This was a rematch of the Los Alamitos Futurity from seven weeks prior, in which DORTMUND and FIRING LINE ran one-two while separated by a head after 1 1/16 miles. The result was exactly the same here, except that Dortmund and Firing Line got a faster Beyer Speed Figure while obliterating their rivals and further cementing their status as two of the elite 3-year-olds on the West Coast.
Salutos Amigos, who rallied from last to first to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct, will wheel back in nine days and run Feb. 16 in the Grade 2, $250,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park, trainer and part-owner David Jacobson said Sunday.
Heitai continued his dominance of the Louisiana-bred sprint ranks Saturday night at Delta Downs, where he was hooked and shook free for a 2 3/4-length win in $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Sprint. The race was one of six divisional stakes for Louisiana-breds, with One King’s Man capturing the richest race on the night, the $200,000 Championship. He won by 3 1/2 lengths over Ide Be Cool, who finished a nose in front of the third-place finisher and 2-5 favorite Sunbean.
Going to start off this 13-race marathon by trying to get Patricia Farro off the Gulfstream duck with POOR ETIQUETTE (#9), who ran creditably first off the claim and might be able to get first run on a couple of the other logicals in here. Obviously, Farro is a far better trainer than her oh-fer suggests, and I’m looking for things to pick up for her sooner than later.
Really think McLOVIN IT (#8) will get a nice stalk-and-see trip from her open-air outside box in race 2, a race in which the 8-5 morning-line favorite DESERT VALLEY (#7) seems particularly vulnerable when returning for a tag after a layoff.
Meme Jo has long been a useful sprinter in Texas. Now, he’s a stakes winner. Meme Jo added the title to his credentials Saturday night, when he darted home by 1 3/4 lengths over the 4-5 favorite Solar Charge in the $50,000 Bucharest at Sam Houston Race Park. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Queenland.
There are signs trainer Phil D’Amato’s stable is on the upswing. He has won with two of his last five starters, including Intoxicating Move in Saturday’s finale.
There was no time for panic. When California Chrome took a clear lead early in early stretch of Saturday’s $590,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita, jockey Mike Smith was aboard Shared Belief in second and hoping his mount would have his customary rally through the stretch.
Bright Town became a stakes winner on Saturday, when she led throughout to capture the $50,000 El Diario Handicap at Sunland Park.
There is no doubt who leads California’s distance turf division this winter. After winning the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles Nov. 27 at Del Mar and the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Jan. 3, Finnegans Wake won his third consecutive stakes in Saturday’s $200,750 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf.
