ARCADIA, Calif. - Ten Meropa, imported from England last fall, won for the first time on turf in his United Staes debut in Sunday's $110,050 Baldwin Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
The 12-1 outsider in a field of eight, Ten Meropa overcame a bad start to run past seven rivals and win the Grade 3 race by 1 1/4 lengths.
ARCADIA, Calif.-The 14 runners in Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap were about halfway through their journey when trainer Jerry Hollendorfer began to think great things about Heatseeker's chances.
While Monterey Jazz was drawing off to a wide lead through a quick pace, jockey Rafael Bejarano had moved Heatseeker into fourth, and a clear position in a big field. Heatseeker ($16) rallied three wide on the final turn to reach the front passing the eighth pole, and held off a late run from Go Between to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap by three-quarters of a length.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Ever a Friend, claimed for $62,500 at Hollywood Park in December, won his graded stakes debut in Saturday's $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita.
The second-longest shot in a field of six, Ever a Friend burst clear in early stretch to win the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile by 3 3/4 lengths. Ridden by Tyler Baze, Ever a Friend ($20.60) ran a mile on firm turf in 1:33.37.
There were two winners of the $50,000 Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, after Ginger Bay and Classify hit the wire together before a crowd of 20,379. Fast Deal finished 2 3/4 lengths back in third, while the 4-5 favorite, Akronism, was another four lengths back in fourth.
Horses trained by Steve Asmussen swept both stakes run Friday night at Delta Downs, with Probation Ready closing well for a length and a quarter win the $50,000 Delta Express, and Polyhymnia getting up for a half-length win in the $50,000 Mademoiselle. The races were for older horses at five furlongs, with the Mademoiselle restricted to fillies and mares.
After swinging five wide in upper stretch, Cash's Girl found her best stride in midstretch and ran down the leaders for a neck victory in the $65,000 Wayward Lass Stakes before a crowd of 4,808.
Under Pablo Morales, Cash's Girl covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.93 for her fourth win in 10 career starts and returned $6.60 as the lukewarm choice in a field of nine.
Fresh off a smashing first-level allowance win, Gattopardo made his stakes debut a success, winning the the $55,200 Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds by 2 3/4 lengths at Laurel.
A Triple Crown-nominated son of Johannesburg, Gattopardo improved his record to 3 wins and 3 seconds in 6 starts for Germania Farms Inc. and trainer Tim Tullock.
Classy Deelites shortened strides, ducked in sharply, and in the final furlong of the Gentilly Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, generally did little right - other than win.
Saved by the wire, Classy Deelites held on to win the $60,000 Gentilly by a diminishing 1 1/4 lengths over favored Peteadoris, who could not quicken fast enough to catch the winner in a race restricted to Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A two-horse race on paper turned into a two-horse race on the track, and the horse who had the better trip prevailed. Colonel John, able to stalk the slow pace set by longshot Victory Pete, held off the late bid of an unlucky El Gato Malo to take the Grade 3, $200,000 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds on a drizzly Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita.
Absolutely Cindy, the only filly in a field of 11 3-year-olds, rallied from last to post a 19-1 upset Saturday in the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Bred and owned by her trainer, Keith Kinmon, Absolutely Cindy trailed down the backstretch of the 1o1/16-mile Polytrack race before launching a circling run that resulted in a 1 3/4-length triumph. Your Round, who had made a bold move in wresting command leaving the quarter pole, finished second as the 7-2 second choice, another 6 1/2 lengths before longshot Dixie Decision.
