Vito Filitto takes Minstrel

Vito Filitto gave jockey Francisco Torres his fourth winner on the card Saturday at Louisiana Downs, when he drove home by 1 1/2 lengths in the $50,000 Minstrel. Chance Meister finished second in the five-furlong turf race for 2-year-olds, while it was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Perfect Lou in third.

Vito Filitto ($6.60) stalked the pace set by Becca's Beau, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 21.91 seconds. The eventual winner moved to the lead in the stretch and covered the distance in 57.04 seconds.

Bernie Flint trains Vito Filitto, a son of Mutakddim who was making his turf debut in the Minstrel. The gelding races for LTB Inc., James Ryan, and Jim Flitt. It was the second win from three starts for Vito Filitto, who won his maiden at Churchill Downs in June.

Hodges one-two in Princess

Trainer James Hodges sent out the first two finishers in the $50,000 Princess for 2-year-old fillies on turf when Red Hot Buddha ran down the leaders for a two-length win over stablemate Blading Gold Ring. It was another half-length back in third to Lemondropsmypop.

Red Hot Buddha ($18) settled about fifth through an opening quarter in 21.12 seconds, angled out in the stretch, then rallied past the first flight to win her maiden in the race. She covered five furlongs in 56.82. Lonnie Meche rode Red Hot Buddha for Pop-A-Top LLC.

Red Hot Buddha was making her second career start in the Princess. She had finished second by a half-length to Blading Gold Ring in a maiden special weight on the grass at Louisiana Downs on June 21.