Awesome Speed proved that he could stretch his speed to at least a mile and overcome adversity, recovering from some trouble at the break to register a 1 3/4-length victory over a game El Charro in Saturday’s $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The return to a sprint, to Santa Anita, softer company, and throat surgery proved a winning superfecta Saturday for Forever Darling, who wore down the favored Pretty N Cool and held off the previously unbeaten Code Warrior to capture the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
It wasn’t pretty, but Page McKenney became a millionaire by winning the $75,000 Native Dancer Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday.
Life Imitates Art found a seam between horses before persevering for a narrow victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
California Chrome stayed in the Santa Anita stable area during normal training hours Saturday morning. When he finally went to the track at 11:45 a.m. for his final workout before the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9, California Chrome was ready. He worked six furlongs in 1:10.04, quicker than expected.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said he feared that Lira might not even hit the board once she was forced to steady sharply in traffic near midstretch in Saturday’s $100,000 Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream Park. But the young filly showed a touch of real class when surging late after extricating herself from trouble to register a well-deserved half-length victory over Pricedtoperfection in the 7 1/2-furlong turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Lucy N Ethel remained unbeaten in three career starts when leading all the way Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Old Hat Stakes at Gulfstream Park in south Florida.
Not many horses have started their careers quite as auspiciously as Awesome Banner. The homebred set a course record in his debut, then returned from an injury seven months later to win a Grade 3 stakes in his second start, drawing away through the stretch to a convincing 4 3/4-length decision over Noholdingback Bear in Saturday’s $100,000 Hutcheson at Gulfstream Park.
The idea is to wager on horses who have a greater chance than their odds. The trouble is that the betting market "prices” horses with uncanny accuracy. The public usually gets it right.
Pick three, races 6-8: ROCKANTHAROS (9) was considered for the Santa Ynez Stakes on Saturday but evidently will scratch from that Grade 2 race for a much better spot as she comes favorably drawn in the outside post against fellow maidens as a single in Race 6.
