Black Hills ran his winning streak to four races on Sunday, rallying from off the pace to capture the $100,000 San Juan Commissioners Handicap at SunRay Park. Defending San Juan champ and tepid 3-1 favorite Mr Charlypotatoes settled for second, followed by Lemon Custard.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Mine That Bird was sent through his first workout since finishing third as the favorite in the June 6 Belmont Stakes when he breezed an easy half-mile in 51 seconds Monday morning over a fast track at Churchill Downs.
Going shortly after the renovation break, and with jockey Calvin Borel keeping him several paths off the inner rail, MineThat Bird went in fractions of 12.80 seconds, 25.20, and 38.20 before galloping out five furlongs into the clubhouse turn in 1:04.40.
STOCKTON, Calif. - Carbonite ($8) broke sharply from the outside gate, then raced wide and in the clear as he powered his way to an impressive victory in the $58,000 Pink Ribbon Invitational at the San Joaquin County Fair on Sunday.
Jockey Chad Schvaneveldt was content to sit back off the leaders in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds. He moved up five wide on the turn and swung out to the six path heading for home.
LINCOLN, Neb. - Lou Lou Larue kept a family tradition alive with her 2 1/4-length win in Saturday's $20,650 State Fair Futurity at Lincoln.
Out of the mare Rancho Gal, Lou Lou Larue became her third consecutive foal to win this race and the second straight to win as a first time starter. Rancho Gal produced 2007 winner Ittakestwobaby and last year's winner Reach One More.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Girlfrienontheside squeezed through a narrow opening on the rail to beat the pacesetting Snow Lass by a neck Sunday in the $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters on the turf at Monmouth Park.
"We sat in behind the early speed and had to wait for a hole," winning rider Chuckie Lopez said. "I had no choice but to wait because I had horses on all sides. The lane opened up and she had a good kick."
The win was the second straight, and first career stakes victory, for the filly trained by Tony Dutrow.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dance for Us ($27.10) nosed out the 48-1 maiden Flashy Got Even to capture Sunday's $251,200 Bison City Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian triple tiara at Woodbine.
Dance for Us got a super ride from Chantal Sutherland, who split horses on the backstretch to loom into contention on the far turn, after trailing the field early.
Dance for Us was angled three-wide for the drive, and she poked her head in front at the eighth pole before barely holding off Flashy Got Even. She completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.59.
CINCINNATI - Gathering Dreams was kept off the early pace and came flying in the stretch to win the $55,000 Cincinnatian at River Downs on Sunday. Trained by Joe Shuman, Gathering Dreams won by five widening lengths over the River Downs turf course, going 1 1/16 miles.
Gulchrunssweet outdueled favorite Key's Band for a 1 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Sierra Blanca Handicap at Ruidoso Downs on Saturday. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to Our Choice.
Gulchrunssweet ($10.20) covered the 5 1/2 furlongs for New Mexico-breds in the slop in 1:04. Quyet Bui rode the winner for trainer Bart Hone. Gulchrunssweet races for HMA Stable and Triple J Racing.
The Sierra Blanca was the fifth career stakes win for Gulchrunssweet, who overall has won 17 races from 62 starts for earnings of $675,575.
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.