Reachforthecastle, whose odds were nearly seven times as high as the next longest shot in a field of six fillies and mares, just reached the wire first in a three-horse photo to pull a shocking upset in Monday night's $75,000 Ohio Valley Handicap at Mountaineer Racetrack.
The 5-year-old Reachforthecastle's last two wins came for $5,000 claiming tags on the Polytrack at Turfway Park. Her substitute rider, Luciano Hernandez, was 0 for 21 in 2010, riding mostly at Thistledown.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Just Jenda extended her Monmouth Park unbeaten streak to three with a 1 1/2-length win over McVictory on Sunday in the for fillies and mares.
In the supporting event, Strike It Rich posted a front-running victory in the for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.
ALBANY, Calif. - History repeated in the at Golden Gate Fields on Monday when Run It scored a $41.60 upset in winning a photo over millionaire Bold Chieftain.
Bold Chieftain lost by a head after sticking his head in front in the lane. Last year, he also stuck his head in front in the lane before losing to Autism Awareness, also by a head.
Run It grabbed the lead in the paceless 1 1/16-mile race, going the opening quarter in 25.82 seconds, the half in 50.48, and six furlongs in 1:14.23.
ALTOONA, Iowa - She's Better Loud engaged in a speed duel with stablemate That'll Be the Day before pulling clear to a 4 3/4-length victory in the $60,000 Bob Bryant, a six-furlong sprint race for 3-year-old Iowa bred fillies on Monday at Prairie Meadows.
"After the quarter, I thought they were going to kill each other." said trainer Mike Natale.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dubai Majesty easily defended her title Monday in the at Churchill Downs, gliding past favored Hot Dixie Chick approaching the eighth pole en route to a 4 1/2-length triumph in the seventh running of the Grade 3, $100,000 race.
"I never hit her," said Miguel Mena, who rode Dubai Majesty for trainer Bret Calhoun.
Heavily favored Moralist rallied to win the $35,000 Honor the Hero Turf Express for the second straight year on Monday at Canterbury Park.
A 5-year-old gelding ridden by Ry Eikleberry, Moralist ($2.80) was blocked as he entered the turn of the five-furlong sprint, but squeezed through on the rail and prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Bullet from Abroad.
Moralist's winning time of 56.26 seconds was close to the track record of 56.00 set by Rockhurst in 2005.
Illusive Crystals remained perfect against Colorado-bred rivals on Monday, when she overcame a 10-month layoff and favorite Vannacide to take the $30,000 Ingrid Knotts at Arapahoe Park.
Illusive Crystals ($6) is now 4 for 4 against Colorado-breds. She stalked the pace early in the Ingrid Knotts for fillies and mares at six furlongs, took over after a half-mile in 44.80 seconds, then went on to a 7 3/4-length win over Heaven's Prize. It was another head back in third to defending champ Vannacide.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Quality Road hadn't been out in 114 days and had just run six furlongs in 1:08.57 in the heat at Belmont Park. With a quarter-mile left to run in the 117th , Quality Road, the 1-4 favorite, had to be as good as advertised in order to win.
He was better.
With a spank or two from John Velazquez's whip, Quality Road pulled away from would-be challenger Musket Man in the stretch to record a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $500,000 Metropolitan Handicap and confirm his status as the best older male horse in training.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Reach One More lived up to his odds-on favoritism as the big grey loped past his stablemate From the Ashes into the stretch and drew off for a 3 1 / 4-length win over a field of seven older Nebraska-bred rivals in the $20,700 Big Red Mile at Lincoln Race Course on Monday.
ELMONT, N.Y. - As the field went around the far turn in the Sands Point Stakes on Monday at Belmont Park, Check the Label had nowhere to run. But once she found room in the stretch, her rivals had nowhere to hide.
Check the Label ($7.40), with a dramatic turn of foot, rocketed between rivals a furlong out and went on to win the by 1 1/2 lengths over the longshot Crescenda, with 2-1 favorite Negligee another 2 1/4 lengths back in third in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.
