The week that was in racing, June 20-26, 2016

Here's a collection of some of the biggest stories in horse racing, all in one place. Unless noted, all of the links here are to free stories on DRF.com.

Melatonin punches ticket to Breeders' Cup Classic by winning Gold Cup

Melatonin was 16-1 when he won the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap in March in his first stakes win. Melatonin won his second stakes in Saturday’s $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita as the 9-5 favorite. The Gold Cup at Santa Anita may have had half the purse as the Big Cap, but it was arguably more valuable. With the victory, Melatonin earned a fees-paid berth to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.

Lord Nelson runs down Subtle Indian in Triple Bend

Lord Nelson gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his first Grade 1 win of 2016 in Saturday’s Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita. Winning for the first time at the highest level, Lord Nelson ($6.20) caught pacesetter Subtle Indian in the final strides to win the seven-furlong race by a half-length in a quick time of 1:21.04. Kobe’s Back, the 9-5 favorite, finished third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

Mo Tom takes outside route to Ohio Derby victory

This time, nothing was left to chance with Mo Tom. The victim of trips ranging from mild trouble in the Kentucky Derby to near disaster in the Louisiana Derby and the Risen Star, Mo Tom was kept outside and in the clear Saturday at Thistledown in the $500,000 Ohio Derby and scored a decisive victory, beating Adventist by three lengths.

Isabella Sings wins Eatontown for second stakes victory of meet

Isabella Sings won her second stakes of the Monmouth Park meet Saturday, leading her six rivals on a merry chase from beginning to end in the Grade 3 Eatontown. Isabella Sings had shown a new dimension by winning the May 29 Miss Liberty Stakes from off the pace. But on Saturday, jockey Paco Lopez took the lead and never looked back, winning by three lengths.

Sarah Sis leads all the way in Chicago Handicap

The good Sarah Sis showed up Saturday at Arlington, leading all the way as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 3, $100,000 Chicago Handicap. Following a couple dull efforts, this version of Sarah Sis, the 121-pound starting highweight, essentially had the Chicago Handicap sewn up after a quarter-mile, turning away pace-pressing Kathballu to win by a length.

– reporting by Steve Andersen, Jim Dunleavy, Marcus Hersh, and Mike Hogan