There may have been more talent-laden runnings of the Shakertown at Keeneland, but Saturday’s 17th renewal undoubtedly ranks among the most exciting.
In a blanket finish in which the top five finishers were separated by a half-length at the wire, Havelock prevailed by a nose over 2-1 favorite Something Extra in the Grade 3, $100,000 Shakertown on the Blue Grass Stakes undercard.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The team that made history last May in Kentucky returned nearly a year later to wow another big crowd, this time taking the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes on the Blue Grass Stakes undercard Saturday at Keeneland.
Owner Paul Reddam, trainer Doug O’Neill, and jockey Mario Gutierrez – the same combination that won the 2012 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs with I’ll Have Another – were the winning connections when Handsome Mike got a terrific outside trip to capture the 27th running of the $175,000 Commonwealth Stakes.
A three-month layoff hardly mattered to Tujoes, who took command in deep stretch and captured the $77,000 Lyman Handicap, the second of two stakes for Pennsylvania-breds on Saturday’s program at Parx Racing.
The 6-year-old Tujoes was making his first start since beating open company in a third-level optional $40,000 claimer on Jan. 7 and facing statebreds for the first time since winning the 1 1/16-mile Roanoke last September.
Ruler On Ice, who has gone 1 for 11 since upsetting the 2011 Belmont Stakes at 24-1, and Alma d’Oro, a multiple stakes winner mired in a 12-racing losing streak, will look to rebuild their confidence when both New York-based horses ship to Parx Racing for Tuesday’s $55,000 feature.
The one-mile money allowance drew a stakes-caliber field of six that also includes Easter Gift, the winner of the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx last September, and Ponzi Scheme, the winner of a sprint stakes at Monmouth Park last summer and a two-time stakes winner going two turns in 2011.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally is due for a win in a historic race such as the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita on April 21.
McAnally won his first San Juan Capistrano in 1980 with the mighty John Henry. He won it again in 1998 with Amerique but has been shut out since.
After picking up small pieces of stakes purses in each of her last three starts in New York, the 3-year-old filly Railtown Girl will ship to Parx Racing for Monday’s $47,000 feature. The 6 1/2-furlong, first-level allowance for fillies and mares will represent Railtown Girl’s first attempt against older horses.
As a 2-year-old last April, Railtown Girl sold for $230,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. auction, the 14th-highest price at that spring sale. She did not make her racing debut until December, when she easily won her maiden sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Laurel Park.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – On Fire Baby indicated she may be a force in this year’s older filly and mare division on Friday at Oaklawn Park when she won the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap in her first start at 4. For the effort, On Fire Baby earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
“I think she stepped right up in there with them,” said trainer Gary Hartlage. “We ought to have a pretty good year, I think. Not that we ain’t already had a pretty good year!”
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Wise Dan came out of his winning comeback in the Maker’s 46 Mile in fine shape and most likely will switch to dirt for his next race in the Stephen Foster Handicap in June, trainer Charlie LoPresti said Saturday at Keeneland.
LoPresti said Wise Dan “ate up good and isn’t as tired as I thought he’d be. He’s settled but not knocked out. I’m just glad we got the race behind us and got that monkey off our backs.”
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - There were three scratches from Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct, including that of morning-line second choice Spectacular Sky.
Also scratched were Villanesca and Hearts of Red, leaving a four-horse field that figured to have a heavy favorite in the undefeated New York-bred Cluster of Stars.
Marty Wolfson, the trainer of Spectacular Sky, said his mare developed a fever after shipping in earlier in the week from south Florida. Wolfson was still represented in the race by Nakano, who was to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
Blueeyesintherein remained undefeated when she shuttled up the inside to win the $75,000 Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies on Friday at Oaklawn Park while making her first start since June. She won by 3 3/4 lengths over Boss Barney’s Babe, while it was another neck back in third to American Sugar.
Blueeyesintherein ($11.60) settled in fifth early as Ile St. Molly set fractions of 22.5 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.61 for a half-mile. Blueeyesintherein found room along the inside and went on to cover the six furlongs in 1:10.76.
