ALBANY, Calif. - Indyanne, who could be the most exciting horse in Northern California, returns to the races Friday in a 5 1/2-furlong $50,000 optional claimer.
The 3-year-old filly, who has won her two career starts by a combined 16 lengths, had minor ankle surgery last year after winning the Bay Meadows Debutante on Sept.o8.
Polynesian Kitty ($9.90), rallying under Jake Olesiak, was up in time for a half-length victory in Sunday's six-furlong La Verendrye at Assiniboia Downs.
Trained by Jamie Ness, Polynesian Kitty had finished fifth in a one-mile turf allowance at Tampa Bay Downs in her only previous start this season.
Des Moines, who set all the pace as the even-money favorite, held on for second in the La Verendrye, a $50,000 race for fillies and mares. R Lucinda ran third in the field of eight.
Margo's Gift rallied along the rail to be up in the final strides in Sunday's $60,000 Pepsi-Cola Handicap for 3-year-olds, winning by a neck over the pacesetting Easy Going Cecil, with race favorite Gallon just a head farther back in third.
Margo's Gift, a son of Polish Gift from the barn of trainer Doris Harwood, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.20 under Ricky Frazier and returned $6.40 to win as the second choice in a field of seven. He earned $32,450 for owner Ken Alhadeff's Elttaes Stable, bringing his career earnings to $283,664 from 6 wins in 9 starts.
Ravalo, under jockey Mike Luzzi, set a new track record at Presque Isle Downs while winning the $100.000 Karl Boyes Memorial. Ravalo led every step of the way and drew clear entering the stretch to win by two lengths over Pete's Wonder in the 5 1/2-furlong event.
Trained by Donald Barr, Ravalo dueled early with Pete's Wonder, repelled his bid on the turn, and was kept to task through the stretch.
ELMONT, N.Y. - You may not be able to teach an old horse new tricks, but you can at least give one a refresher course. In an attempt to get the 10-year-old Evening Attire to break better, trainer Pat Kelly worked him a half-mile out of the gate over the weekend.
Not Bourbon ($9.90) won Sunday's $150,800 Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine. Harlem Rocker, the 1-5 favorite, could only manage fourth in the nine-furlong prep for the June 22 Queen's Plate.
In his first start around two turns, Not Bourbon stalked the pace under Jono Jones as Pewter set soft fractions of 24.18 seconds and 48.67. Sebastian's Song made an early move on the far turn to take control until the top of the stretch, where he was joined on the lead by Not Bourbon.
All Is Vanity displayed a new dimension in winning the $78,000 Beautiful Pleasure Stakes by a nose over Paris Winds at Belmont Park.
Racing on the front end in her last eight starts, All Is Vanity sat third through the early stages of the Beautiful Pleasure. Under Alan Garcia, All Is Vanity swung three wide turning for home, made the lead in upper stretch, and then held off a rallying Paris Winds to get the victory. It was All Is Vanity's second win from three North American starts.
Big Booster won his second consecutive marathon stakes in Sunday's $104,900 Gallant Man Handicap at Hollywood Park, closing five lengths in the final three furlongs of the race over 1 5/8 miles.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano had Big Booster at the back of the field for the first 1 1/4 miles and guided the 7-year-old gelding wide through the stretch to run past his three rivals. Big Booster ($3) was timed in 2:44.48 and won by two lengths.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sunday's Plate Trial was a true trial for Not Bourbon, whose ability to handle the 1 1/8-mile distance was the subject of much speculation.
"The Trial had to tell me something," said Roger Attfield, who trains Not Bourbon and had elected to bypass the 1 1/16-mile Marine here May 17 after Not Bourbon romped in the seven-furlong Queenston two weeks earlier. "He'd never been two turns and a big effort in the Marine, plus a big effort in the Trial, would have been too much to get to the Plate."