ARCADIA, Calif. – Nine months after he came out of retirement, jockey Gary Stevens had a season-best weekend at Santa Anita on Saturday and Sunday, winning four stakes, including Sunday’s $151,750 John Henry Turf Championship on Indy Point.
The wildly successful two days led the 50-year-old Hall of Famer to dream about more success in the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2.
“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams it would be like this,” he said.
In Trouble completed a banner day for Maryland-based 2-year-olds Sunday at Belmont Park when rallying from off the pace for a convincing 2 1/4-length decision over 9-5 favorite Corfu in the $200,000 Futurity.
In Trouble, stabled with trainer Tony Dutrow at the Fair Hill Training Center, followed the Bowie-based Miss Behaviour, who captured the Grade 2 Matron earlier on the card.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Broadway Empire gave trainer Robertino Diodoro and jockey Rico Walcott the richest wins of their careers Sunday at Remington Park, where he upset 1-5 favorite Departing in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.
Departing finished fourth while seeking to win his fifth stakes of the year and his third straight derby following scores in the Grade 2 Super Derby and the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Montana Native, one race removed from a run-in with Princess of Sylmar, won a tight photo over Gold Medal Dancer in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks on Sunday. Marathon Lady, the 4-5 favorite, finished fourth in the race, which was one of six stakes on a card featuring the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Moonlit Beauty ($19.30) won the $126,200 Classy ‘n Smart Stakes for the second year in a row under David Moran at Woodbine on Sunday.
Moonlit Beauty ($19.30) was unchallenged while setting a pedestrian pace in the 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired fillies and mares. She opened up a three-length lead on the far turn and then coasted home on top by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:45.13.
Maryland-based Miss Behaviour proved she was ready for prime time and kept her record unblemished by outlasting the odds-on Sweet Whiskey by one length to capture Sunday’s $200,000, Grade 2 Matron at Belmont Park.
Miss Behaviour, a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Jump Start, is stabled at Bowie with trainer Phil Schoenthal but won her first two career starts at Parx and Monmouth Park, including the Sorority by 8 1/4 widening lengths earlier this month.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Wine Police held off a determined rail bid from Alsvid for a three-quarter-length win in the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup. The race was one of six stakes on a special Sunday afternoon card led by the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby.
Wine Police ($6.80) was quick to move into tracking position in the Sprint Cup and pushed leader Beggarthyneighbor through an opening quarter-mile in 22.29 seconds. The eventual winner overtook that one through a half-mile in 45.25 and went on to cover the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.67.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Mucho Macho Man became a Grade 1 winner in his 22nd start with a convincing victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. The win left trainer Kathy Ritvo anxious to run the horse here Nov. 2 in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he will take on local handicap star Game On Dude in the race over 1 1/4 miles.
“He’s a nice horse, but mine is, too,” Ritvo said Sunday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Though no decision has been made, Princess of Sylmar most likely will not run again this year but will be pointed to a 2014 campaign, her owner said Sunday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Led by authoritative winner Ron the Greek, the top three finishers from Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park are expected to head west for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, their connections said Sunday.
Ron the Greek, who finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, also at Santa Anita, had gone winless in five consecutive starts prior to Saturday’s Gold Cup.
