ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - There must be a ceiling to Gio Ponti's ability somewhere up there. But after his scintillating 1 1/4-length victory in the on Saturday at Arlington Park, it's hard say just where that ceiling sits.
"There's no telling how good he is," jockey Ramon Dominguez said.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Zensational did as expected in Saturday's $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, easily defeating four overmatched rivals in the Grade 1 race over six furlongs.
The victory was the second consecutive win in a Grade 1 sprint for Zensational, who won his stakes debut in the Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 5.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Zensational ($2.80) took the lead shortly after the start, set a moderate pace of 22.02 and 44.50 seconds while leading by 1 1/2 lengths and was never seriously challenged in the stretch.
MIAMI - The Florida Stallion Stakes is all about helping the state's breeding industry and giving eligible 2-year-olds an opportunity to run for some substantial purse money if good enough. That made the results of the opening legs of the series all the more satisfying for state breeders when a couple of homebreds, Jackson Bend and Sweetlalabye, came out on top in the Saturday at Calder.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - There would be no fairytale ending for Commentator in his bid to win a third Whitney Handicap.
Bullsbay, at 18-1 the longest shot in the field of six, took the lead from Commentator in upper stretch, opened up a clear advantage at the eighth pole, then held the late-running Macho Again at bay late to win the by 1 1/2 lengths before 39,568 at Saratoga on Saturday. Macho Again was second by 1 1/2 lengths over Commentator, who ran third. He was followed in the order of finish by Tizway, Dry Martini and Smooth Air, the 2-1 favorite.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Defending champion Wild Promises ($2.20) had little more than a public workout as she captured the $53,000 Luther Burbank Handicap by eight lengths over entrymate Victorina at the Sonoma County Fair on Saturday.
With only four fillies and mares racing after the scratches of Pams Pompallier and Princess Hiawatha, there was only win wagering in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Dynaforce had been something of a disappointment since running off to win the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational last fall. But the 6-year-old mare did plenty to erase those wistful memories Saturday when getting a textbook stalking trip under Kent Desormeaux and going on to victory in the 20th running of the at Arlington Park.
Unbridled Flirty was last early but came running in the stretch and prevailed by a neck in the $50,000 Vivacious Handicap at River Downs.
Trained by Bill Martin, Unbridled Flirty made a huge run in the stretch under Pablo Tolentino to just overtake favorite Mini Mom near the wire. Pacesetter Indian Ink was 1 3/4 lengths back in third.
It was just the third win in 23 starts for the 6-year-old Grindstone mare. Unbridled Flirty returned $17.20 to win and ran the 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:43.00.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jockey Richard Migliore's summer changed in a Flashing.
Migliore, who had 1 win from only 6 mounts at this meet entering Saturday's 10th day of racing, guided Flashing past the pace-setting Heart Ashley inside the sixteenth pole and they went on to a 1 1/2-length victory in the at Saratoga. It was Migliore's first Grade 1 win at Saratoga since he won the 2003 Ballerina with Harmony Lodge.
Carem Crescent ($3.50) extended her unbeaten record to three races with a workmanlike victory in the $182,700 Duchess Stakes at Woodbine.
Carem Crescent stalked the leaders on the backstretch in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies. She assumed command from Juliet's Spirit early in the stretch and got home on top by 1 3/4 lengths in 1:22.50.
Closing Speed finished second at 17-1, and Cosmic Queen rallied for third in the eight-horse field.
Eurico Da Silva rode Carem Crescent for Melnyk Racing Stable and trainer Malcolm Pierce.
Hidden Expression pulled off the upset in the $65,000 Colleen Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Monmouth Park.
Sitting off the duel between Truth and Justice and 9-10 favorite Aegean, Hidden Expression ranged into contention with a three wide surge and pulled away to a three-length win.
"We got a nice trip in behind the two horses that were dueling for the early lead," jockey Eddie Castro said. "They went pretty quick up front for us, and when I called on her she caught up to them pretty easily. She's a very nice filly."
