Mister Marti Gras, a 19-1 shot, came from off the early pace to win the $200,000 Oliver at Indiana Downs Wednesday evening.
Jockey Eduardo Perez got the 3-year-old chestnut gelding to settle near the back of the 12-horse field early in the one-mile turf event, but never more than 5 1/2 lengths off the lead. Mister Marti Gras angled out and rallied into the stretch, wearing down the leaders and winning by a half-length.
Presious Passion is on vacation.
The winner of the last two runnings of the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes will not defend his title on Saturday at Monmouth Park, and trainer Mary Hartmann said the 7-year-old gelding is getting a freshening at a private farm in nearby Colts Neck, N.J.
Presious Passion did not run well in his last two races, finishing 16th in the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 27 and seventh in the Monmouth Stakes on June 12.
"Physically, he's fine," Hartmann said. "He just didn't seem to be on his game. I wouldn't send him out and embarrass him."
OCEANPORT, N.J. - There will be no three-peat for Presious Passion in the United Nation Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park. The winner of the last two editions of the Grade 1 stakes was not entered on Wednesday for the 1 3/8-mile race on the turf.
Presious Passion had not run well in his last two outings, finishing 16th in the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 27 and seventh in the Monmouth Stakes on June 12. Attempts to reach trainer Mary Hartmann were not successful.
Joel Rosario will ride City to City and will have the mount on Blind Luck for her next two starts, the trainer said. Blind Luck is being pointed to the $250,000 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park on July 10, followed by the $500,000 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 21.
Blind Luck's regular rider, Rafael Bejarano, is booked to ride Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10 and the Hollendorfer-trained Tuscan Evening in the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park on Aug. 21.
AUBURN, Wash. - The real Clair Annette - the relentless, front-running one - should be on display Sunday in the $50,000 King County Handicap, trainer Connie Bouslaugh said this week.
Emerald Downs' first two-turn test of the meeting for fillies and mares, the one-mile King County attracted nine nominees, though the field was expected to shrink to perhaps a half-dozen when entries were taken Wednesday. Clair Annette figures to be one of the betting favorites, the likely second choice behind Gadget Queen, even though Clair Annette has yet to win in 2010.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The defection of four horses in a 48-hour span left the racing office scrambling to fill Saturday's $300,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park. In the end, the Grade 2 race went with a field of seven, led by returning graded stakes winners I Want Revenge and Regal Ransom.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Julien Leparoux fits the Friday night demographic. Twentysomething, single, and unavoidably hip, Leparoux was among the 25,012 who turned out to have a good time June 11 for "disco night" during the first Friday night program at the 2010 Churchill Downs spring meet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When the Saturday overnight sheet came out Wednesday at Churchill Downs, the most important news wasn't what was on it - even though a pair of Grade 3 races are on tap.
No, the most noteworthy development was what wasn't on the overnight: a $63,000 allowance race for Saturday failed to fill, meaning the 4-year-old debut of 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird has been momentarily delayed.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It is not easy for the 3-year-old filly City to City to gain attention in trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's stable at Hollywood Park. The same barn houses fellow 3-year-old filly Blind Luck, the winner of the Kentucky Oaks in April.
At least City to City does not have to face Blind Luck. Blind Luck has raced on dirt or synthetic tracks throughout her career; City to City has become a turf specialist.
MIAMI - What did a 3-year-old filly named Trip for A.J. accomplish for Milt Wolfson here last weekend that no lawyer could do? Get the veteran trainer a little satisfaction for what he believed to be a miscarriage of justice that took place over the same racetrack nearly two years earlier.
