ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - And just as quickly, everyone went home.
That's one of the things about Arlington Million Day - it's the rare starter in one of the local Grade 1 turf races who actually is locally based, and by the Monday after Million Day, almost all the participants have scattered to the wind.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Papi Chullo will likely make his first appearance at Monmouth Park in more than two years on Saturday in the Grade 3, $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes.
The 5-year-old's only prior effort on the Jersey Shore came in the 2005 Haskell Invitational, where he ran with the early leaders before finishing 12 1/4 lengths behind Roman Ruler.
The gray horse has changed barns several times since then and came to hand at Belmont Park this spring with a pair of impressive wins for trainer Gary Contessa that produced triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.
Margo's Gift remained unbeaten after winning the $45,000 Strong Ruler Stakes for 2-year-olds with 6o1/2 furlongs in 1:16 flat.
Under leading rider Ricky Frazier, Margo's Gift attended the pace from the outside through a half-mile in 45.20 seconds, opened a daylight lead at midstretch, and dug in to preserve a half-length victory over the fast-finishing Courageous Son. Arrow Junction finished a distant third in the field of seven.
It was the third straight win and the second stakes win for Margo's Gift ($4.20), a son of Polish Gift trained by Doris Harwood.
Stuck in Traffic had clear sailing here in the $152,000 Vandal.
Heading straight to the front under jockey David Clark, Stuck in Traffic maintained a clear lead throughout, stopping the clock in 1:10.01 in the six-furlong race on Polytrack.
"Rain seems to really tighten this track down, and speed seems to carry the wetter it gets," said Clark. "It worked out perfect for him."
Stuck in Traffic, trained by Nick Gonzalez, returned $26.20 after holding off Don's Folly, the 7-5 favorite, by 1 1/4 lengths.
Under Michael Baze, the leading rider at Del Mar, Salute the Sarge got a stalking, outside trip despite breaking from the rail in the Grade 2, $147,000 Best Pal Stakes and wore down pacesetting Georgie Boy to remain unbeaten in three starts.
Salute the Sarge won by one length, with Sky Cape another 2 3/4 lengths back in third. Mix was fourth in a field reduced to just four 2-year-olds by the scratches of Leonides and Slam Slew.
Classic Pack, winless since taking the Cab Calloway Stakes at Saratoga 53 weeks ago, rallied down the center of the Mellon Turf Course to win the $110,300 West Point Handicap by three-quarters of a length.
Red Zipper, who made the lead inside the furlong marker, finished second, a half-length ahead of Foreverness. Dave, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth.
Classic Pack ($29.60), a son of Regal Classic trained by Ramon Hernandez, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.77 over firm ground under Cornelio Velasquez.
Talkin About Love remained unbeaten in five starts this year, all at Monmouth Park, with a 1 3/4-length victory Sunday over longshot Scooter Girl in the Grade 3, $200,000 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
The New Jersey-bred Talkin About Love made a strong inside move to take the lead turning for home and record her sixth win in 10 career starts.
Stewart Elliott was aboard as Talkin About Love ($7.80) - bred, owned, and trained by Kevin Sleeter - ran the 1 1/8 miles on the fast track in 1:43.78 in her graded stakes debut.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though the $600,000 Alabama Stakes has lost its marquee horse, the Grade 1 fixture for 3-year-old fillies is still coming up a strong race.
Even without Rags to Riches, the first filly to win the Belmont Stakes in 102 years, the Alabama is expected to attract seven 3-year-old fillies who have combined to win 28 of 51 starts, including 14 stakes races. Octave and Panty Raid, both stablemates of Rags to Riches, head the field. Also expected to run are Lady Joanne, Lear's Princess, Moon Catcher, Tough Tiz's Sis, and Folk.
DEL MAR, Calif. - A large field, headed by defending race winner Lava Man, is expected to be entered Wednesday night in Sunday's Gradeo1, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar, but the final field will be in flux right up to entry time, because trainer John Shirreffs said he will wait as long as possible to decide whether to run Tiago and/or A.P. Xcellent.