INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two Step Salsa made even-money look like an overlay Sunday at Hollywood Park, scoring a powerful victory in the Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds that was his first start around two turns.
Ridden by Martin Pedroza, Two Step Salsa ($4) set strong fractions of 46.61 seconds and 1:11.13. then drew off by 3 1/4 lengths in a rapid 1:41.57. Only three races this meet at 1 1/16 miles have been run faster, including Grade 2's by Surf Cat and Zenyatta.
ELMONT, N.Y. - First Defence made a successful turf debut Sunday, setting all the early fractions under Javier Castellano and holding on for a head victory over Salute the Count in the Grade 3, $163,300 Jaipur Breeders' Cup Stakes at Belmont Park. It was one-half length back to Mohegan Sky in third.
The top three finishers in last Saturday's Oakland Handicap at Golden Gate Fields were predictable, and the race's results solidified their future plans.
Bonfante, the winner, will now be pointed to the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder's Summit of Speed on July 12. Runner-up Black Seventeen will aim for the Grade 2 Vanderbilt at Saratoga on July 26. And the third-place finisher, Vicarino, will be pointed to Northern California stakes.
CALGARY, Alberta - Arkhill benefited from a perfectly judged ride from Rickey Walcott to capture Saturday's $125,000 Alberta Derby, the highlight of the Stampede Park meeting.
Walcott positioned Arkhill just off the pace in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile Alberta Derby and moved between horses in the run down the backstretch to engage the pacesetting Little Davey.
"My horse was really keen to go on with it, and we got through without having to check," Walcott said. "It was a dream trip."
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Horseplayers savvy enough to hit the late daily double Saturday at Churchill Downs were rewarded - if that is the right word - with a $4.40 payoff. Ouch. Curlin coming back to Dreaming of Anna might have been one of the chalkiest multi-race wagers in recent parimutuel history, but there was more to this double than money alone.
Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year and presently the best racehorse on the planet, is in a class by himself, but Dreaming of Anna has a right to stand on the same stage.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - There is a major Stronach shuffle heading into the Queen's Plate as Harlem Rocker, initially the stable's leading candidate, is out of the race, and Ginger Brew, winner of the June 8 Woodbine Oaks, could be in.
Harlem Rocker, who came into the June 1 Plate Trial with three wins in as many starts, including Aqueduct's Grade 3 Withers, bombed there as the 1-5 favorite.
Hystericalady loomed a class standout on paper in Saturday's Grade 2, $321,900 Fleur De Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. And her dominance extended on the racetrack, as well.
Under confident handling from jockey Garrett Gomez, Hystericalady easily won the Fleur De Lis, scoring by 7 1/2 lengths over Initforthekandy after being geared down in the final sixteenth of a mile.
Acts Like a King, under jockey Nathan Solomon, sat just off the pace and rallied into the stretch to draw off to a six-length win in the $50,000 Sydney Gendleman at River Downs on Saturday.
Originally carded for the turf, the Gendleman was switched to the main track because of rain in the preceding days.
The field was reduced to seven by the scratches of Tom Archdeacon and Petrel.
Trained by Kris Nemann, Acts Like a King ($14) had a prefect trip in his first out this year, completing 1 1/16 miles over a track rated good in 1:45.00.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Gold Coyote relished the return to sprinting on Saturday, when he powered to a 4 1/2-length win over Aggies Rule in the $50,000 Carter McGregor Jr. Memorial Stakes at Lone Star Park. It was another three lengths back in third to pacesetter Snuck By.
Gold Coyote ($3.80) was cutting back from 1 1/16 miles to six furlongs for the Carter McGregor. He was bumped at the start but settled in along the rail, sitting just off Snuck By through an opening quarter in 22.25 seconds.