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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thats a Heckofacat was extremely impressive in winning the $50,000 Howard B. Noonan at Beulah Park. The 2008 Ohio champion 2-year-old was making his seasonal debut in the six-furlong Noonan.
Jockey John McKee kept Thats a Heckofacat just off the early pace and to the outside of pacesetting stablemate Almighty O. McKee shook the reigns in upper stretch and the Doug Cowans charge responded, drawing off to win by 2 1/4 lengths in ridden-out fashion.
Almighy O, also trained by Cowans, finished second under Dean Sarvis, a length in front of late running Tsunaami Stu in third.
