DEL MAR, Calif. -- The third time proved to be the charm for Acclamation. Withdrawn in recent weeks from both the Hollywood Gold Cup and Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park in order to await the Eddie Read Stakes on Saturday here at Del Mar, Acclamation could not have been more impressive, rolling to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1, $300,000 race for older turf runners.
Irish Hazel V. parlayed a stalking trip into her first stakes win on Saturday, when she rallied for a half-length score over All About Maty in the $43,450 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Oaks at Arapahoe Park.
Sweet Dixie Van, the 2-5 favorite who was seeking to remain perfect against Colorado-breds, finished an even fifth. The mile and 70-yard race was her first start at two turns.
Cold Cash 123 improved his record at 440 yards to 5 for 5 on Saturday, when he was up for a neck win in the Grade 1, $899,534 Rainbow Derby for Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. Bodacious Dash finished second, a nose in front of third-place finisher Dm Streakin Thru Fire.
DEL MAR, Calif. -- Andina avenged a narrow loss to Wild Mia last month by scoring her own thrilling victory on Saturday at Del Mar, outdueling Wild Mia and holding off a furious late bid from City to City as those three came to the wire right together in the $91,640 Osunitas Handicap for older fillies and mares.
Andina ($8.40), under Garrett Gomez, prevailed by a head over Wild Mia, with City to City a nose farther back in third.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Free Fighter won the Stars and Stripes in 2009, but his second victory in the race, a two-length score over Winchester on Saturday at Arlington Park, came under much different circumstances. This Stars and Stripes was forced from turf to the main track by record-setting rainfall, and where Free Fighter was owned by Team Block and trained by Chris Block two summers ago, Mike Reavis trained him to victory for Frank Mancari on Saturday.
Abuela, cleverly rated by Jon Court, surrendered the lead down the backstretch before rallying back to pull a 9-1 upset Saturday in the $50,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes in Henderson, Ky.
Trained by Vicki Oliver for her father, G. Watts Humphrey Jr., and St. George’s Farm, Abuela was victorious for the fourth time in 17 starts. She returned $20.40 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.46 over a firm turf.
Angelica Zapata finished second, a length behind the winner and another 2 1/2 lengths before Kiss Mine, the 3-2 favorite in a field of eight fillies and mares.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The quirky habits that make It’s Tricky a well-named filly were on display Saturday morning when, according to her connections, she ran around her stall for 40 minutes before her handlers could get her corralled.
Sweet Repent solidified her position atop the Calder filly and mare handicap division with a popular but hard-fought, one-length victory over Diosa Indian in Saturday’s $75,000 Nancy’s Glitter Handicap.
Motega improved to a perfect 3 for 3 after besting six other Ohio-bred 2-year-old fillies in the $50,000 Kevin Goemmer Tah Dah Stakes at River Downs on Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Joe Martin, Motega was kept just off the early pace by Jareth Loveberry, her regular rider. Loveberry shook the reins at Motega at the top of the stretch and she responded, drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. She paid $2.20 to win.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Weekend Romance put away the other speed and kept on going to capture her first stakes under Luis Contreras in the $125,000 Passing Mood at Woodbine on Saturday.
