Hero Force won the third stakes of his career Saturday night, when he was prominent throughout for a two and a quarter length win in the $75,000 Pelican at Delta Downs. Heitai finished second in the race restricted to 3-year-olds bred in Louisiana, while it was another neck back in third to Unbridled’s Score.

Hero Force ($5.20) prompted the pace through a half-mile in 47.13 seconds, then overtook the leaders and went on to win the seven and a half furlong race run around two turns in 1:33.36. Colby Hernandez was aboard for Robbie Norman and trainer Bret Calhoun.

Hidinginplainsight ($10) turned what looked to be a contentious race into an easy, front-running victory in the $51,650 Camila Urso Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

The Elusive Quality filly broke a step slowly from the rail but quickly claimed the lead. She never was seriously challenged and extended her margin through the stretch, winning the six-furlong race by two lengths over Distinctive Yolie, who rallied from seventh in the field of eight.

Lester’s Echo used his good speed to wire the field in the $85,000 Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap at Sunland Park on Saturday, winning by three-quarters of a length over Kiss My Hennessy. The 4 1/2-furlong race was restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in New Mexico.

ARCADIA, Calif. – One race later than hoped, a 3-year-old trained by Doug O’Neill led throughout to win a stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Goldencents set a quick pace in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes and faded to finish fourth. In the next race, Birdlover ($22.80) set a modest pace and held off 8-1 Magnificent Shirl to win the $77,870 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

“We were hoping to get an easy lead in the seventh race,” O’Neill said, referring to the San Felipe.

PHOENIX – E Z Kitty may be the leading lady routing at Turf Paradise these days, but Jaws n’ Paws let it be known Saturday that the distaff sprint division still belongs to her, as the 6-year-old mare dominated the $35,000 Mesa Handicap for the second straight year.

Owned by Stateside Racing and trained by Robertino Diodoro, the daughter of Onebadshark romped by eight lengths in an optional claimer here Feb. 8, her first start in more than seven months. That race apparently served her well.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cyber Secret on Saturday remained perfect at the Oaklawn Park meet put on by his owner, Charles Cella, when he edged Golden Ron by a head to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap.

It was the third local win this season for Cyber Secret, who had taken a pair of allowances leading up to what served as a prep for next month’s Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap.

“It’s always nice when you win for the boss,” said winning rider Robby Albarado.

ARCADIA, Calif. - There were eight horses in the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, but Flashback and Goldencents acted as if the race was theirs, and theirs alone, and it cost them.

Hear the Ghost ($13.80), benefiting from a silly speed duel between the 3-year-old colts heretofore acknowledged as the best Kentucky Derby prospects on the West Coast, rallied from fifth the final half of the 1 1/16-mile race and nailed Flashback near the wire to score a half-length win in this final major prep for next month's Santa Anita Derby.

NEW ORLEANS – Delaunay completed a sweep of the sprint stakes at the 2012-13 Fair Grounds meet with yet another easy victory Saturday in swift time in the $150,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes.

With jockey Rosie Napravnik having no problems whatsoever after her mount broke sharply from the outside post, Delaunay won for the fifth straight time after securing the lead down the backstretch and rolling on to finish 4 1/2 lengths clear of Gantry.

OLDSMAR, Fla. - Brazilian-bred Old Tune proved her initial win on U.S. soil was no fluke Saturday when she scored her second straight win in this country with a front-running victory over 11 rivals in the 15th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes.

OLDSMAR, Fla. – The margin was only three lengths. As if that matters.

Verrazano overcame adversity Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, where the unbeaten colt affirmed his status as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with a solid, three-length victory in the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby.