A scorching pace, a susceptible rival, and a perfect trip combined to give After Market his most prestigious win in Saturday's $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park.
After Market ($6.80) ran down the 4-5 favorite, Lava Man, in the final furlong to win the Grade 1 Whittingham by 1 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Alex Solis, After Market ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in a quick 1:58.77. Obrigado closed from last to finish third in the field of eight.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Everything went as planned for After Market in Saturday's $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park, for a change. Everything was going dandy for Lava Man, until After Market pulled alongside of him in the stretch.
The pair were separated by 1 1/2 lengths at the finish of the Grade 1 Whittingham at 1 1/4 miles on turf, but both camps were able to claim victory.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Einstein has dropped out with a minor injury while Master Command has been named the 123-pound highweight for the $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap, the Grade 1 race that on Saturday will anchor the second-richest day of the Churchill Downs spring meet.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It was business as usual for trainer Mark Casse on Monday morning, as he watched the main-track workouts from his regular spot in the Woodbine grandstand.
"I still don't know that it's sunk in," said Casse, who sent out Sealy Hill to win Sunday's $502,000 Woodbine Oaks and accounted for the one-two finishers in both the $125,800 Victoria Park and the $103,600 Alywow. "I was so tired last night. I haven't even watched the replays yet."
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Redaspen usually flies under the parimutuel radar screen - and that's just fine with trainer Tim Woolley.
The 5-year-old mare sprung a 7-1 surprise last time out on the turf in Monmouth's Politely Stakes on May 27.
"She never gets a lot of respect when she runs," Woolley said. "That's fine with us. That way, we've made a good bit of money at the windows with her. When you run against the likes of Todd Pletcher, Michael Matz, and Graham Motion, Tim Woolley is going to be way down the list on the pecking order."
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mark Casse and jockey Patick Husbands combined for a career day Sunday at Woodbine, capturing all three stakes on the card, most notably the $502,000 Woodbine Oaks with Sealy Hill.
Street Sounds, 6-5 favorite in the Oaks under Ramon Dominguez, set brisk fractions of 23.42 seconds, 46.89 and 1:11.09 while being pressed by Saskawea. Sealy Hill rated kindly in fourth, about six lengths off the lead, and began to make up ground heading into the far turn, as the leaders began to tire.
Horse for the course Donald's Pride ($3.60), 11 for 25 lifetime at Charles Town but 0 for 11 everywhere else, returned home after three failures out of town to score a half-length victory over Raggedy Andy in the $50,900 Cortan Stakes.
A 7-year-old ridden by Anthony Mawing for trainer Patty Burns, Donalds Pride ran seven furlongs in 1:26.32.
The two horses who figured to vie for favoritism, Confucius Say and Forest Park, were both scratched.
Bernie Blue ($5.80), unable to beat star sprinters Coach Jimi Lee and Fabulous Strike in his previous two starts, made a rare appearance in a route and flourished, leading throughout the mile-and-70-yard Slipton Fell Handicap on Saturday night at Mountaineer Race Track.
A 5-year-old gelding ridden by Deshawn Parker for trainer Miguel Feliciano, Bernie Blue ended a five-racing losing streak in the $75,000 Slipton Fell, finishing 1 ¾ lengths ahead of M B Sea while covering the distance in 1:42.52.