OCEANPORT, N.J. - Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird had his final breeze for the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday morning at muddy Monmouth Park.
With jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard, Summer Bird went five furlongs in 1:01.80, the second-fastest of five works at the distance.
The wet strip seemed to bother Desormeaux more than the chestnut colt.
Exotic Bloom was kept in mid-pack by jockey Dale Beckner before rallying into the stretch and wearing down Rollicking Affair to prevail by a neck in the $100,00 Windward at Presque Isle Downs Saturday evening.
Trained by Fred Seitz, Exotic Bloom dueled through the stretch to prevail in the one-mile event over the Tapeta surface. Rollicking Affair was three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Valley Loot. Exotic Bloom covered the mile in 1.37.35 and returned $13.60 to win. The exacta with second-longest shot Rollicking Affair returned a hefty $155.50.
VALLEJO, Calif. - Kalookan Dancer ($5.40), running a similar race as she did last year, scored an easy repeat victory in the $56,000 Vacaville Handicap at the Solano County Fair on Saturday.
The 6-year-old Olympio mare broke nicely, taking immediate command in her wire-to-wire victory. Last year, she trailed by a head at the first call before opening up. She once again cruised to the wire unchallenged under jockey William Antongeorgi III, defeating Testify to Love by two lengths in 1:09.75 for six furlongs. Inspiration Within won a three-way photo for third.
Test Boy came from well back to overhaul a very game Bank Emblem by a half-length in the $50,000 Don Fleming Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday.
With Rickey Walcott aboard, Test Boy was eased back to last while Bank Emblem and Zuri Mwana battled through quick fractions of 24 and 47.20 seconds. Bank Emblem won the duel but couldn't withstand the late charge from Test Boy in the final sixteenth. Zuri Mwana held on to finish third.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Global Hunter pulled a 14-1 upset in a bizarre running of the $350,000 Eddie Read Stakes on Saturday, a race marred by an incident on the first turn when Thorn Song bolted while leading.
Global Hunter, a 6-year-old Argentine-bred whose only previous win in this country was a restricted turf stakes at Santa Anita last fall, stalked Monterey Jazz to the final turn before taking the lead in early stretch.
Final Refrain had the final say in Saturday's $100,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes over a rain-soaked course, rallying from eighth to pull clear to a 2 1/4-length victory.
Under a brave ride from Victor Lebron, Final Refrain was allowed to settle in seventh place early among the field of 10 female turf runners. But once the field hit the backstretch, Lebron, keeping his mount along the inside, allowed Final Refrain to advance toward the leaders.
Lemonette, a marathoner in Britain before being imported to the U.S. in 2008, finally got a chance to play to her strength in the 1 1/2-mile, $50,000 Gaily Gaily Stakes at Arlington Park, and she didn't disappoint.
Relishing a stretch-out in distance and capitalizing on the scratches of Communique, Confined, Positively Charming, and Grassy Nellie, Lemonette proved vastly superior, winning by over two lengths over Cavan Thunder.
Becky's Exchange rallied to beat Fast Tigress by a neck in the $65,000 Desert Vixen Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Monmouth Park.
It was an impressive effort in the filly's stakes debut. Becky's Exchange ($22.40) improved to 2 for 3 since trainer Ned Allard switched her to the grass.
"The first few times we ran this filly, she didn't run that well," Allard said. "Frank Generazio, the owner, told me, 'Don't give up on this filly until you try her on the turf.' "
Wise advice, as it turned out.
The globetrotting Strike the Tiger made another successful stop on his world tour in the $50,000 Stakes for 2-year-olds on the turf at Colonial Downs.
The unbeaten colt is 3 for 3 in a career that started at Churchill Downs. The next stop was England for a successful assault on Royal Ascot, capturing the Windsor Castle Stakes at 33-1 for trainer Wesley Ward.
Back in the States, the price was only 6-5 in the Chenery but the result was the same.