Co Sassy got the benefit of a ground-saving trip through the final turn, then held off a late run by 4-5 favorite Deputy's Whirl to capture the $10,900 Inaugural Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length at Columbus.
Co Sassy ($13.80), ridden by Jesus Ponce for trainer Jimmy Compton, covered the six furlongs in 1:13.40 over a fast track while earning her third win this year.
Capitano hadn't raced on dirt in more than three years or won over the surface in more than four years, but he had no problem when Friday night's $75,000 Ligature Stakes at Penn National Race Course was taken off the turf.
Ridden for the first time by Rosemary Homeister Jr., the 7-year-old Capitano ($5.20) rallied to defeat 4-5 favorite Delaware River by three-quarters of a length in the 1 1/16-mile stakes restricted to Pennsylvania-breds.
Stretching out from seven furlongs to 1 1/4 miles proved to be the solution to Olympic's eight-month slump.
Capitalizing when the $50,000 Mataji Stakes was moved from turf to the main track at Calder, the 6-year-old Olympic ($5.40) took control after the first six furlongs and cruised to a 4 1/2-length victory.
Ancient Culture outfought 4-5 favorite Imawildandcrazyguy by a head for second in a field reduced to five by five scratches when the race was taken off the turf.
Horses with proven form over the Colonial Downs turf course outshined out-of-town favorites to sweep the co-featured $60,000 stakes for 2-year-olds.
Captain Bry ($8.80), who crushed maiden special weight rivals three weeks earlier, rallied for a one-length victory over Mr. Keeper in the Chenery. Ridden by Craig Gibbs for owner/trainer/breeder Bryan Baker, Captain Bry completed 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:04.77.
Kentucky Stormin, a 20-1 shot who had his head in front with a furlong remaining, weakened to finish third.
Northern Kraze, with Chantal Sutherland aboard, wore down a game Roses 'n' Wine in deep stretch to capture the $252,800 Wonder Where Stakes, the final leg of the Canadian triple tiara at Woodbine.
Roses 'n' Wine set tepid fractions of 25.38 seconds, 50.23, and 1:15.49 in the 1 1/4-mile race, which was contested over a rain-softened turf course labeled yielding. Northern Kraze ($17.20) raced in fourth early on the backstretch, before moving into second approaching the far turn.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Shopton Lane shot right to the front and was never headed, rolling to a 2 1/2-length win in the $70,000 Skip Away Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
The expected speed duel between Shopton Lane ($7.80) and Gottcha Gold never materialized. Stewart Elliott opted for a stalking trip with Gottcha Gold, sitting second with the even-money favorite while Shopton Lane carved out the fractions in the 1 1/16-mile race.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - That was brutal!
Trainer Bobby Frankel wasn't referring to the sudden showers and bolts of lightning that hovered over the track as the field left the starting gate for Saturday's $250,000 Go for Wand Handicap at Saratoga. He was talking about the nightmarish trip his Ginger Punch endured before asserting her class and superiority to post a nerve-wracking 1 1/4-length victory over Copper State in the Grade 1 Go for Wand.
The Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Handicap on Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park - the next target for Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown - will be televised live on ESPN Classic and ESPN News as well as TVG, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced.
DEL MAR, Calif. - There are two carryovers at Del Mar on Saturday - a massive pick six carryover of $540,093 and a $43,634 carryover in the Super High Five.
The $2 pick six covers the fifth through 10th races on a program that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific. The $1 Super High Five, which requires bettors to correctly select the first five finishers of the last race, will be run at approximately 6:35.
There are few scratches in the pick six. In the eighth race, Instant Action and Street Lights have been withdrawn from an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs.