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.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Spectacular Sky took the lead shortly after the start, raced several of her early pursurers into defeat, then had enough left to turn back a late challenge from Cheechako for a popular neck victory in the $50,000 Manatee Stakes.
With Daniel Centeno contributing a well-judged ride aboard the Marty Wolfson trainee, Spectacular Sky won her sixth race from 18 career starts. The Manatee was the first start of 2013 for the 5-year-old mare and her first outing for since she finished sixth in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs last November.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Point of Entry and Animal Kingdom put on the show everybody had been waiting for in Saturday’s $300,000 Kitten’s Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.
With jockey John Velazquez riding a patient and tactically perfect race, Point of Entry hooked up with Animal Kingdom on the final turn then gradually edged clear of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner in late stretch, ultimately posting a 1 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Turf. Unbridled Command rallied mildly to finish third.
Dynamic Strike emerged from a pack of six horses spread across the track with a furlong remaining to record his third straight victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Miracle Wood Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.
Trainer Tim Glyshaw’s starter-allowance run began a half-decade ago with Ready’s Rocket, a win machine sent out to pasture last year to an Old Friends equine retirement facility. Grand Traverse, another starter-allowance tiger, soon followed, and more recently, Glyshaw won a Claiming Crown race – the zenith for starter-allowance horses – with Tiban.
Mizdirection, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint against males in November, will start around two turns for the first time in 18 months in the $150,000, one-mile Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares on turf next Monday at Sant Anita.
The assignment will be slightly easier than expected.
Friday, trainer Simon Callaghan said that Rhythm of Light, who won the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes in November, will miss the Grade 2 Buena Vista because of concern over the condition of one of her ankles.
Based on her two most recent workouts, Disco Barbie has discovered some early zip, thanks to the addition of blinkers. After racing far back early as the beaten favorite in two stakes to close out her 2-year-old campaign, Disco Barbie figures to be more prominent early when she launches her 3-year-old season in Monday’s $47,000 sprint feature at Parx Racing.
The first-level allowance, which will be contested at six furlongs, drew a field of six 3-year-old fillies, including Kelwynne, whose lone defeat in three career starts came when she was second in a stakes last fall.
