Saturday, April 11 Aqueduct - Top Flight (race 8) COMMENT: House Rules came here sharp from Gulfstream and maintained that form, notching a Grade 3 win, but it wasn’t easy. As the 2-5 favorite she bided her time in fourth as Amulay set the early pace, moved closer as Shayjolie took command from a tiring Amulay turning for home, continued to grind it out and pushed her way past a couple rivals late to get the win. She may point for the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont at a mile May 9. Before You Know It stalked in third, doggedly kept to her task but couldn’t quite outfinish the winner. Shayjolie dogged pacesetter Amulay, took over from that tiring rival into the lane, battled gamely when challenged by the top two in the lane and finished well clear of the rest. Keeneland - Ben Ali (race 5) COMMENT: After a sharp second in the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Nov. 28 Protonico looked primed for the big time, but when he next tried the Grade 1 Donn at Gulfstream Feb. 7 he was eased. He’d been working wonderfully since and easily handled this bunch. He went right out to the lead, took some pressure from Irish You Well, dispatched with that foe turning for home, kicked clear into the lane and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. Neck ‘n Neck stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, and stayed on well to be a clear second. Ami’s Holiday bided his time early and came home nicely, though he was never really a threat to the top two. Golden Ticket sat last early and never mustered a run. Keeneland - Jenny Wiley (race 9) COMMENT: Trainer Chad Brown may well have to two best turf distaffers around. Ball Dancing couldn’t handle her accomplished stablemate Stephanie’s Kitten when second to that foe in the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa March 7, her first start of the year, but she vaulted forward here to easily capture this Grade 1 and stamp herself a division major player. She stalked in third from the start as Eden Prairie set the pace, dogged by defending champ Hard Not to Like. Ball Dancing seemed eager to go on but her rider held her in third before unleashing her turning for home. She took command into the lane and drew off to win comfortably. Filimbi, fifth in the Hillsborough, lagged back, came with a wide run into the lane to look dangerous but then couldn’t counter the winner’s big stretch kid. Hard Not to Like tried to kick with the winner into the lane and stayed on well to miss second by a neck. Personal Diary, a Grade 1 winner last summer at Del Mar and making her first start of the year, lagged back and could make only minimal headway in the lane. She likely needed this race and can improve. Keeneland - Lexington (race 10) COMMENT: Divining Rod was third in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, won by Carpe Diem, who came back to easily win the Grade 1 Blue Grass. Here, Divining Rod stalked in third as Fame and Power set the pace. Divining Rod came with a smart run into the lane, grabbed command and drew off to win fairly comfortably. His owner said he’s not likely to run in the Kentucky Derby. Donworth, coming off a debut sprint win at Gulfstream March 14, has been on every clocker’s radar at Palm Meadows. He was just in front of the winner going into the backstretch. Into the lane, Donworth tried to catch Divining Rod and and Fame and Power, and he managed to just get up for second. Fame and Power set the pace, battled back when hooked by the winner into the lane, and stayed on to just miss second. Comfort got knocked around early to be last but kept to his task nicely to get fourth. Oaklawn - Oaklawn Handicap (race 7) COMMENT: Race Day, winner of the Grade 3 Razorback here March 14, continued his ascent as he won this race in impressive fashion. He volleyed for the lead with Carve from the start while on the inside, got the better of that stubborn rival into the lane and drew off to win easily. His connections said the Grade 1 Met Mile could be on his radar. Carve was game in defeat. He battled with the winner from the start, tried to stay with that rival in the lan,e and finished far clear of the rest. Tapiture was away slowly, sat well back while saving ground, came with a nice run while staying on the fence but was unable to be a threaten to the top two. Golden Lad stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the lead on the far turn, and only lost third in the final strides. Oaklawn - Arkansas Derby (race 11) COMMENT: American Pharoah dominated here again, but maybe more important than the win was the way it was done. Showing he’s not necessarily a need-the-lead type, he tracked pacesetter Bridget’s Big Luvy, took over from that rival after six furlongs under his own power, opened up and didn’t have a nervous moment thereafter. He and Dortmund, both trained by Bob Baffert, are the likely favorites for the Kentucky Derby. Far Right, who rallied to win the Smarty Jones here Jan. 19 and the Grade 3 Southwest here Feb. 22, again ran well, but likely remains a fringe player for the Kentucky Derby. He sat in last place going to the far turn before putting in a fine rally, but was never a danger to the winner. It’s on to the Derby with him. Mr. Z gave way badly when ninth in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby when blinkers were taken off. He put the blinkers back on and got back on track here. Mr. Z stalked in third, tried to go with the winner turning for home, then lost second in the final half-furlong. He’s also reportedly heading for Churchill. Madefromlucky, second to American Pharoah in the Grade 2 Rebel, sat midpack and plugged along to narrowly miss third. The Truth Or Else, second in the Grade 3 Southwest and fourth to American Pharoah in the Grade 2 Rebel, added blinkers. He stalked the pace while saving ground but gave way when it mattered. Santa Anita - Kona Gold (race 5) COMMENT: Masochistic made it five wins in seven starts and showed he’s among the top West Coast sprinters. Making his first start for trainer Ron Ellis, he dueled for the lead with San Onofre, got the better of that foe after a hard battle and was edging away at the wire. The Grade 1 Triple Bend here June 27 is reportedly his next target. San Onofre did nothing wrong in defeat. Making just his second start after 11 months on bench, he went right to the lead, as expected, was immediately pressured by Masochistic, and only gave way a bit in the final few yards. He has won 4 of 7 and was second in his three losses. Sahara Sky, a multiple Grade 1 winner making his first start in 10 months, showed little speed, as usual, to be last early, and came with a strong run to just miss. This showed the veteran still has plenty of gas in the tank. Santa Anita - Las Cienegas (race 8) COMMENT: Home Journey set a blistering pace in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Sprint on this hillside course Jan. 24 but couldn’t quite fend off Go West Marie, who would flatter that form by coming right back to win the Irish O’Brien down the hill. Home Journey again used her speed and this time turned the tables on that rival. She went right out to the lead, took some pressure from Unforgettable U, kicked clear after the dirt crossing, and had enough of a buffer to hold hard-charging favorite Go West Marie safe in the final half-furlong. The Mizdirection down the hill May 16 may be next. Go West Marie came into this off three straight wins down the hill. She bided her time early again, commenced her run after the dirt crossing and was gaining on the. The Mizdirection figures on her radar as well. Blingismything, who won her only prior try down the hill and was shortening up off a third in the Grade 2 Buena Vista at a mile, rallied from just behind Go West Marie. Heavens Stairway, coming off a big win here March 5, stalked the pace but gave way in the lane. Her only other dull outing down the hill came in a stakes, so could it be this level is a tad beyond her? Living the Life, a Grade 2 winner on synthetic at Presque Isle Downs last Sept. 8 sat fifth and never mustered a run. She’s apparently better on synthetic. Sunday, April 12 Keeneland - Appalachian (race 5) COMMENT: Lady Eli may well have been the most talented 2-year-old filly in the land last year with three big turf wins. She showed here she may have come back even better as she kept her record perfect in four starts with another impressive win. Lady Eli showed a bit more speed than last year, sitting second behind Sunset Glow while wide and in the clear. She easily moved past that rival into the lane and opened. Her trainer said Belmont’s Wonder Again May 31 may be next as a bridge to the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks July 4. Miss Temple City, freshened since a third in the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant at Gulfstream Jan. 24, was just behind the winner from the start, and got going late to get up for second in the final strides. Sunset Glow, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on synthetic footing there Aug. 30 and second to Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Oct. 31, set a modest pace, tried to battle back when hooked by the winner into the lane, and weakened just a bit late to lose second. Keeneland - Beaumont (race 8) COMMENT: Miss Ella made the big jump from a maiden win to graded stakes company with aplomb to remain unbeaten in two starts. She won her debut at Gulfstream in front-running fashion. Here, the daughter of Exchange Rate showed patience, sitting third while Fantastic Style set a brisk pace. Miss Ella moved into contention into the lane, and went past Fantastic Style and Divine Dawn to win easily. This race can often be a predictor for success in races like the Grade 1 Acorn and Grade 1 Test so she figures on that path. Divine Dawn, coming off a second in a turf stakes at the Fair Grounds, was just in front of the winner from the start, battled with that foe into the lane but couldn’t keep pace. Fantastic Style, invading off an optional-claiming win at Santa Anita Feb. 26, took pressure from Divine Dawn while setting a brisk pace and couldn’t keep up with the top two in the lane. She may prefer a shorter trip. Delightful Joy, the 6-5 favorite off a big debut win at Gulfstream Feb. 8, broke poorly. She got into a stalking position while wide but was never able to get involved.