LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - LD Fire and Streakin Laquinta finished in a dead heat for first in Saturday's $1 million Ed Burke Million Futurity, the first leg of Los Alamitos's three seven-figure Quarter Horse futurities.
LD Fire ($3) and Streakin Laquinta ($7) ran 350 yards in 17.34 seconds, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Three Times the Toll in the field of 10.
ELMONT, N.Y. - It was a day of mixed results for prohibitive stakes favorites Sunday at Belmont Park, with Legal Consent grinding out a victory in the Mike Lee Stakes and Cocoa Beach finishing last in the Floral Park Heatherten Stakes.
Legal Consent, a 1-4 favorite in a field of five, struck the front with three furlongs remaining under Ramon Dominguez then held off a stretch threat from Slevin to win the $105,500 Mike Lee Stakes for 3-year-old New York-breds by a half-length. It was 3 1/2 lengths back to That's Rich. Lookin at Her and Monte Carlo completed the order of finish.
Train Rider Blues closed into a hot pace to catch the filly Glory Be Mine on the wire and win his maiden in the $159,556 Ruidoso Thoroughbred Sales Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday. He was up by a neck, while it was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to 3-5 favorite Explosive Mine.
The Ruidoso Futurity was restricted to 2-year-olds bred in New Mexico.
Train Rider Blues ($40.40) raced in seventh early, as Glory Be Mine and Explosive Mine dueled through a half-mile in 45.40 seconds. The eventual winner covered five furlongs in 59.20.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Oil Man's strength as a router could be on display nationwide this summer.
After struggling in turf stakes at a mile and 1 1/16 miles over the winter and spring, Oil Man launched his summer campaign with a victory in Sunday's at Hollywood Park.
The race distance of 1 1/8 miles on turf was key, according to trainer John Sadler.
"He wants to run a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half," Sadler said. "He'll stay forever."
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Eddie Castro tied the Monmouth Park record with six wins on the Sunday card, including a seven-length victory aboard At the Disco in the $60,000 Bernie Dowd Handicap for New Jersey breds.
Castro joined Jose Lezcano, Joe Bravo, Julie Krone, Chris Antley, and Walter Blum as the riders to boot home six on one card.
At the Disco ($10) took charge turning for home and drew off to his first win in eight starts this year. The gray 5-year-old trained by Mary Hartmann ran the one mile, 70 yards in 1:40.99 in the slop.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Eye of the Leopard ($6.70) overtook front-runner Mr. Foricos Two U in the final strides to capture the 150th running of the
$1 million Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sunday.
With Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard, Eye of the Leopard prevailed by a neck while covering the 1 1/4-mile distance on Polytrack in 2:03.84. It was the fifth Plate victory for Sam-Son Farm, and the fourth for trainer Mark Frostad.
Heart of a King led every step of the way winning the $100,000 Tall Ships at Presque Isle Downs on Saturday evening. Trained by Michael Pino, Heart of a King broke sharply in the field of six and set moderate fractions under Mario Pino. The 3-year-old son of Lion Heart drew off by 1 1/2 lengths in upper stretch and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish. Mikoshi was second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Colonel Rutledge in third. Heart of a King ran the one mile and 70 yards in 1:40.51 and returned $6.80 to win.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Conclusive shook off his challengers after a half-mile and drew off for a 4 1/4-length win in Saturday's $17,500 State Fair Derby at Lincoln State Fair.
Ridden by Jesus Ponce, Conclusive was never challenged in the final quarter-mile and held his margin under hand urging as trainer Kim Veerhusen claimed his first stakes win at the meet. Conclusive returned $4.20 as the narrow second choice in the short field of five.
Battle of Hastings got a terrific trip from just off the pace and was pushed to the limit when holding off a game Straight Story to post a head victory Saturday in the Grade 2, at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.
With Tyler Baze aboard for owner Mike House and trainer Jeff Mullins, Battle of Hastings returned $7.40 as the favorite after finishing 1 3/16 miles in 1:57.79 over a firm turf.
