LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Aviate finished full of run down the center of the course to hand Aruna her first U.S defeat in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.
Aviate led a one-two-three finish in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile by fillies who began their careers in Europe. The result of the race and comments by the winning connections suggest the turf course was on the softer side rather than firm as it was officially designated prior to the race.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sassy Image swooped past heavily favored Hilda's Passion to give the local team of jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Dale Romans an upset score in the Grade 1, $345,600 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard Saturday at Churchill Downs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Regally Ready continued his ascension through the turf sprint ranks with a solid 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $111,200 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs. It was his fourth consecutive victory and fifth from six starts overall sprinting on grass.
After winning three consecutive sprint stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill at Santa Anita while racing on the pace, Regally Ready showed the ability to win from off the pace against a quality field Saturday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Plum Pretty came out of her Kentucky Oaks victory in fine shape and her future racing schedule will be decided over the next few days, Jim Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, said Saturday morning.
All-sources wagering on the 12-race Kentucky Oaks card at Churchill Downs on Friday set an Oaks Day record at $37.5 million, including a record ontrack handle of $12.1 million, according to Churchill.
The Friday all-sources handle total was up 4.2 percent over the previous record, set last year, at $36 million. The ontrack total was up 2.1 percent over last year’s record of $11.9 million.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - As expected, Dialed In was made the early 9-2 favorite for Saturday’s 137th Kentucky Derby. Also as expected, the early-bird bettors in Louisville flocked to their favorite son, Calvin Borel, making his mount, Twice the Appeal, the 7-1 co-second choice, along with Nehro.
These are the odds with more than $276,000 bet in the win pool, the majority of that money being wagered ontrack. Only some simulcast outlets sent their money in.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Plum Pretty proved her 25-length victory six weeks earlier in the Sunland Park Oaks was no fluke when she outlasted a fast-closing St. John’s River to win the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When First Dude and Regal Ransom hit the wire as a team at the end of the $300,000 Alysheba, trainer Bob Baffert turned to the group watching the race along with him in the trainers’ lounge and said “I’ll split it with him.” Fortunately for Baffert, none of the connections of Regal Ransom were present to take him up on the offer because when the photo sign came down it was First Dude’s number that was posted as the winner.
