Sun, 04/11/2010 - 00:00

Grove finishes strong to win Laurel training title

A strong finish enabled Chris Grove to overtake perennial leader Scott Lake and win his first training title at Laurel Park's winter meet that ended Saturday.

Grove, 40, began the final week of the 15-week meet two wins behind Lake, who has won 12 of the last 16 training titles at Laurel and Pimlico. Grove moved into a first-place tie with a two-win day Wednesday, took the lead Thursday with one victory, and then won another race Friday. Both Grove and Lake saddled two winners on Saturday's closing card, leaving Grove in front, 27-25.

Sun, 04/11/2010 - 00:00

Noble's Promise may not move on to Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - It was getaway day on Sunday at Oaklawn Park, with the top finishers from the Arkansas Derby moving up the road to Louisville, Ky., and Zenyatta heading home to Southern California.

The first three finishers from the Arkansas Derby - Line of David, Super Saver, and Dublin - all are en route to Churchill Downs for the May 1 Derby.

Sun, 04/11/2010 - 00:00

Dirt proves no obstacle for Zenyatta

Barbara D. Livingston
Zenyatta powers home to win Friday's Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park by 4 1/4 lengths.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Zenyatta proved she is just as good, if not better, on dirt Friday at Oaklawn, when she remained undefeated in 16 starts by winning the . That's bad news for those pointing to the Breeders' Cup this fall at Churchill Downs as Zenyatta's goal is a return trip to the championship series.

Zenyatta was making her second start of the year in the Apple Blossom, a race she also won in 2008 while making her only other start on dirt.

"This obviously was a great performance," said John Shirreffs, who trains Zenyatta for Jerry and Ann Moss. "She ran terrific."

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

Dream Nettie gets measured ride in La Puente

By Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. - Dream Nettie won his stakes debut in Saturday's at Santa Anita under an ideal ride from jockey Joe Talamo.

Dream Nettie ($20) ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.80, holding off a late run from Lucky Rave to win by three-quarters of a length. Bogie finished third in the field of eight 3-year-olds, closing from last to miss by 1 1/4 lengths.

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

Decelerator by a neck in Instant Racing

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Decelerator picked up the third stakes win of her career Saturday at Oaklawn, when she held off Vertical Vision by a neck to take the $75,000 Instant Racing. It was another length back in third to Bell's Shoes.

The Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies supported the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on the meet's closing-day card. Saturday attendance at Oaklawn was 61,531.

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

Stately Victor upsets Blue Grass at 40-1

Pat Lang/Lang Photography
Stately Victor pulls clear by 4 1/4 lengths to score an upset victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Stately Victor emerged from the pack to run off to the biggest upset in the 86-year history of the , scoring by 4 1/4 lengths at 40-1 on Saturday at Keeneland and putting himself in the gate for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

Way With Words rallies to win South Beach

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Way With Words , a three-time stakes winner last season, got back on the winning track in impressive fashion when rallying to a 4 3/4-length victory over 4-5 favorite Akilina in Saturday's $50,000 South Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

Line of David proves he's genuine

Barbara D. Livingston
Line of David (right) holds off Super Saver to win the Arkansas Derby.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Horses based in California race on synthetic surfaces, but in this year's 3-year-old preps for the Kentucky Derby, they have shown there's nothing artificial about them.

Twice earlier this meet at Oaklawn Park, a horse shipped in from California to win an important 3-year-old stakes race. But while Conveyance (Southwest Stakes) and Lookin At Lucky (Rebel) were favored, it was 17-1 longshot Line of David who stole the race, and the show, on Saturday at Oaklawn Park, leading every step of the way in the before a crowd of 61,531 on a sun-splashed afternoon.

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

Touching Beauty takes Comely

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Jimmy Jerkens isn't convinced that one mile is going to ultimately be a distance at which Touching Beauty will excel. But in Saturday's it was ideal.

Benefiting from a perfect ride from Mike Luzzi and some major trouble for odds-on-favorite She'll Be Doggone in upper stretch, Touching Beauty scored a half-length victory over Speightful Affair in the Comely. It was another half-length to back to C.C.'s Pal in third. They were followed in the order of finish by Indian Burn, Volare Cantare, Anchorage, She'll Be Doggone, and Roman Chestnut.

Sat, 04/10/2010 - 00:00

My Main Starr enjoys surface switch

Winless in four starts on dirt since a victory in an Oct. 2 optional claimer on turf, My Main Starr found her way to the winner's circle again with a switch back to grass in Saturday's $52,200 Dahlia Stakes at Laurel Park. The victory in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares was the 5-year-old's first in a stakes and seventh in 28 career starts. She is now 2 for 2 on turf.