BALTIMORE - Blame made a successful return to the races Saturday, splitting horses in midstretch and drawing clear to a 1 1/2-length victory in the , one of six undercard stakes on the Preakness card at Pimlico.
No Advantage, who won this race last year, rallied to get second by a half-length over Timber Reserve, who was part of the early pace. Bullsbay finished fourth and was followed by Flying Private, Edgewater, and Understatement.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Sakakawea outdueled yet another field of Iowa bred fillies and mares, holding off Go Milan Go for a neck victory in Fridays $70,000 Mamie Eisenhower.
Trainer Ray Tracy said that the race set up about how he thought it would, which is of little surprise as the field was comprised mostly of the same competition she defeated in a no-conditions statebred allowance race in April.
BALTIMORE - Five hours before scheduled post time for Saturday's $1 million Preakness Stakes, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver is a slight 9-5 favorite over Lookin At Lucky, who is 2-1.
Paddy O'Prado, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, is the third choice at 8-1. Jackson Bend and Dublin were the co-fourth choices at 11-1, followed by Yawanna Twist at 15-1, Schoolyard Dreams (17-1), Caracortado (20-1), Pleasant Prince (24-1), Northern Giant (25-1), First Dude (30-1), and Aikenite (35-1).
Post time for the Preakness is 6:18 p.m.
BALTIMORE - Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. had enough confidence in Acting Happy to run her in Friday's at Pimlico even though the 3-year-old filly was twice beaten in the first-level allowance level.
Acting Happy rewarded her trainer's faith with a solid 1 1/2-length victory over No Such Word in the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to Tidal Pool in third. She was followed in the order of finish by Harissa, Khancord Kid, C.C.'s Pal and Patriot Miss.
BALTIMORE - Vindy City returned from a four-month layoff ready to roll, putting away Argent Affair in midstretch and easily holding off Imanheiress for a one-length victory in Friday's $51,200 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
Imanheiress, under Travis Dunkelberger, rallied from last to get second by 1 1/4 lengths over Argent Affair. For Royalty and High Five Gal completed the order of finish. Cuff Me, the 4-5 morning-line favorite, and Starlite Starbrite, the morning-line second choice, both scratched.
Superior Storm breezed five furlongs at Louisiana Downs on Friday morning in her final major prep for Louisiana Cup Day. The program of six statebred stakes will be run next Saturday. Superior Storm is being pointed to the $100,000 Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, trainer Rick Jackson said.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Christian Santiago Reyes, the champion apprentice jockey of 2009, was given a 10-day suspension by Hollywood Park stewards Thursday for grabbing the reins of a rival horse in Wednesday's second race.
Reyes will appeal the suspension, according to his agent, Tony Matos. It is scheduled to begin Wednesday, the first day in which Reyes will begin riding without the five-pound claim allowed for apprentices. Reyes's apprentice term ends Tuesday, according to Hollywood Park stewards.
MIAMI - Paco Lopez, who ran away with the 2010 Gulfstream Park jockey title, ended his brief tenure at Calder after fulfilling his riding obligations here Friday.
Lopez was named to ride seven horses Saturday at Arlington Park, then he plans to continue on to Monmouth Park, where he will be based during the summer. The 2008 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding apprentice jockey, Lopez was third in the Calder standings and exited with a flourish after posting three wins on Thursday's card.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Garry Saitz is off to a strong start at the Hastings meet, with two wins from five starts, and he is looking for a big performance from Maximiano in the fourth race Sunday. A 4-year-old gelding by Storm Victory, Maximiano won twice and placed twice from four starts last year, and he is a neck and a head away from being undefeated.
"I think he's the real deal, and he runs hard every time," Saitz said. "He's doing very well right now, and if we're lucky he'll beat a pretty solid group of horses Sunday."
