Snuggs and Kisses took an immediate liking to her new surroundings as the 4-year-old filly posted a mild upset in Saturday’s $25,000 Kachina Handicap at Turf Paradise.
Owned by L. Barrett Bernard and trained by Dennis Sowers, the daughter of Soto had previously campaigned in Kentucky and Florida and also was stepping up in class after a win over restricted $15,000 claimers at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11.
Black Hills defended his title in the $50,000 Winsham Lad at Sunland Park on Saturday, when he closed from last for a half-length win over Red Lead. It was another 4 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite Imco Spirit.
Black Hills ($13.40) was making his second start since last year’s Winsham Lad on Saturday, and trailed the field early on as Schramsberg showed the way through an opening half-mile in 47 seconds. Black Hills began his bid approaching the three-eighths pole, and went on to cover the mile and 70 yards in 1:41.
ARCADIA, Calif. -- It took until the end of his 5-year-old year for Aggie Engineer to finally win a stakes race, but the way he ran on Saturday, in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, there could be plenty more to come. In what has to rank as his best performance yet, Aggie Engineer romped to a 3 1/4-length victory after patiently waiting in third, something he was incapable of doing early in his career.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.- What a difference eight months make.
The first time Soaring Empire met Rule, he finished more than a dozen lengths behind him in the 2010 Florida Derby. On Saturday, the vastly improved Soaring Empire turned the tables when holding off a late bid from Rule to register a 1 1/4-length victory in Gulfstream Park’s $100,000 Hal’s Hope. Morning Line finished third as the 3-5 favorite.
Saturday’s $50,000 Turfway Prevue was decided right on the finish line, with favored Inhisglory prevailing in a head bob over Banjammer by a nose. However, it was on the turn that the race was won.
Under Rodney Prescott, Inhisglory received a perfect ground-saving stalking trip, diving inside four rivals on the turn – getting the jump on the opposition, while late-running Banjammer raced widest of all closing from the back of the pack.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Ranging up three wide after a half-mile, See I A rallied past 40-1 longshot Gary D leaving the furlong marker and went on to post a 1 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 Pelican Stakes before 3,265 fans.
Under a well-judged ride by Huber Villa-Gomez, See I A returned $17 while posting his fifth straight win and 11th from 28 career starts.
Trainer Eddie Johnston is preparing the good Louisiana-bred turf horse Snakebite Kit for a start against open stakes competition in the Jan. 22 Colonel Bradley Handicap, but in Wildrally, Johnston had an able back-up for the $60,000 Dixie Poker Ace on Saturday at Fair Grounds. Under Anna Rose Napravnik, Wildrally came between horses at about the eighth pole and won the Dixie Poker Ace by one length over 4-5 favorite Kissimmee Kyle.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Edward Evans would have been proud.
Dance Quietly, the first starter from the Evans stable since his death on Dec. 31, rallied through a huge opening along the rail in the stretch and was able to outfinish Moonlit Malibu to win Saturday’s $65,000 Busanda Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Determinato rebounded off a poor effort to pull a 14-1 upset Saturday in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park after stalking favored Gangsterontherun into defeat and holding on to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association is looking into a breakdown in communication that led to an injured jockey being left unattended to in the paddock for several minutes and nearly prompted the cancellation of the final three races on Saturday’s card at Aqueduct.
