SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Lookinforthesecret lived up to his 1-10 favoritism when he made all the pace and prevailed with a daylight win in the $50,000 Honor the Hero Turf Express Stakes at Canterbury Park on Memorial Day.
Jockey Daniel Centeno made his first trip to Canterbury Park to ride Lookinforthesecret for trainer Jamie Ness and guided his mount to an imposing lead in midstretch, then held by two lengths over Pimm's O'Clock. Joni's Justice rallied for third, 3 1/2 lengths farther back.
ALTOONA, Iowa - When Maya's Storm was scratched from Monday's Gray's Lake Stakes at Prairie Meadows, Sharkiowa inherited the role of favorite and was bet down to 2-5 in the field of five Iowa-bred 3-year-olds.
After dueling with R R Gold early in the six-furlong race, Sharkiowa ($2.40) put his head in front to stay nearing the quarter pole and pulled away to win by a hard-fought 1 1/4 lengths. The Gray's Lake was Sharkiowa's stakes debut and his third win in a row. Terry Thompson was aboard the winner, who timed in 1:10.10.
Spanish Mission ($9.20). claimed out of a dirt sprint for $5,000 two months ago and winless in seven previous starts on turf, upset 3-5 favorite Starvinsky by 3 1/4 lengths in Monday nights $75,000 Memorial Day Handicap at Mountaineer Racetrack.
A 6-year-old gelding, Spanish Mission has won two in a row since he was taken by trainer Scooter Davis on behalf of Scarlet Stable on March 18. Ridden by Dana Whitney, Spanish Mission covered the mile on a course rated good in 1:35.02.
AUBURN, Wash. Under a superbly timed ride from Jennifer Whitaker, Wasserman came from last in a field of 10 to nail Westsideclyde on the wire in Mondays $50,000 FSN Handicap at Emerald Downs.
Wasserman, a 6-year-old son of Cahill Road who races for trainer Howard Belvoir, got the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.20. His margin of victory over the gallant Westsideclyde, who battled for the lead throughout, was a head. It was another nose back to Chhaya Dance in a thrilling finish.
INGLEWOOD, Calif.-Daytona won the second Grade 1 stakes of his career in Monday's $310,500 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park, but the circumstances of the victory were unexpected.
Daytona has led or disputed the pace in most of his recent wins, but in the Shoemaker he stalked Ever a Friend through a modest pace of 23.88 and 46.88 seconds. Ridden by Alex Solis, Daytona ($5.40) was always within a length of Ever a Friend. Solis moved Daytona alongside Ever a Friend in early stretch and they pulled away late to win by 1 1/2 lengths, finishing in a quick 1:33.44.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas-Giant Gizmo gave jockey Garrett Gomez his second straight win in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on Monday, with a two-length victory Zanjero. It was another two lengths back in third to Stella Mark. Gomez also won the race last year with Bob and John.
The Lone Star was the co-richest race of the meet, and one of six stakes worth a cumulative $1.1 million on the annual Lone Star Million Day card. The program was the richest day of racing in Texas.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Brownie Points unleashed a powerful bid into the stretch to run down clear leader Tears I Cry and win the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board by 1 3/4 lengths over that rival at Lone Star Park. It was another half-length back to favorite Costume, who won a photo for third over Candy Ball.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin thought enough of Divine Park to run him in a Grade 1 race off a nine-month layoff. While that didn't work out last December in the Malibu at Santa Anita, McLaughlin's decision to run Divine Park in another Grade 1 just 26 days off his career-best race did.
Taking advantage of a hot pace duel between even-money favorite Commentator and First Defence, Divine Park rallied from sixth to win Monday's $600,000 Metropolitan Handicap by two lengths before 12,562 at Belmont Park.