Heavily favored Russell Road failed to display his customary closing kick, enabling speedsters Plantation and Tup Take’ Please to run one-two in Saturday night’s $51,060 A Huevo Stakes for West Virginia-breds at Charles Town.
The 5-year-old Russell Road, who became a millionaire by winning last month’s $450,000 West Virginia Breeders’ Classic, finished fourth, beaten 13 3/4 lengths, as the 1-2 favorite. It was his worst finish since he was fourth at 1-10 in the 2010 Classic.
The 4-year-old filly Lisa’s Booby Trap was named the top horse of the 2011 meet at the annual Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association awards dinner on Saturday night.
Owned and trained by Tim Snyder, who bought her for $4,500 despite the fact she is blind in one eye and has a club foot, Lisa’s Booby Trap won 5 of 6 starts at Finger Lakes this season, including two victories against males.
She also recorded the fastest six-furlong time of the meet when she defeated an open allowance field by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:09.71 on July 11.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Sanagas won his Grade 1 debut in Saturday’s $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup in a manner that suggested he was far from fully extended.
Ridden confidently by Rajiv Maragh, Sanagas was well-placed throughout the race over 1 1/2 miles, took the lead with three furlongs remaining and won comfortably, by 3 1/2 lengths.
The victory left trainer Graham Motion impressed, as he watched from his base in Maryland.
VINTON, La. - Trainer Steve Asmussen’s weekend to remember got even sweeter on Saturday, when Sabercat recovered from a troubled start to post a sweeping, four-length win in Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. Basmati finished second in what was one of the year’s richest races for 2-year-olds, while it was another 2 /2 lengths back in third to Longview Drive.
The Jackpot was the centerpiece of an eight-stakes program at Delta Downs. The races were worth a cumulative $2.1 million.
VINTON, La.- Don Von Hemel on Saturday morning expressed quiet confidence that Now I Know, an undefeated filly he co-bred, co-owns, and trains, was sitting on a big race heading into the afternoon’s Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess.
His star pupil delivered the best race of her career.
VINTON, La. - Delta Downs has been the site of some of Decisive Moment’s biggest career wins and the trend continued Saturday when he fought off Hoorayforhollywood and Matto Mondo for a neck win in the $125,000 Delta Mile.
The race was one of eight stakes on a card anchored by the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. Purses for the races totaled $2.1 million, making the program the richest of the year at Delta.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After biding his time early, Blues Street looped a bunching field at the quarter pole and rolled along to an emphatic 4 1/2-length triumph Saturday in the 34th running of the Grade 3, $111,000 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Taking command midway around the far turn just as the pacesetter pulled up, Redeemed pulled clear into the stretch to win Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Discovery Handicap as much the best.
Breaking alertly beneath Edgar Prado, Redeemed ($4.90) quickly assumed striking position racing to the clubhouse turn just off early leader Ghost Gunner, while Raison d’Etat and Arthur’s Tale, the co-second choices at 3-1, were caught four and five wide, respectively.
Defy Gravity found the racing room she needed in deep stretch and put away stubborn pacesetter Dance to Bristol to earn her first career stakes victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Smart Halo Stakes for Maryland-bred 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.
