More Chocolate, the winner of the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies on Jan. 20, is unlikely to start in Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles.
Trainer John Sadler said on Sunday that he is leaning toward passing the Grade 2 Santa Maria in favor of the $300,000 Santa Margarita Stakes, a Grade 1 over 1 1/8 miles on March 16.
“I could change my mind and run,” Sadler said. “She’s doing fine.”
ARCADIA, Calif. - Slim Shadey’s win in Saturday’s $151,750 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita will result in a brief vacation and a resumption of his career in Kentucky this spring.
Trainer Simon Callaghan said on Sunday that he plans to keep Slim Shadey at distances of 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles on turf in coming starts. The next objective for the 5-year-old gelding is the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic over 1 1/8 miles on turf at Churchill Downs on May 4.
Manyriverstocross became a stakes winner Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park, when she held off Vilao by a neck in the $50,000 Tomball. It was another neck back in third to pacesetter Sera’s Tunnel. The Tomball, at 1 1/16 miles on turf, was restricted to fillies and mares bred in Texas.
Manyriverstocross ($27.20) raced close to the pace set by Sera’s Tunnel, who put up fractions of 24.36 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.85 for the half-mile, and 1:12.41 for six furlongs. Manyriverstocross overtook the leader and went on to cover the distance on firm ground in 1:44.56.
ARCADIA, Calif.- There were no winning favorites in Saturday’s pick six races, leading to a carryover of $97,259 for Sunday’s nine-race program at Santa Anita.
The pick six races are the fourth through ninth races on Sunday.
Three of those races had scratches early on Saturday. In the fourth race, Cravin’ the Heat has been withdrawn. In the sixth race, Truism, Obsess, and Typhoon Slew will not start. In the eighth, Sizzling Gold is out of the $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes.
ARCADIA, Calif.- Slim Shadey and Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens had stakes-winning comebacks in Saturday’s $151,750 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.
Stevens, who resumed riding full-time after a retirement of more than seven years on Jan. 6, won his first stakes since October 2005 when Slim Shadey led throughout the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on turf.
ALBANY, Calif. – Unheralded longshot Redressthebalance proved best in the lane, scoring a victory in the $65,550 California Oaks where the top five finishers were separated by only one length on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
The Irish-bred Redressthebalance ($23.60), who won her first two starts last summer in Britain, scored her first victory in three U.S. starts for trainer Doug O’Neill.
Sudden Ghost became a stakes winner Saturday at Sunland Park, when she forged past Pyrite On My Mind for a three-quarter length win in the $50,000 El Diario Handicap for fillies and mares. Pyrite On My Mind held second, 1 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Patty’s Pulpit.
Sudden Ghost ($18.60) tracked the contested pace set by African Rose, who took the field through an opening quarter in 22.78 seconds and 45.87 for the half-mile. Sudden Ghost went on to cover the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.68.
Nancy Summers rode the winner for Donna Eaton and trainer Camie Telford.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Sister Ginger picked up 10 points towards the Kentucky Oaks on Saturday, when she came back along the inside in the $75,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn to best even-money favorite Rose to Gold by 2 3/4 lengths. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to Broken Spell.
Channel Lady was intent on getting the early lead and was equally intent on never relinquishing it, taking Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park by three-quarters of length.
Abaco, who brought a four-race winning streak into her stakes debut, won a three-way photo for second, nosing out Inglorious, who got third by a neck over Kya One.
Hard Not to Like, the 5-2 favorite off a win over Channel Lady in the Grade 3 Marshua’s River last out, finished fifth, followed by Romacaca and Affair Dabbler.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Making a case that seasoning and experience might be a little overrated, Graydar became a Grade 1 winner in just his fourth career start, leading throughout to score a convincing three-length victory over Bourbon Courage in Saturday’s $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
