HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Tommy Albertrani completed a sweep of the weekend turf stakes at Gulfstream Park, sending out Gozzip Girl to a 2 1/4-length victory over Oilgonewile in Sunday's $125,000 Coconut Grove for 3-year-old fillies. Albertrani won the open division of the same race, the $125,000 Hallandale Beach, the previous afternoon with Duke of Homberg.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Rachel Alexandra enhanced her reputation as one of the nation's top 3-year-old fillies on Sunday, when she waltzed home by eight lengths in the $50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park. It was her first start since a powerful win in the Grade 2 Golden Rod last November at Churchill Downs, and she covered the one mile in a meet-best time of 1:36.40.
ARCADIA, Calif. - As Life Is Sweet ran down the stretch of Sunday's $200,000 La Canada Stakes, her chances seemed dim to jockey Garrett Gomez. Then, she displayed her brilliance.
Life Is Sweet rallied from last into a slow pace to win the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Magical Fantasy.
The rally stunned, and delighted, Gomez.
"I knew she could lengthen her stride and quicken, but I didn't know if she could lengthen her stride and catch them," he said. "It takes a tremendous filly to do that with the fractions they set."
Valid Stripes continued his strong meet at Retama Park when he tracked the pace en route to a 2 1/2-length win in Saturday night's $125,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile. It was his second stakes win during the current winter season, his first coming in the $50,000 Groovy in December.
Not for Silver stepped up in class and stepped up his game with a very professional-looking 1 1/4-length victory in Sunday's $69,850 Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.
The victory was Not for Silver's third from as many starts and showed that he might be more than just capable of beating up on Maryland-based horses.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Any Limit avenged her recent setback at the hands of Game Face in the First Lady Handicap when she outgamed that rival through the stretch en route to a 1 1/4-length tally in Sunday's $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The victory was the second in the Hurricane Bertie for Any Limit, who also won the Grade 3 event in 2007.
Stalking the early pace under confident handling by Luis Contreras, Stealth Cat kicked clear in the late going to capture Saturday's $50,000 Santa Teresa Handicap at Sunland Park. R Charlie's Angel finished 2 1/2 lengths back in second, followed by Petition the Lady. Highweight Goodbye Norma Jean got caught up in a spirited pace duel early and tired to report home seventh in the 6 1/2-furlong headliner for fillies and mares.
ALBANY, Calif. - Chocolate Candy, asked to move earlier than normal, dug in when challenged late to capture the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
Aquicksting took command of the 1 1/8-mile race early, opening a four-length lead after the opening quarter. He maintained his advantage to the half-mile pole, but Chocolate Candy, the 1-2 favorite, and second-choice Axel Foley put him away approaching the quarter pole.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Last summer, Michael Moreno bought Santa Teresita privately at a time when the filly was only the winner of a restricted stakes at Santa Anita.
"We bought her for $25," trainer Eric Guillot said on Saturday.
Guillot was in a position to crack silly jokes. He was standing in the winner's circle after the $300,000 Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita, moments after Santa Teresita's biggest win.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Losses by six favorites in Saturday's pick six has led to a carryover of $145,478 on Sunday.
The pick six covers the fourth through ninth races on a nine-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m.
All of Sunday's pick six races have at least eight entrants. Five of the six races are scheduled for the main track, including three races over 5 1/2 furlongs. There is a claiming race for sprinters on the hillside turf course and the $200,000 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies over 1 1/8 miles on the main track.