Jilly Bean Queen gave jockey Travis Wales his fourth win on the nine-race Arapahoe Park card on Sunday when she led throughout for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $23,100 Ruffian Stakes. The race was her first start since September.
Masters Crownjewel rallied for second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Notimetobemad.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Zenyatta will be pointed for the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 9, trainer John Shirreffs said on Sunday. After that, it is difficult to predict when the undefeated champion older female of 2008 will start.
The options range from stakes in California and New York, a start against the brilliant 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra on a conventional dirt track, probably in New York, or a stay-at-home campaign on synthetic tracks that includes a start in the Breeders' Cup Classic against males at Santa Anita on Nov. 7.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The at Hollywood Park is becoming Black Mamba's annual career saver.
Last year, Black Mamba won her first stakes in the United States and ended a seven-race losing streak in the Beverly Hills. In Sunday's $147,000 running, Black Mamba ended a five-race losing streak and scored her first stakes win since August.
Porte Bonheur passed her seven-furlong test Sunday at Belmont Park using a determined rally under Ramon Dominguez to nip a stubborn Spirtely by a nose to win the .
It was another half-length back to Turn Away, who was followed in the order of finish by Iron Butterfly, Sunday Geisha, and Carolyn's Cat.
STOCKTON, Calif. - Favored Kaweah Princess ($5.60) got a perfect stalking trip and held on gamely, outlasting Congo Kaye by a neck to win the $59,000 Sweepida Invitational Stakes at the San Joaquin County Fair on Saturday.
Kaweah Princess, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, scored her third straight victory since running second in her career debut as she won her stakes debut in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - A change in surfaces proved of no consequence to Mizzcan'tbewrong, who won with some authority when taking the $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Mile at Canterbury Park on Saturday.
Overnight rain forced Canterbury Park management to transfer the mile from the soggy turf course to a drying-out track that was listed good throughout the day. As a result, four of the field's 12 entrants were scratched. Mizzcan'tbewrong, who figured to be the wagering favorite on either surface, was sent postward as the even-money choice.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Locally based longshot Ez Dreamer broke sharply and turned Saturday evening's $125,000 Iowa Sprint Handicap into a procession. Unchallenged at any stage under jockey Glenn Corbett's confident handling, the Kory Owens trainee was well within himself setting honest fractions of 21.80 seconds and 44.15 in the six-furlong sprint. He maintained his advantage thereafter when winning by 3 1/4 lengths.
Jonesboro's 7-year-old surge has not subsided. In the 40th start of his career, Jonesboro ran as well as he ever has, and won for the first time in six tries at 1 1/8 miles, capturing the by 1 3/4 lengths over pacesetting Shadowbdancing.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Zenyatta's five opponents tried to keep up with her in Saturday's at Hollywood Park. In the end, it was in vain. The final result was the same as Zenyatta's 10 previous races.
Zenyatta stalked the pace, cruised past her rivals in the stretch, and won easily. The champion older female of 2008, Zenyatta carried a career-high assignment of 129 pounds and won the Grade 1 Vanity by 2 1/4 lengths for her ninth stakes win.
The margin of victory was a surprise to winning jockey Mike Smith.
ELMONT, N.Y. - As trainer Steve Asmussen walked into the Belmont Park saddling area, several yards behind his filly Rachel Alexandra, a young boy shouted to him, "Mr. Asmussen, 30 lengths."
With a raised eyebrow, Asmussen, who kept on walking, said to no one in particular, "I'll take three-quarters."
Well, it wasn't 30 lengths, but it could have been.
