CHESTER, W.Va. – Departing rebounded off his sixth-place finish in the Preakness to dominate his eight opponents Saturday in the West Virginia Derby in the 44th running of the Grade 2, $750,000 race at Mountaineer Park by 8 1/4 lengths.

With Robby Albarado aboard, Departing launched a sustained bid while seven wide down the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile race before surging past Overanalyze and front-running Ruler of Love on the far turn to post the largest margin of victory in the West Virginia Derby since Stellar Brush won by nine lengths in 1999.

Heavily favored Commander scored a front-running win over Silver Baubles in the inaugural running of the $50,000 Fred Jones at Northlands Park on Saturday. 

With Aaron Gryder aboard, Commander ($3.50) broke sharply in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up and appeared very comfortable while posting fractions of 23.80 and 47.80 seconds for the first half-mile. He was in complete control of the race after six furlongs in 1:11.80 and never looked threatened while holding off Silver Baubles to win by 1 1/2  lengths.  Senor Rojo finished third.

The final time was 1:43.80.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Assateague showed a new dimension on Saturday and as a result became a stakes winner for the first time, rallying from off the pace to a half-length victory over Ruthenia in the $100,000 De La Rose at Saratoga. Laugh Out Loud, the 7-5 favorite in a field of eight fillies and mares, rallied belatedly to finish third.

Wicked Tune handled the step up to stakes company to record his fourth straight win since February in Saturday’s $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, the 6-year-old Wicked Tune ($3.80), the favorite among six turf sprinters, broke a bit sluggishly but still had little problem clearing the field while setting modest early fractions of 23.32 and 46.52 seconds. He was two lengths ahead in midstretch and held off a late rally by A P Elvis to prevail by a neck.  Two years ago, Wicked Tune missed by a neck in this same race.

Black Diamond Cat snapped a 19-race losing streak with his victory in the Ponche Handicap on June 8. Eight weeks and two starts later he was back in the winner’s circle after soundly beating a stellar field that included two Grade 1 winners in Saturday’s $100,000 Housebuster at Gulfstream Park.

Black Diamond Cat, a 6-year-old son of Wildcat Heir owned by Bluestone Thoroughbreds, benefitted from a perfectly judged ride by Luca Panici, who is now 2 for 3 aboard Black Diamond Cat since being teamed up with the veteran gelding for the first time by trainer Larry Bates in the Ponche.

Balino dictated the terms throughout to take the $75,000 Naked Greed by six lengths Saturday at Calder Race Course. Statutorial was second in the 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds run over yielding turf, while it was another 4 1/2 lengths back in third to Midnight Cello.

Backseat Memories, the favorite off a dead-heat win in the $75,000 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park, was ninth. The Showing Up co-winner, Grand Tito, finished fifth.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At the three-sixteenths pole of Saturday’s 86th Whitney Invitational Handicap, Cross Traffic had turned back Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man - the 1-2 finishers from last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic - and opened up a two-length lead.

In the middle of the track, however, Successful Dan was continuing a bid that had begun entering the far turn.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Wise Dan has a way of making even the most routine workout look special.

CHESTER, W.Va. – Calvin Borel got a head start on an unforgettable week when he guided Taptowne to a two-length victory Saturday in the $200,000 West Virginia Governor’s Stakes, the richest undercard event on the all-stakes West Virginia Derby card at Mountaineer Racetrack.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Alpha Bettor won the Grade 3 Seagram Cup Stakes for the second year in a row Saturday at Woodbine, as a 7-2 overlay under Justin Stein.

Alpha Bettor stalked the leaders along the inside in the mile and a sixteenth route, as Ultimate Destiny set moderate fractions while being tracked by Awesome Overture. Alpha Bettor awaited room on the far turn, and then wore down Ultimate Destiny in the final furlong while closing along the rail to prevail by three-quarters of a length, in 1:43.63.