LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Signaling her race-readiness, Rachel Alexandra worked a sharp six furlongs in 1:12 early Monday morning over a fast Churchill Downs racetrack.
Working under the temporary lighting system in place for three upcoming nighttime programs at Churchill, Rachel Alexandra went in splits of 12.40 seconds, 24.40, 36.40, 48.40, and 1:00 before galloping out seven furlongs around the clubhouse turn in a strong 1:24.80. Regular exercise rider Dominic Terry was aboard.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The elation of victory and the exasperation of defeat resulted from markedly different journeys around the Churchill Downs racetrack Saturday when Macho Again, always clear of trouble, won the while heavily favored Einstein had a brutal trip.
Macho Again gave jockey Robby Albarado his third straight victory in the $660,000 Foster Cap by rallying from last in a field of eight to prevail by a length over Asiatic Boy. Einstein finished a nose back in third and a neck ahead of a dead heat for fourth between Arson Squad and Bullsbay.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A string of longshots at Hollywood Park on Sunday has led to a carryover of $125,415 for Thursday's program, the next day of live racing.
Hollywood Park's pick six covers the third through eighth races on a program that begins at 1 p.m. The pick six sequence includes four races on the main track and two turf races.
Derby Cat jumped out to the lead and never relinquished her advantage for a length and a quarter win over Creek Woman in Sunday's $22,975 Molly Brown Stakes at Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colo. Vannacide closed from last for third in the six furlong race for fillies and mares.
Derby Cat ($12.60) came into the Molly Brown off a four-furlong race, and was quickly clear through an opening quarter in 21.87 seconds. She proceeded to lead through a half-mile in 44.60, then finished the six furlongs on a track rated fast in 1:10.23.
EDMONTON, Alberta - There were huge upsets in both stakes races contested at Northlands Park this weekend. Saturday, Zuri Mwana ($52) forced a quick pace and was able to withstand the late move by Codio to win the $50,000 Journal Handicap by a neck.
Trained by Amthor Gordon, Zuri Mwana dueled with Diamond Doc through quick fractions of 22.80 and 45.80 seconds and was a game winner while posting a final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1.17.20.
Hastings-based Forest Prince, who was sent off as the 8-5 favorite, had a wide trip and finished fourth.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Gotta Find Bubba came from off the pace to beat odds-on favorite Tommy Danzigger by a half-length in the $55,434 CTHS Sales Stakes for 3-year-old colts and gelding at Hastings on Sunday.
With Frank Fuentes aboard, Gotta Find Bubba trailed the field early and then made a strong late move while going four wide to get up in the final strides.
"He's got a big stride so I didn't want to get him stopped," said Fuentes. "I tried to keep him out of trouble and it worded out well."
Bob's Dylan led a one-two-three finish for trainer Michael Ferraro in Sunday's $50,000 Susan B. Anthony Handicap at Finger Lakes.
Although it's a rare feat, Ferraro had turned the trick at Finger Lakes 28 years earlier. Ferraro, the leading trainer at the western New York track 18 times during his career, also saddled the first three horses in the General Sullivan Stakes on July 4, 1981 with Fio Rito, Sea Bourne, and D J's Nitecap.
Trainer Jimmy Toner had two theories entering Sunday's at Belmont Park. First, he thought his horse, Sailor's Cap, would love the mile distance. Second, he thought if Kip Deville was ever going to be vulnerable, Sunday would be the day.
Both of Toner's theories proved correct as Sailor's Cap blew past the 3-5 favorite, Kip Deville, in upper stretch and cruised to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $103,500 Poker at Belmont. Kip Deville, in his first start since a 10th-place finish in the Dubai Duty Free in Dubai on March 28, faded to fourth in the five-horse field.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Coco Belle held off an early threat from reigning champion female sprinter Indian Blessing to score an upset win in Sunday's $72,800 Desert Stormer Handicap at Hollywood Park.
The surprise victory will result in the two females racing on opposite coasts later this summer.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Fearless Leader, the longest shot in the five-horse field at 16-1, rallied from last to beat D'wild Ride by 2 1/4 lengths Sunday in the $70,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.
Making her first start since January at Tampa Bay Downs, the 5-year-old took the lead from the pacesetting All Giving at the top of the stretch and held off a late run from D'wild Ride.
Fearless Leader ($34.40), trained by Michael Lerman and ridden by Daniel Centeno, ran the six furlongs in 1:09.03 on the good track.
