Trainer Rudy Rodriguez won two of the four stakes at Aqueduct on Wood Memorial Day, sending out Condo Commando to take the Grade 2 Gazelle and Dads Caps for a repeat victory in the Grade 1 Carter.
All the pieces are in place. Carpe Diem completed the abbreviated racing schedule mapped out for him by trainer Todd Pletcher in a dominating victory Saturday at Keeneland in the Blue Grass Stakes and now heads to the 141st Kentucky Derby as one of the favorites.
By the time Stellar Wind pulled away from six rivals in early stretch of Saturday’s $400,500 Santa Anita Oaks, jockey Victor Espinoza was confident he had the race won. Then, he went to work.
Old Time Hockey roared down the middle of the course through the final furlong of the $75,000 Tampa Turf Classic to run down a stubborn I’m the Lucky One in the shadow of the wire and defend his title in that nine-furlong grass route.
It took a little more than a minute and 24 seconds to run the Grade 3 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, but a whole lot of things happened during that brief period.
Trainer Larry Jones already had one of the favorites for the May 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs with I’m a Chatterbox. Now, after a dominant victory from Lovely Maria in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, he has two.
The Kentucky Oaks has not been kind to Michael Dubb. In 2005, he owned a part of Sis City, who finished fourth as the 3-5 favorite. In 2012, he was majority owner of Grace Hall, who finished third as the 5-2 favorite.
Something Extra broke on top and never looked back Saturday in winning the 19th running of the Grade 3, $125,000 Shakertown Stakes on the Blue Grass Stakes undercard at Keeneland.
In what trainer Peter Eurton hopes will be a dress rehearsal for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup, Kobe’s Back rallied from last after a poor break to run down C. Zee for a victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.
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