BALTIMORE - When trainer Todd Pletcher decided to run Hudson Steele back in three weeks it was a matter of where to place him.
His choices were the $75,000 Elkwood Stakes at Monmouth Park or the $300,000 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico. When he heard that Chad Brown was going to run Corporate Jungle in the Elkwood, Pletcher wanted to avoid that horse and run in the Dixie.
It turned out to be a good choice.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Roxy Gap tracked the leaders and then pounced in the lane to take the $183,000 Hendrie Stakes under Patrick Husbands on Saturday at Woodbine.
Roxy Gap won the Grade 2 event by 2 1/2 lengths over Kentucky shipper Dr. Diamonds Prize, who got the better of third-place finisher Sweet Cassiopeia in the front-end battle. The fractions were modest, and the final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:16.46. She paid $3.70.
The Mark Casse-trained Roxy Gap, who banked $120,000 for Melnyk Racing Stable, was coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes.
Trainer Michael Petro had Not Abroad fit and ready to run off the layoff, and his brother Nick put up a perfectly judged ride to register a three-quarter-length victory over Win Willy in Saturday’s $50,000 Joseph French Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park.
BALTIMORE - Most observers might have thought D. Wayne Lukas had little chance Saturday with Optimizer in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, but that didn’t keep the Hall of Fame trainer from having a great time earlier in the day. Lukas followed his win with Hamazing Destiny in the Maryland Sprint Handicap with an 8-1, hard-fought, front-running upset by Skyring in the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes.
“It’s a lovely day,” said Lukas.
[PREAKNESS STAKES: Replays and recaps from Saturday's Pimlico card]
BALTIMORE – Capitalizing on a perfect trip just off the early speed duel, Hamazing Destiny secured his first win in 20 months with a decisive score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap here at Pimlico Race Course.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - On May 5, Via Villaggio finished a troubled fifth in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park. She was steadied in early stretch and beaten 3 1/2 lengths.
The lessons learned that day by jockey Martin Pedroza were put to good use in Saturday’s $100,000 Railbird Stakes. Via Villaggio ($23) had a perfect trip in the Grade 3 race for 3-year-old fillies, rallying on the inside through the stretch to upset 1-9 Sister Moon.
Via Villaggio was timed in 1:23.03 and won by a half-length, her first stakes win in her 10th start.
BALTIMORE – Il Villano kept his perfect record at six furlongs intact with a dominant 4 3/4-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico.
Laurie’s Rocket caught favored Innocent Man by a head for second. It was 3 3/4 lengths back to Trippi’s Secret, who was followed in the order of finish by Scaramagna, He Can Run, and Mandorla. Lemon Juice scratched.
OPELOUSAS, La. – Southern Style rallied strongly from off the pace Friday night to successfully defend his title in the $50,000 Need for Speed Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Royal Production proved stubborn in the late going after forcing the early pace and reported home second, just a half-length back. Even-money favorite Sweetsouthernmoon turned in a belated rally to finish third, followed by 5-2 second choice Solar Charge.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The victory by Quiet Oasis in the Grade 3 Wilshire Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park on April 29 was her first in a stakes, a minor surprise, and has led to high expectations for the summer.
The filly was 15-1 in a field of eight and rallied through the stretch to win by a half-length in her first start of 2012. The experience has given trainer Ben Cecil confidence that Quiet Oasis can be competitive in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares over 1 1/8 miles on turf May 28.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The three-horse entry of Castinette Dancer, Dashing Daisy and Caged Mistress will certainly be favored in the $50,000 Brighouse Belles for fillies and mares at Hastings Monday. After all, they are trained by leading trainer Troy Taylor, are proven stakes winners, and on their own merits would receive plenty of support.
Nonetheless, contention runs deep in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, which drew eight horses, and it might be worth trying to beat them. The holiday card begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
