COLUMBUS, Neb. - Runnin for Peanuts rallied from just off the pace to break his maiden as he drew off for a 5 3/4-length win in the $10,650 Club House Special for 2-year-olds on Sunday afternoon at Columbus.
The $100,000 Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs is building a reputation for tight finishes. Last year, there was a three-way photo for the win. Saturday, the story was much the same at the wire, with Uno Mas edging Electric Alphabet and Red Lead by a neck in the 1 1/16-mile prep for next month s Grade 2, $750,000 Super Derby.
AUBURN, Wash. - Assessment overcame a daunting draw and a formidable field to capture the on Sunday at Emerald Downs, beating 2-1 wagering favorite Awesome Gem by three-quarters of a length. Teide was a nose back in third, a half-length ahead of 2008 Mile winner Wasserman in the field of 12.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Magical Fantasy won her third straight graded stakes race, and became only the fourth filly in 40 years to capture both the Del Mar Oaks and the John Mabee Stakes, with an emphatic victory on Sunday in the Grade 1 Mabee at Del Mar.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Anne's Purse, the public's second choice behind the heavily favored Bent Attorney, came up with a mild upset to win the five-furlong $125,000 Rainbow Connection Stakes on a humid Sunday afternoon at the Fort.
The turf course, listed as good, may have been deeper than thought, as winning rider Gerry Olguin noted that his 4-year-old filly took a while to get the ground under her feet. On the rail into the stretch, Olguin angled her out and near the furlong pole, surged to the lead, and was going away at the wire. Anne's Purse paid $6.80 to win.
Native Ruler, the pride and joy of leading owner Maggi Moss's locally based string, made a sparkling return to form when convincingly edging clear from the 9-year-old veteran Coach Jimi Lee to take Saturday evening's $75,000 Prairie Meadows Sprint. The winning margin was three lengths, and Native Ruler, who carried high weight of 124 pounds, ran the six furlongs in a spritely 1:08.26.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Earl Barnett sent out the first two finishers in the $126,200 Victoriana Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine, San Nicola Whiskey and You Will Love Me, just 25 minutes after he won the Rainbow Connection Stakes at Fort Erie with Anne's Purse.
San Nicola Whiskey ($22.90) rallied wide from last to prevail by three-quarters of a length over You Will Love Me, who captured last year's running of the 1 1/16-mile turf race for Ontario-sired females. Authenicat, the 4-5 favorite, finished another head back in third, a neck in front of Krz Exec.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Banrock needed every ounce of his class and every inch of the stretch of Saratoga's inner turf course to win Sunday's by a head over Pennington. It was two lengths back to Extra Zip in third.
The victory enabled Banrock to become just the second horse to record back-to-back victories in this turf stakes for New York-breds that has been run for 30 years. Excellent Tipper repeated in 1994-95. Fourstardave was a two-time winner as well, taking this race in 1989 and 1991.