OPELOUSAS, La. - Classic Cascade ($32.20), the second longest shot in Saturday night's $50,000 Acclaim Stakes at Evangeline Downs, kicked clear in the final stages of the seven-furlong race for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds to record his first stakes victory.
Mr. Wildee, the early pacesetter, finished 3 1/4 lengths back in second, followed by Smitty's Moonshine. Canon Man, the 6-5 favorite, tired late and finished sixth in a field of seven.
Preservata continued her winning ways at Assiniboia Downs on Saturday night by capturing the $30,000 La Verendrye Stakes by a neck.
Under regular rider Tyrone Nelson, Preservata stalked the pace and then prevailed in a prolonged duel with Golden Stripe, who finished second in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares.
Preservata, owned and trained by Clint Willson, was repeating in the La Verendye while winning her seventh race in succession and her eighth in as many starts at Assiniboia.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Kate's Main Man held off the determined charge of Tiger Lake to win the $75,000 Cyclones, a handicap for older Iowa-bred males, by a head on Saturday at Prairie Meadows.
Kate's Main Man ($16.60) cleared from the outside post in the field of nine and went to the lead with 2-1 favorite Frozen Angel, who was quickly pulled up after taking a bad step entering the first turn. Racing in the two path, Kate's Main Man set early fractions of 23.64 seconds, 47.82, and 1:11.90. He quickened his pace on the far turn and dispatched early challenger Cainam. .
ALBANY, Calif. - First-time starter Road Ready was almost more than jockey Russell Baze could handle in the post parade, but he justified his favoritism by winning the $50,000 Lost in the Fog Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
A $300,000 March Barretts purchase, Road Ready ($6.80) broke a step slowly but settled nicely behind Ammunition, a colt who won his career debut impressively for Baze. He chose to ride the untested but highly regarded Road Ready rather than Ammunition in the Lost in the Fog.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Rail Trip did not need his best effort to win Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 at Hollywood Park.
At the eighth pole, when Rail Trip was 2 1/2 lengths in front of seven rivals, jockey Rafael Bejarano knew the job was finished. In the final sixteenth, Bejarano allowed Rail Trip to cruise to the finish, winning by 2 3/4 lengths.
"I had so much horse," Bejarano said. "I let him gallop and get him ready for the next one."
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returned to familiar territory Saturday in the Grade 2, $214,000 at Churchill Downs: the winner's circle.
Rebounding from a pair of second-place finishes that began her 4-year-old campaign, Rachel Alexandra asserted her clear superiority over an outclassed field of four opponents in the Fleur de Lis, winning by 10 1/2 lengths over longshot Distinctive Dixie. She raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.78, a second and a half off the track record.
There was a noticeable sense of relief among her connections after the race.
Salt Flat Speed, ridden by Rico Walcott, earned his first stakes win in the $50,000 Journal Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday.
Sent off as the odds-on favorite, Salt Flat Speed battled for the early lead between horses going into the first turn. He emerged with the lead coming out of the turn and was responsible for the half-mile split of 46.40 seconds. He opened up a three-length lead at the top of the stretch and then easily held off the late-running Inuit Fisher to win by 2 1/2 lengths while completing six furlongs in 1:12.00.
Double Down Special, who set a world record in April, became a Grade 1 winner on Saturday when he got up by a neck in the $568,965 Ruidoso Quarter Horse Derby.
Swingin Daddyo led to the late stages of the 400-yard race, and held second by three-quarters of a length over third-place finisher Sir Seth.
Double Down Special ($3.80) broke well and gradually picked up steam to overtake the leaders to win in 19.64 seconds. Salvador Martinez was aboard for trainer John Stinebaugh.
MIAMI - Big Drama delivered as expected Saturday at Calder when he captured his 2010 debut in the $65,000 Ponche Handicap. But Big Drama had to share the spotlight on the Summit of Speed Preview card with a promising 3-year-old filly named Pica Slew, who cruised to the easiest of possible victories in the $85,000 Leave Me Alone Stakes.
