Cinco Charlie proved much the best in his two-turn debut on Saturday, when he rolled to an 8 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park in New Mexico. Made Me Talk finished second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Dirt Monster.
Spirit Rules gave jockey Iggy Puglisi his first stakes win in 10 years in Saturday’s $150,000 California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. It is not as if the veterans have not been trying.
Go West Marie kept her cool during a lengthy delay, then calmly picked off her rivals in the $151,750 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Saturday at Santa Anita, rallying from 11th to capture her second straight race, both since Gary Stevens took over as her rider.
Castletown likely confirmed he ranks at the top of the local sprint division at Turf Paradise on Saturday – but only just. The 7-year-old Castletown ($6.40) was a game victor in a stirring renewal of the $35,000 Swift Stakes.
Sugar Shock won her first start in more than six months Saturday, when she surged from off the pace to overtake Spring Included and Haveyougoneaway nearing the wire in the $100,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park.
About the only one in the house who didn’t have to sweat out the photo finish for Saturday’s $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park was Bill Mott. That’s because the two horses involved in the tight picture, Dubai Sky and Courtier, are both trained by the Hall of Fame horseman.
Dale Romans has been touting Taylor S as one of the fastest young fillies he ever has trained, but the race isn’t always to the swiftest.
Saturday, in the richest race of his career, the $250,000 California Cup Derby, there were no frustrations, only a celebration. Mischief Clem ($25.60) had an ideal trip under Kent Desormeaux to win the stakes for 3-year-old statebreds by a hard-fought head over Pulmarack
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Lochte drove to a short lead inside the final furlong and then narrowly turned back a furious late charge from 24-1 shot Old Time Hockey to post a game head victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Earlier this month, trainer Rick Violette said everything would have to go perfectly for Upstart to make it into the starting gate for Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. And perfect might be the best way to describe Upstart’s performance after he drew off to a convincing 5 1/2-length victory over the 3-2 Frosted and seven other overmatched rivals in the Grade 2 Holy Bull.
