Calder: Black Diamond Cat upsets Ponche; Jackson Bend fifth

Black Diamond Cat rallied for a 1 3/4-length win Saturday in the $75,000 Ponche Handicap at Calder Race Course, as Jackson Bend, the multiple Grade 1 winner making his first start since coming out of retirement, was fifth. The Ponche was one of four stakes on the card, all designed as preps for the Summit of Speed program that will be run at Calder on July 6. It is expected to produce starters for the Grade 2, $350,000 Smile Sprint Handicap.

Black Diamond Cat ($29.20) settled off pacesetter and favorite Bahamian Squall, who was pressured through 21.96 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.97 for the half-mile, on a track upgraded to fast after starting the card rated good. Black Diamond Cat overtook the leaders in the stretch, and went on to cover the six furlongs in 1:10.28.

Luca Panici rode the winner for Bluestone Thoroughbreds and trainer Larry Bates. The win was the third career stakes victory for Black Diamond Cat, a 6-year-old by Wildcat Heir. Overall, the horse has now won 7 of 47 starts and $323,954.

Close It Out finished second in the Ponche, while it was another half-length back in third to Grande Shores. Bahamian Squall continued the trend of beaten favorites in all of the Calder stakes Saturday. Jackson Bend, meanwhile, was beaten a total of 3 ½ lengths in his first start since September.

Five straight for Capitalism At Risk

Capitalism At Risk won her fifth straight race and first in a stakes in the $75,000 U Can Do It, which served as the local prep for the Grade 1, $350,000 Princess Rooney. Capitalism At Risk ($15.60) wired the field from her rail post, holding on for a nose win over Oh Carole.

With the victory, Capitalism At Risk extended a streak that began March 2 in a $15,000 claiming sprint at Gulfstream Park. She proceeded to win a pair of optional claimers and a starter allowance leading up to the U Can Do It, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares in which she set fractions of 21.26 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.75 for the half-mile before winning in 1:11.37.

Orlando Bocachica was aboard for Amaty Racing Stables and trainer Herman Wilensky. Capitalism At Risk is a 6-year-old by Bull Market and has now won 17 of 44 starts and $280,562. She was bred in Florida by Kelly Helen Gregg.

* Wildcat Lily ($23.40) was always prominent for a four-length win over Dreaming of Sophia in the $75,000 Leave Me Alone, a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies that figures to produce starters for the Grade 3, $150,000 Azalea. Wildcat Lily covered the distance in 1:10.98. Jose Alvarez was aboard for Rontos Racing Stable Corp., and trainer Manny Azpurua.

* In the first stakes on the card, R Free Roll took command from the start and went on to a 6 3/4-length win in the $75,000 Unbridled, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and the prep for the Grade 3, $150,000 Carry Back. R Free Roll ($11) covered the distance in 1:10.19. Antonio Gallardo was aboard for the partnership of Averill Racing and Silver Oak Stable. R Free Roll, a daughter of Rockport Harbor, is trained by Ralph Ziadie.