in the March 8 Louisiana Derby, trainer Ronny Werner said Saturday.
Werner's comments came a day after Ken Ramsey - who co-owns Badge of Silver with his wife, Sarah - said Badge of Silver might skip the Louisiana Derby and head straight to the Illinois Derby on April 5 at Hawthorne Race Course. Ramsey, speaking after a stakes win at Gulfstream Park, cited extra time between starts as a reason for considering the move.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - My Boston Gal is undefeated after three starts, but her perfect record could be in serious jeopardy when she takes on the more seasoned pair of Ivanavinalot and Perfect Story in Sunday's $200,000 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/16-mile Davona Dale is the highlight of a 10-race program that also includes the $75,000 Georgia Stakes and $65,000 Charon Stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Apalachian Thunder will forsake the Derby chase for now, and focus instead on the realistic goal of becoming a graded stakes winner in a $100,000 sprint race. Rather than join the bounty of front-runners pointing for the Grade 2, one-mile San Rafael Stakes next weekend, Apalachian Thunder instead will cut back to one turn and return to grass in the Grade 3 Baldwin Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Owner Ken Ramsey had just won the $100,000 Palm Beach Stakes with his 3-year-old Nothing to Lose, but he made more news Friday when he discussed a possible change in plans for his undefeated Kentucky Derby candidate Badge of Silver.
Ramsey said he is considering skipping the Louisiana Derby with Badge of Silver - the dominant winner of last week's Risen Star Stakes - and point to the $500,000 Illinois Derby on April 5 as the colt's final Kentucky Derby prep.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Cellars Shiraz will be a strong favorite in Sunday's $75,000 Georgia Stakes at Gulfstream Park, but her presence in the one-mile turf race did not scare anyone away.
Cellars Shiraz, a multiple stakes winner over this turf course as a 3-year-old, will face 10 rivals in the Allen Paulson division of the Georgia Stakes, open to the progeny of stallions who had a breeding right donated to the Georgia Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association annual auction.
