La Gran Bailadora swept to victory Saturday night under Jozbin Santana when she rallied from well back to post a 2 3/4-length score in the $50,000 Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway Park.
Trained by Mike Maker for breeder-owner Tracy Farmer, La Gran Bailadora was winning for the third straight time after coming into form with two straight Turfway allowance wins. She finished the one-mile distance in 1:41.57 over Polytrack and returned $12 as third choice in a field of 11 fillies and mares.
Led by Eclipse Award winner Uncle Mo and Remsen Stakes winner To Honor and Serve, a total of 364 3-year-olds have been made early nominees to the three Triple Crown races, it was announced late Saturday night by the Triple Crown racetracks, Churchill Downs, Pimlico, and Belmont Park.
ALBANY, Calif. – Racing fortunes can change quickly, and they did for trainer Steve Asmussen on Saturday when Silver Medallion won the 30th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Barely 90 minutes earlier, Tapizar, the top 3-year-old in Asmussen’s barn, was fifth as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Robert Lewis at Santa Anita. Anthony’s Cross, the winner of the Lewis, was cross-entered in the El Camino Real but scratched.
Jockeys Vladimir Diaz and Emilio Flores were taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with undisclosed injuries following a spill in the third race Saturday night at Penn National Race Course.
Both riders were unseated from their mounts when Sleetingntexas fell heading into the far turn.
Hayley’s Halo has stepped up her game with the move to dirt. She won her fourth straight race Saturday in the $50,000 El Diario at Sunland Park, when she wired the field by two lengths. Tornado Betty finished second, three lengths clear of She’smylittleman.
Hayley’s Halo, who began her career on the synthetic surfaces in Southern California, set a quick pace in the El Diario. She led the field through an opening-half mile in 44.70 seconds, and went on to cover the 6 ½ furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.61.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- Jockey Joel Rosario knocked off another heavy favorite on Saturday at Santa Anita when Vision in Gold led from start to finish to score a mild surprise over Zardana and favored St Trinians in the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Maria Stakes for older fillies and mares.
Some call Calvin Borel by the name Borail, given his propensity for rallying up the fence. How does Corail Lanerie sound? Corey Lanerail? The names don’t fit, but the point remains the same: Jockey Corey Lanerie has been scraping paint to great effect this winter at Fair Grounds, and he did it again with Ravi’s Song in the $59,400 Pelleteri Stakes on Saturday.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark .- Holy Heavens has struck first in Oaklawn Park’s series for 3-year-old fillies. She closed from last to win the $75,000 Martha Washington with authority, by a length over Scarlet Mist. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third to Jazzin Okie.
The Martha Washington was the first of two local preps for the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy on April 10. Next up is the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee on March 12, and the race could draw Holy Heavens.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Anthony’s Cross outlasted Riveting Reason to win the Grade 2, $250,000 Robert Lewis Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, a race in which heavily favored Tapizar faded to finish fifth, triggering outsized show payoffs.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The amazing Tackleberry did it again.
Two weeks after posting a 27-1 shocker in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, Tackleberry returned to upset the 4-5 Soaring Empire by two lengths in Saturday’s 150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Stakes.
