Sat, 03/26/2011 - 19:41

Oaklawn: Gran Lioness wires Prima Donna

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Gran Lioness was sharp on the cutback to one turn Saturday, when she led throughout to win the $75,000 Prima Donna by 1 1/4 lengths at Oaklawn Park. Garnet Crystals rallied for second, finishing seven lengths clear of third-place Lady Giacamo.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 19:14

Santa Anita: Pedroza bounces back from spill to take Tokyo City on ex-claimer Worth Repeating

ARCADIA, Calif.- An hour after he was involved in a one-horse spill, jockey Martin Pedroza won his first graded stakes since July when Worth Repeating held off a late threat from Honour the Deputy in Saturday’s $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 19:13

Louisiana Derby: Pants On Fire upsets; Mucho Macho Man loses shoe

Lou Hodges Jr.
Pants On Fire, with Anna Napravnik up, wins the Louisiana Derby.

NEW ORLEANS - Jockey Anna Napravnik put herself in position to become the first female rider to win the Kentucky Derby by guiding Pants On Fire to a mild upset victory on Saturday at Fair Grounds in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby, a race in which favored Mucho Macho Man finished third after losing a front shoe leaving the gate.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 18:46

Turfway: Animal Kingdom punches ticket to Kentucky Derby by taking Vinery Racing Spiral

Patrick Lang/Lang Photography
Animal Kingdom, under Alan Garcia, goes from last to first in the Vinery Racing Spiral.

FLORENCE, Ky. – Animal Kingdom passed all 10 of his rivals before finally getting the best of a stubborn last one when stamping his Kentucky Derby ticket Saturday by winning the 40th running of the Grade 3, $500,000 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes, the annual showcase event at Turfway Park.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 18:30

Ladies Handicap sees R Betty Graybull come from behind to win

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
R Betty Graybull, with Eddie Castro up, wins the Ladies Handicap.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Demonstrating once again a running style that is the antithesis of her speed-demon sire, R Betty Graybull came from out of the clouds to nail odds-on Quiet Giant in Saturday's 139th running of the $100,000 Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 18:28

Gulfstream: Old-timer Rahy's Attorney likes longer distance of Pan American

Adam Coglianese
The Canadian-based Rahy's Attorney wins his first graded stakes in the United Stakes by taking the Pan American.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -    Rahy’s Attorney, a Grade 1 winner at a mile in his younger days, showed there’s still plenty left in the tank at the age of 7 when he stretched out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time to capture Saturday’s $150,000 Pan American at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 18:25

Muniz: Smart Bid gets up in shadow of wire

Racing in the Feb. 5 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Feb. 5, Smart Bid did everything but win, coming up short by a nose. Saturday at Fair Grounds in the race preceding the Louisiana Derby, he saws his fortunes reversed in the Grade 2, $400,000 Mervin Muniz Memorial, this time prevailing by a nose in a thrilling finish.

Though Smart Bid enjoyed a smooth trip under Edgar Prado, Smart Bid – like other closers in the race – appeared to be disadvantaged early by a slow pace.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:59

Vinery Spiral: Animal Kingdom pulls away

Animal Kingdom launched a sweeping move on the final turn, then overtook Decisive Moment in the stretch en route to an about 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3, $500,000 Vinery Spiral on Saturday at Turfway Park.

Decisive Moment held second, while Twinspired was third in the mile and an eighth race that went in 1:52.32.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:40

Fair Grounds Oaks: Patience pays off with Daisy Devine

NEW ORLEANS -- The patience showed by trainer Andrew McKeever  paid dividends on Saturday when Daisy Devine, making her first start in two months, outfought St. John’s River after a prolonged stretch battle to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Fair Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.

Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:35

Bourbonette Oaks a runaway for Summer Soiree

FLORENCE, Ky. - Trainer Larry Jones entered the week having already one leading Kentucky Oaks contender in Honeybee winner Joyful Victory.

Now after Saturday, he has a second one in Summer Soiree, who ran herself into the Kentucky Oaks picture with wire-to-wire romp in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks on the undercard of the Vinery Spiral Stakes at Turfway.