Persuasive Paul swooped in from Southern California and captured Saturday’s $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby.
Owned by John Fuller and trained by Doug O’Neill, Persuasive Paul last ran sixth in a very strong race at Santa Anita won by Super Ninety Nine, who came back to win Oaklawn’s Grade 3 Southwest by 11 lengths. The runner-up that day, Code West, finished second in Saturday’s Grade 2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds.
Dry Summer put himself into the Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Park Derby on Saturday, when he turned back a bid from Show Some Magic and went on to a 1 1/2-length win in the $120,000 Mine That Bird Derby. The race, formerly called the Borderland Derby, was the local prep for the Sunland Derby on March 24.
“That’s our plan,” said winning trainer Joel Marr.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Prominent from the outset under Fernando de la Cruz, Good Lord outdueled favorite Action Andy through a long stretch duel to come away with a hard-earned three-quarter-length victory in the $75,000 Super Stakes.
Good Lord, who was sent off the second choice in the field of nine, covered the distance in 1:22.03, a new track record for seven furlongs, eclipsing the 1:22.13 mark set by Manicero in 2011.
Unlimited Budget cruised away to an impressive triumph when stamping herself as a major Kentucky Oaks prospect Saturday in the 32nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
With leading jockey Rosie Napravnik aboard for Repole Stable and Todd Pletcher, Unlimited Budget prevailed by 3 3/4 lengths over 20-1 shot Promise Me More after confidently moving into the lead leaving the quarter pole. Blue Violet was another four lengths back in third at 12-1.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- All About Allie won the $60,000 Downthedustyroad for the third consecutive year at Oaklawn on Saturday, when she shuttled clear by 2 3/4 lengths over Kathleen. It was another length back in third to Hatter Nu Nu.
The Downthedustyroad is a six-furlong race restricted to fillies and mares bred in Arkansas.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Unbridled’s Note, second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last November, won the second stakes of his career in Saturday’s $76,900 Joe Hernandez Handicap at Santa Anita, holding off a late threat from Chips All In to win by a nose.
Unbridled’s Note ($3.60) and Chips All In were first and second throughout the about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Unbridled’s Note, who set a pace of 21.44 and 44.05 seconds, led by a half-length with a furlong remaining and was fully extended to win. The first two finishers were almost inseparable at the finish.
NEW ORLEANS – Heartbreaking might be too strong a word for Mark Valeski’s Fair Grounds career before this weekend, but not by much. Second last month in the Louisiana Handicap. Second a year ago in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes. And – toughest of all to take – second by a half-length to 100-1 shot Hero of Order in the $1 million Louisiana Derby last April.
NEW ORLEANS – Three-year-old stakes horses capped the 2011 – 2012 Fair Grounds racing season with a burst of insanity when 109-1 shot Hero of Order won the Louisiana Derby. Oxbow restored a measure of order winning the first 3-year-old stakes this meet, the Jan. 19 Lecomte, at a reasonable 9-2. But wackiness returned Saturday when Ive Struck a Nerve rallied from last to edge Code West in the Risen Star Stakes at odds of 135-1.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Data Link made amends for the only blemish on his local record when he rallied to a hard fought one-length victory over a game Joes Blazing Aaron in Saturday’s $150,000 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park.
Data Link entered his 2013 debut with 3 wins in 4 starts over the Gulfstream Park turf course, his only setback a third-place finish in the 2012 edition of the Grade 3 Canadian.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Shug McGaughey should have been rubbing his hands in delight after they posted a 45.45-second opening half-mile split for Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. But at the time, the Hall of Fame trainer was otherwise occupied.
“I was watching the race on TV and I couldn’t find him,” said McGaughey, referring to his stretch-running Orb. “But when he came into the picture I said to myself if they slow down, he’s going to get them.”
