French jockey Flavien Prat guided Kitten’s Point from last on the backstretch to win Sunday’s $80,500 Astra Stakes for females on turf at Santa Anita, the second stakes win in as many days in two states for the 22-year-old rider.
INTERNATIONAL STAR joined El Kabeir as the second horse to win two Kentucky Derby scoring races with this victory, his first since capturing the Grey Stakes in October on Polytrack at Woodbine, and his first on a dirt surface.
Seize the Win, lightly regarded at 12-1 despite wins in his two most recent starts, seized the lead at the start and rolled to a one-length victory in the $417,575 Hialeah Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses on Sunday at Hialeah Park.
Lexie Lou, second to Thegirlinthatsong in Saturday’s Grade 2 La Canada Stakes on dirt, is likely to return to racing on turf in February.
Dortmund and Firing Line, first and second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 20, may meet again in the $150,000 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7.
Captain Serious splashed to the wire first in Sunday’s $100,000 Hollie Hughes, giving his connections – owner-breeder Barry K. Schwartz and trainer Mike Hushion – their fifth victory together in the six-furlong dash for New York-breds.
Less than nine hours after picking up his record seventh Eclipse Award as champion trainer, Todd Pletcher was hard at work Sunday morning at Palm Beach Downs, overseeing a mind-boggling 42 workers from the more than 100 horses he has stabled here.
Bob Pandolfo's Sharp Horses and Track Trends report featuring horses from Northfield, Dover, Yonkers and others.
Horses to watch from Woodbine Harness.
Horses to watch from Monticello Raceway.
