David Grening

It's all Todd Pletcher all the time here at the Spa as he has gone 3 for 3 thus far today. And, he has two more runners including Artisanal in the Hattie Moseley Stakes and Stay Thirsty in the $500,000 Jim Dandy. John Velazquez has been aboard for all three winners.  Dark Thunder, despite a wide trip, won a $56,000 allowance/optional claimer to make it 3 for 3 on the day and four straight wins at the meet when you factor in Turbo Compressor's victory in the Curlin Stakes on Friday.

Giant Surprise, a 2-year-old first-time starter by Giant's Causeway, won a good-looking debut by 4 1-4 lengths in Saturday's second race, running six furlongs in 1:10.23. But he didn't make it back to the winner's circle to get his picture taken.

If you wagered on Lots of Stones in Thursday's eighth race, you will receive a refund. The stewards declared Lots of Stones a non-starter after they deemed he was compromised at the start of the race. He had his head turned and was still in the hands of the assistant starters when the doors opened.  All single-race wagers involving Lots of Stones were refunded while multi-race wagers resulted in consolation payouts.

Jockey Corey Nakatani took off his final three mounts on Saturday's card due to complications from the heat, according to assistant clerk of scales Eddie Brown.  Nakatani rode his first three mounts on the program, finishing fourth in the opener aboard Arch Support, second aboard favorite Whinston in the second and third aboard Ordained in the fifth.  Shaun Bridgmohan is named on Quiet Assault in the eighth, Eddie Castro will ride Johannesburg Smile in the ninth. No rider has yet been named on Birdway in the seventh.    

After getting through Friday's opening-day card without incident, Saturday's card began with the first injury of the meet when Rockettes Escapade, the second choice at 3-1, was pulled up by jockey John Velazquez in upper stretch of the first race with a seemingly bad injury to her right hind leg. She was able to be led onto the equine ambulance and was taken off the course and presumably back to trainer Bill Mott's barn to be further evaluated.