CHURCHILL DOWNS Sunny Temp. 40 Track Fast
LOUISVILLE - A busy morning got things rolling on the Kentucky Derby workout watch with five potential starters breezing at Churchill Downs on Sunday, including Verrazano and Normandy Invasion, the first two finishers from the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, along with Revolutionary and Mylute, the first two across the wire one week earlier in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
Vannistelrooy Star put forth a tenacious effort to fend off the heavily favored King Henny by a nose in Saturday's $58,800 Golden Circle Stakes at Prairie Meadows.
The Golden Circle, a six furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, was eventful from the start as second choice Favorite Uncle was sluggishly away and the previously undefeated Vervata blazed a trail through fractions of 22.20 and 44.92 seconds. Vannistelrooy Star ($8.80), who was never far away, put his head in front approaching the three-sixteenths marker.
Breaking alertly under Eddie Martin, Jr., Jossy Do It controlled the pace throughout and coasted home 5 3/4 lengths in front in Saturday night’s $50,000 Hallowed Dreams Stakes at Evangeline Downs.
Ada Mae outfinished 5-2 favorite My Lady Lauren for second. The final time of the 5 1/2-furlong dash was 1:03.92 over a fast track.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs that no decision will be made until as late as next weekend as to whether Winning Cause will run in the 139th Kentucky Derby.
Winning Cause became eligible for the May 4 Derby by earning 20 points with his 6-1 victory Saturday under Julien Leparoux in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
CHARLES TOWN, W. Va. - Mike Smith wasn’t concerned when longshot Percussion outbroke him and Game On Dude in Saturday night’s $1.5 million Charles Town Classic.
He had other concerns.
“My main concern was he was slipping a lot,” Smith said. “I slipped leaving there. I slipped in the first turn. I slipped in the middle of the turn, but he just wouldn’t stop.”
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - In a dominating performance that may have been a career best, Dance to Bristol romped to a nine-length victory in Saturday night’s $200,000 Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town.
Holiday Soiree finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Bayonne. Kalambaka Queen, Katie Get Excited, and Dangerous Vixen completed the order of finish.
The complexion of the Sugar Maple changed when Book Review, the even-money morning-line favorite, was scratched after getting a temperature upon her arrival from Southern California.
Candy Bites stalked a tepid early pace and rallied into the stretch to win the $50,000 Howard Noonan Stakes at Beulah Park on Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Jeff Engler and ridden by Yuri Yaranga, Candy Bites ($17) was to the outside of pacesetting Quasi Folle and Blazing Bling for the first half-mile. Yaranga went to work in the stretch and Candy Bites held on for a half-length victory. Plain Ol' Willard was a hard-charging second and Blazing Bling, the only filly in the race of 3-year-old Ohio bred horses, held on for third.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Chips All In won the first graded stakes of his career in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 San Simeon Stakes at Santa Anita, the beneficiary of an ideal ride from jockey Tyler Baze.
Chips All In was third on the hillside portion of the turf course, stalking even-money favorite Obviously for the first six furlongs. Chips All In was within 1 1/2 lengths of the leader with a furlong remaining and wore down Obviously to win by a half-length.
“It was a perfect trip,” Baze said.
STICKNEY, Ill. – Departing will not run in the Kentucky Derby, but his win Saturday at Hawthorne in the Illinois Derby suggested he is among the elite members of this year’s 3-year-old crop.
Breaking from post 13 and racing wide around both turns, Departing powered to the lead at the top of the long Hawthorne stretch and scored an impressive 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $750,000 Illinois Derby.
CHARLES TOWN, W. Va. - Lucy’s Bob Boy skipped the big money to go for the easy money.
Eschewing a start in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic, the connections of Lucy’s Bob Boy were satisfied to let their 4-year-old gelding continue his domination of West Virginia-breds with a front-running, five-length victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Confucius Say Stakes on the Classic undercard.
Rummy’s Command got up for second with Fred High third.
