ELMONT, N.Y. - Devil May Care delivered an ideal present to trainer Todd Pletcher on his 43rd birthday - a 1 1/4-length win in the for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Belmont Park.
It was the first start for Devil May Care since running 10th against the boys in the Kentucky Derby.
The circumstances were far different in the Mother Goose. The field contained only five runners, compared to 20 in the Derby.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Doug O'Neill said Friday that he has dropped an appeal of a 15-day suspension for a total carbon dioxide overage in Illinois in April. The penalty will run from Wednesday through July 14.
While sidelined, O'Neill said his stable will not be active until he returns to training July 15. Through Friday, O'Neill led all trainers with 26 wins, six more than second-place Mike Mitchell. O'Neill's suspension is likely to prevent him from winning the training title at the spring-summer meeting, which ends July 18.
Red Rock Springs held off a bid from favorite Texas Silver for a half-length win Saturday in the $136,221 Mountain Top Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. It was another neck back in third to Quick Flag.
Red Rock Springs ($9.80) led through an opening quarter of 22.41 seconds in the five-furlong race for New Mexico-breds. He maintained his advantage through a half-mile in 46.11 seconds, then went on to win in 59.25 over a track rated good.
Mark Villa rode the winner for owner-trainer Tony Sedillo. Red Rock Springs has now won 2 of 4 starts and $77,182.
Miss Pleasant ($13) wore down stubborn favorite Victoryasecret near the wire as she scored her third straight victory while winning her stakes debut in the $53,300 Alameda County Fillies and Mares Handicap on Saturday at the Alameda County Fair.
Following trainer Richard Mandella's telephoned instructions, jockey Chad Schvaneveldt let Miss Pleasant run away from the gate before settling behind Victoryasecret, who also was seeking her third straight victory.
Strike It Rich led all the way as speed remained golden on Monmouth Park's turf course in the for 3-year-old fillies.
Duplicating her pacesetting win last month in the Little Silver Stakes, Strike It Rich again flashed the style that perfectly suits the Monmouth course dominated this meet by front-running winners.
Garrett Gomez guided the 3-1 second choice right to the front at the start of the 1 1/16-mile race. They led by a comfortable margin throughout, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the late-running Bay to Bay.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jockey Robby Albarado knew better than anyone the strengths of the two favorites in Saturday's for 2-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs, having ridden both 3-5 favorite Salty Strike and 9-5 Just Louise in their first-out victories at the track last month.
Although the former was the more dominant winner of the two, Albarado said he was impressed by how Just Louise had won her debut after a troubled start, winning from off the pace. That effort, which came following a slow start, left a mark with him, he said, influencing his decision to ride her.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer Bret Calhoun stated his belief earlier this week that Chamberlain Bridge, age 6, was actually a better horse than Chamberlain Bridge age 4 or 5.
Point taken.
In the 2009 Arlington Sprint, Chamberlain Bridge contested the hottest of paces and was gunned down in the stretch by Yankee Injunuity. The newer, more manageable Chamberlain Bridge was taken back Saturday in the 2010 , which he won by more than four lengths with an explosive kick.
Giant Mover led at every call to win the one-mile, $50,000 Brookmeade on the Colonial Downs turf Saturday afternoon.
Ridden by Horacio Karamanos, Giant Mover was kept under a tight hold while clear on the lead. Karamanos shook the 4-year-old filly's reins, and she responded, drawing off to win by 7 1/4 widening lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Huge was second under Rosemary Homeister Jr., three lengths in front of Patriot Miss in third.
Desert Party rolled to a 3 1/2-length win over longshot Uncle Gidge on Saturday in the at Philadelphia Park.
It was the first U.S. start for the 4-year-old Desert Party since he finished 14th in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. He was the first of Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum's Godolphin stakes performers from last year to return to the races since shipping back to North America from Dubai in April.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Final Mesa toyed with her four rivals in Saturday's , winning the five-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies by 7 3/4 lengths. She paid $2.70.
Final Mesa is owned and trained by Wesley Ward, who also won last Saturday's 2-year-old stakes at Woodbine, the Victoria, with Madman Diaries.
