Miss Singhsix did her part to show she deserves a shot at next month's biggest race of the season at Delaware Park by wearing down Morena in deep stretch to prevail by a neck in Saturday's Grade 3, $151,050 .
The 1/8-mile Obeah was the last local prep for the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 17.
Gold for the Queen, cutting back to six furlongs after five straight longer races and making her first start since January, showed surprising speed to win Saturday's $50,000 Susan B. Anthony Handicap at Finger Lakes.
A stakes winner going 1 1/16 miles in last summer's New York Oaks, the 4-year-old Gold for Queen ($9.90) had raced in two-turn routes in four of her last five starts. In her lone sprint try during that span, she broke last and was non-competitive going seven furlongs.
Belle of the Hall stretched her undefeated streak to three, holding off Derwin's Star by three-quarters of a length in the $200,000 Jostle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Philadelphia Park.
Ramon Dominguez was aboard for trainer Tom Albertrani as the 1-2 favorite ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.44 on the fast track.
Brilliant Sunshine jumped out to the early lead with Belle of the Hall immediately along side. Midway on the turn, Brilliant Sunshine slipped clear by 1 1/2 lengths as Dominguez bided his time.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Cool Coal Man powered to a two-length win over Sir Whimsey on Saturday in the $91,500 at Monmouth Park.
The 1 1/16-mile race drew a small but select field of five, including Bullsbay, the winner of the Grade 1 Whitney last summer at Saratoga.
As expected, the race unfolded with the New York-bred Mighty Morris setting the pace. Cool Coal Man was never far off, flanking the pacesetter as they ran down the backstretch through dawdling fractions of 25.57 and 50.42 seconds.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Life at Ten completed her evolution from a nice winter horse to a Grade 1 winner with a front-running, 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $250,000 at Belmont Park.
Overcoming a stumbling start under John Velazquez, Life at Ten quickly assumed the front and led her four challengers on a futile chase around the Belmont main track. Unrivaled Belle, the 3-5 favorite coming off her upset of Rachel Alexandra in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs last out, finished second by a head over Funny Moon. It was 17 lengths back to Manitoba Miss. Pumpkin Shell finished last.
Daphne Angela led every step of the way while rating kindly under E.J. Perrodin to capture Friday night's $50,000 Salute Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-old fillies at Evangeline Downs.
Aunt Kat Kat finished second, 3 1/4 lengths behind Daphne Angela. Military Miss was third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Aunt Kat Kat. The unbeaten Bella's Sister, who would have been favored, was a late scratch.
LD's Shes Special rallied from last to win the $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap for the second straight year Friday night at Prairie Meadows.
"It was a lot tougher this time," said Larry Dunbar, who the breeder-owner-trainer of the 7-year-old LD's Shes Special. "It's hard to repeat.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There was the Kentucky Derby, then the Metropolitan Mile. Now trainer Todd Pletcher has set his sights on another first: the Stephen Foster Handicap.
Pletcher will be in Saturday from New York to saddle Battle Plan at Churchill Downs as one of the main contenders in the Grade 1, $600,000 Foster, a race that Pletcher is looking to add to his list of 2010 firsts. Last month, Pletcher won his first Derby with Super Saver and his first Met Mile with Quality Road.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Marsh Side has been reinstated as the winner of Woodbine's 2009 Northern Dancer Stakes.
The Ontario Racing Commission, which heard the appeals of Marsh Side's owner, Robert Evans, and jockey, Javier Castellano, on May 26, released its decision on Friday afternoon.
Marsh Side had finished first in the Northern Dancer, which was run last Sept. 23 and offered Grade 1 status and a winner's share of $450,000.
Faced with a shortfall of more than $3.6 million it has not been paid by New York City OTB, Finger Lakes has slashed overnight purses by 12 percent and eliminated four stakes from its 2010 schedule.
In a release issued Friday afternoon, Chris Riegle, Finger Lakes president and general manager, said the track was left with no other option than to make drastic cuts after NYCOTB would not cooperate and make payments that are mandated by New York statutes.
