SHAKOPEE, Minn. - With over 12,000 fans on hand to watch Friday night's special holiday card, those closest to the proceedings trackside were treated to some early fireworks when jockey Derek Bell was unseated and Big Push was disqualified following his narrow victory in the $50,000 Dean Kutz Stakes at Canterbury.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Excessive Passion won the first 2-year-old race of the year in Northern California on March 28. He returned Saturday to score an easy victory in the $60,000 Everett Nevin Stakes at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.
Excessive Passion jumped to a quick lead and pulled away in the stretch, beating Erin's Cajun by 3 1/4 lengths while winning the 51/2-furlong stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds in 1:03.90. He paid $5.
Sweet Tigger, runner-up in the Lost in the Fog at Golden Gate Fields on June 13, was third another 31/4 lengths back.
Dance to the Star passed the distance test at Arapahoe Park on Saturday, when he made his two-turn debut a winning one in the $33,395 Colorado Thoroughbred Breeders Association Derby. He closed for a one-length win in the mile and a sixteenth race for Colorado-breds, with Homerun King finishing second. It was another two lengths back in third to Major Billy.
Dance to the Star ($6.20), who last year won the CTBA Futurity, covered the distance on a track rated good in 1:46.99. Adrian Ramos was aboard for Francis Heckendorf Jr. and trainer Kenneth Gleason.
Bernie Blue's gas tank hasn't hit empty yet.
Winless in his last seven starts dating back to December, the 7-year-old Bernie Blue reaffirmed his fondness for the main track at Mountaineer Racetrack when he cruised to a four-length victory in Saturday's $75,000 Dale Baird Memorial Stakes.
Who's Big Daddy ($8.20) made all the running under Gerry Olguin to capture the $150,800 Clarendon Stakes at Woodbine.
Who's Big Daddy broke on top before setting fractions of 22.32 and 45.92 seconds in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for 2-year-olds. He maintained a clear lead through most of the stretch, and held on to score by three-quarters of a length over Takiddim, in a time of 1:04.82.
Doctor Jack rallied wide for third, and favored Mobthewarrior finished fifth in the seven-horse field of Ontario-breds. Southern Pride was scratched.
Sweetnorthernsaint became the second Kentucky Derby participant to win the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes when he coasted to a four-length victory in Saturday's $50,000 co-feature.
Ridden by John Davila Jr., the 6-year-old Sweetnorthernsaint ($5.10) was allowed to lope alone on the lead through modest fractions of 25.37 seconds, 50.66, and 1:14.96. After such a slow pace, he had plenty of energy left in the stretch to complete the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:52.07, winning for the first time since last August at Calder.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - It was as easy as it looked on paper. Informed Decision, a 1-5 favorite, went straight to the lead and never was headed, kicking away from pace-pressing Authenicat to win the
by 4 3/4 lengths.
Informed Decision typically stalks or closes - but mainly, she just wins. The easy victory Saturday made it five straight wins for owner George Strawbridge's vastly talented 4-year-old filly. Informed Decision, a daughter of Monarchos, also is 4 for 4 on synthetic tracks now, and 5 for 5 in races run over seven furlongs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dark, rainy days in Kentucky aren't necessarily gloomy ones for Lee Einsidler. Not at all. "I love them," said Einsidler.
Einsidler is the owner of Mr. Sidney, who enjoyed a virtual replay of his victory in the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in April, storming to a decisive score Saturday in the 19th running of the at Churchill Downs. Ridden again by Kent Desormeaux, Mr. Sidney rallied from off the pace to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths over Inca King in a field of seven older turf horses.