Lady Eli’s dominant victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational not only kept her unbeaten but continued to validate the belief of her trainer, Chad Brown, that she is the “best filly of her age group” regardless of surface.
Trainer Bob Baffert said one idea for Gimme Da Lute, winner of Saturday's Los Alamitos Derby, is the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2. Baffert also has Triple Crown winner American Pharoah pointed for the same race.
Beliveau came on strongly in the final furlong to take the $150,400 Clarendon Stakes for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds at Woodbine on Sunday.
Moving Style improved upon his winning performance in last year’s Michigan Breeders Governor’s Cup Handicap at Hazel Park by breaking the track record for six furlongs Saturday in this year’s $20,000 renewal.
Jockey G.R. Carter Jr. won 10 of the 32 trials for the Rainbow Quarter Horse Futurity held Friday and Saturday at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He also was aboard First Valiant Sign, who remains the lone horse eligible for a $4 million Triple Crown bonus after he made the finale when running third in the last race of the day Saturday.
A downpour Saturday morning led to the $50,000 Ellis Park Turf being a misnomer later in the day. The ultimate outcome was an odds-on favorite, Haunted Heroine, dominating a race transferred to the main track in a field reduced to just five fillies and mares.
How lucky are we this season to have not only the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years in American Pharoah but also to have a 3-year-old filly in Lady Eli who, in her own way, might be just as brilliant?
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Sunday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
Rallying strongly from off the pace, Stormdriver continued the parade of favorites into the winner’s circle Saturday evening during Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs. The win was jockey Diego Saenz’s fourth of the night that featured Louisiana-breds exclusively in eight different stakes events.
Wiggle It Jiggleit stole the show on Sun Stakes night at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday. He won the $500,000 Hempt final on a night when Pinkman, Luck Be Withyou and Bettor Be Steppin also won major stakes.
