Bon Accord put up the fastest qualifying time for the Grade 1, $2.8 million All American Derby for Quarter Horses on Saturday, when he upset the win-streaking Wicked Courage in the ninth of 10 trials held at Ruidoso Downs. The finale is Sept. 1.

Jockey Mark Guidry won four of the eight stakes that made up the $570,000 Louisiana Cup program at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, among his winners Skip the Pinot in the $75,000 Derby. The horse may now come under consideration for next month’s Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby after his dominant,  4 ½-length romp over Johnny Handsome.

Skip the Pinot’s win was a highlight on the day, while String King also put on a show when he won the $100,000 Turf Classic.

Once again, Commander dominated his rivals at Northlands Park, this time scoring a convincing win in the $50,000 Westerner Handicap on Saturday. It was the 5-year-old Commander’s seventh win from eight starts at Northlands the past two years. Last year he won the Westerner by eight lengths.

Westerner ($4) also gave trainer Dennis Terry, jockey Aaron Gryder, and owner Glen Todd their second stakes win on the 13-race Canadian Derby card. Earlier, Gryder guided Saturday Nite Ride to a front-running win in the $75,000 City of Edmonton Distaff for fillies and mares.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – A pink bedecked Canterbury Park hosted a day of racing and fundraising on the 3rd annual Fillies Race for Hope Day, highlighted by a victory by Second Street City in the $50,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes and Starry Eyed Kate in the $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Distaff.

The racetrack and patrons raised funds for the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation and Pay It Forward Fund, organizations helping families of breast cancer patients cope with expenses associated with battling the disease.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Somewhere among the possessions of Ken and Sarah Ramsey must reside a trinket, an amulet, an ancient stone – some kind of good luck charm holding supernatural powers. All things equine the Ramseys touch somehow turn to gold.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – A filly named Dank ran the race of her life Saturday in blowing away her rivals Saturday in the 24th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Beverly D. at Arlington Park.

Ridden by Ryan Moore for the legendary British trainer Michael Stoute, Dank remained several lengths off the pace before unleashing a breathtaking stretch run, winning by 4 1/4 lengths over another European filly, Gifted Girl. She returned $8.40 as second choice.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Hard Enough earned a hard-fought victory on Saturday in the $62,400 Restoration Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf at Monmouth Park.

It was the second straight stakes victory here for the chestnut colt following the Jersey Derby last month. The Restoration was the fourth win on the card for Paco Lopez, the meet’s leading rider.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -  Jockey Joe Bravo had supreme confidence in Big Blue Kitten coming into Saturday’s $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga and trainer Chad Brown was equally as confident his rider could work out a trip that would find the entire team posing in the winner’s circle at the conclusion of the Grade 1 turf fixture.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Kittens just keep on coming.

Minutes after Big Blue Kitten won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga, Admiral Kitten captured the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington. Ken Ramsey, who bred both horses and owns them with his wife, Sarah, said he wanted to show off his stallion Kitten’s Joy – the source of all those Kitten names – this weekend.

Rapid-fire Grade1 victories should do the trick.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At a track nicknamed the “Graveyard of Champions,” one may have been crowned Saturday.

 With a four-wide sweep to the lead approaching the quarter pole, Princess of Sylmar galloped through the Saratoga stretch to a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes. Fiftyshadesofhay, part of the early pace, was second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Carnival Court. Galloping Giraffe and Montana Native completed the order of finish.