OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Entering the Aqueduct starting gate, I Want Revenge was supposed to win Saturday's Grade 1 Wood Memorial. Two seconds after leaving the gate, he was supposed to have no chance.
But in a performance that could vault him to favoritism for the May 2 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, I Want Revenge overcame his brutal beginning to win the $750,000 Wood by 1 1/2 lengths over West Side Bernie. It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Just a Coincidence in third.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he believed Seventh Street was a Grade 1 kind of filly earlier this week, and she proved it in her first attempt on Saturday, going wire to wire for a 5 3/4- length win in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. Superior Storm finished second, 5 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher and 2-5 favorite Acoma.
The Apple Blossom opened Oaklawn's annual Racing Festival of the South, when nine stakes worth $2.8 million are run over the final week of the meet that closes April 11.
STICKNEY, Ill. - Had Musket Man not finished first or second in the Illinois Derby on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course, his passage was booked for a return to sleepy Tampa Bay Downs. But come Sunday morning at 7, Musket Man will be on his way to Churchill Downs - next stop, Kentucky Derby.
"I suppose we have to go now," trainer Derek Ryan said, tongue in cheek.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The coast is clear. Between the scratch of The Pamplemousse on Saturday morning, and a fourth straight victory by Pioneerof the Nile later in the day in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, Pioneerof the Nile has emerged as the West Coast's top contender for the May 2 Kentucky Derby.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Once a highly rated Kentucky Derby prospect, Capt. Candyman Can's new goal is to become the top 3-year-old sprinter in the country. He kicked off that campaign in style Saturday at Aqueduct, coming from just off the pace to record a 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore Stakes.
Taqarub finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Yano, who set the early pace. They were followed in the order of finish by Hatfield, Not for Silver, Rocketing Returns, King Puma, Lyin Heart, and Counter Move.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A California shipper proved victorious Saturday in the 72nd running of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. But instead of the reigning divisional champion, Stardom Bound, being led to the infield winner's circle afterward, it was Hooh Why who proved best at a $50 mutuel.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Acting Lady, who lost her first four starts in stakes, won the $150,000 Providencia Stakes in an upset on Saturday.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Acting Lady ($43.60) outdueled Italian stakes winner Mrs Kipling in the final sixteenth to win the one-mile turf race by a half-length. Pasar Silbano, the early pacesetter, held third in a field of 11 3-year-old fillies. Rosy Mantle, the 2-1 favorite, finished fifth, 3 1/4 lengths behind Acting Lady.
Jockey Tim Doocy became the 24th rider in history to win 5,000 races on Saturday, when he guided Color Out to a 3 3/4- length win in the 11th race at Oaklawn Park. The $10,000 maiden claimer was run at a mile, and Doocy was aboard for trainer Lynn Chleborad.
"It feels good to finally get win 5,000," he said. "I've been doing this a long time and to reach 5,000 was awesome. It has been a long time coming. I want to thank everybody that has supported me, given me a chance, and been there for me."
Eddie Plesa Jr. and Lynn Scace shared the spotlight Saturday on Florida Cup day at Tampa Bay Downs, both trainers winning two stakes apiece on a card that featured six stakes races restricted to Florida-breds.
Plesa won his races back to back, the Sophomore with Bee Cee Cee and the Turf Classic with Fearless Eagle. Scace won the Sophomore Fillies with the undefeated Snow Lass before returning a couple of hours later to upset the Sprint with the 30-1 On the Vineyard. The six stakes were worth $85,000 each.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - When a trainer has won 8 of his last 27 starts, you don't expect him to describe his feelings about his stable's fortunes as "frustrating." But that is exactly how Gerald Bennett and his outfit feel these days.
Since Flyingpalm won here on March 20, the Bennett stable has been winning at better than a 30 percent clip.
