Treasured Kitten, one of four Alberta invaders in a field of five, moved into serious contention midway through the 1 1/16-mile Saskatchewan Derby and went on to score by 2 1/2 lengths in the $25,000 closing-day feature at Marquis Downs.

Ridden by Heribert  Martinez and trained by Craig Smith, Treasured Kitten had won his maiden in his last start at Northlands Park and returned $7.20 as the second choice.

Appealing Trip finished second as the odds-on favorite, three lengths clear of local hopeful Striking Time, with Joker Lake and Dash to My Tune rounding out the field.

Big Blue Caboose, one of three 3-year-olds in a field of 12, took charge early and was never seriously threatened en route to a two-length victory in Saturday evening’s $50,000 Gold Cup at Assiniboia Downs.

Jocelyne Kenny rode Big Blue Caboose, who is trained by Jerry Gourneau and had burst into prominence when finishing second in the Manitoba Derby over the same 1 1/8-mile distance.

Alisal, who had been racing at Woodbine, closed to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Southern Alliance.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The era of giving 2-year-olds ample race experience before jumping them into stakes competition has come and gone, and the first two across the wire Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity, Shared Property and Take Charge Indy, both were coming off a debut win in a maiden race. Talent trumped experience, and both the winner and runner-up look good enough to merit attention as summer turns to fall.

Musical Romance was all out to just hold on and win the Grade 2, $400,000 Presque Isle Masters on Saturday.

An early speed duel developed between longshots Waccamah and Promised Mandate, with Musical Romance in close pursuit under Juan Levya. Musical Romance rallied between those two horses in the stretch and began to draw clear in the 6 1/2-furlong event.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Golden Yank put himself under consideration for the Clark Handicap later this fall at Churchill Downs with a sharp, off-the-pace win in the $100,000 Unbridled at Louisiana Downs on Saturday.

The 1 1/16-mile turf race was one of five undercard stakes supporting the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Prayer for Relief has developed into a serious 3-year-old over the past several months. He won his third consecutive derby and fourth straight race Saturday, when he cruised home by 2 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Grassy satisfied his hunger for victory Saturday at Belmont Park, first by nearly taking a bite out of one of his rivals, then by outkicking the rest of them to take the Grade 2, $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap on opening day at Belmont Park.

Eighttofasttocatch won the $67,750 Japan Racing Association and Comet of Love captured the $60,000 Jameela, a pair of stakes originally scheduled for the turf, on Saturday at Laurel Park.

The two races were shifted to the main track after Tropical Storm Lee deluged the area.

The surface switch hurt the JRA, as the field of 11 scratched down to seven. It certainly didn’t hurt Eighttofasttocatch, a main-track stakes winner the last time he ran at Laurel.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Reconnect swooped by most of the field on the outside in the stretch to capture the $126,600 La Prevoyante Stakes at 70-1 Saturday at Woodbine.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Golden Mystery, making her debut for trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero, won an early speed duel and held off a late run from D’cats Meow to win the $61,200 Mongo Queen Stakes for filly and mare sprinters Saturday at Monmouth Park.

A 5-year-old previously based in Florida, Golden Mystery ran hard in the early stages to fend off Winning Image through fractions of 21.83 seconds and 44.55.