Babybluesbdancing does the expected in Rolling Meadows Stakes

Babybluesbdancing might not quite have run to her 2-5 odds, but she ran well enough to win the $63,818 Rolling Meadows Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths on Monday at Arlington.

Off solid runs in a pair of Grade 3 races, Babybluesbdancing was the overwhelming favorite in an overnight stakes race for Illinois-bred 3-year-old fillies that scratched down to four runners when Saturday’s Song and Tannah’blu were withdrawn.

Under Julio Felix, Babybluesbdancing actually appeared to be in a bit of trouble with three of the race’s seven furlongs remaining, stuck wide on the course and not really taking Felix anywhere. But Babybluesbdancing found her best stride after cornering into the homestretch, collared Shezahotmama in the final furlong, and drew away late.

Babybluesbdancing was timed in 1:23.78 for the seven furlongs on Polytrack and paid $2.80 to win. Jolee finished almost five lengths behind Shezahotmama for third. Show wagering on the race was canceled because of the short field.

Babybluesbdancing is trained by Terrel Gore and owned by Lizbeth Gore. By Sky Mesa and out of the Golden Gear mare Bluesbdancing, she won for the fifth time in 11 starts.

* Fireman Oscar cruised through the rain to a 3 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 MTA Stallion Auction Stakes on Monday at Canterbury Park. Fireman Oscar, the odds-on favorite, paid $3.40 beating a field of horses by sires whose services were offered at the 2012 MTA stallion auction.

Fireman Oscar is by Law Enforcement. He was bred and is owned by Pete Mattson, was ridden by Jareth Loveberry, and is trained by David Van Winkle.