Our Dancing Babe emerged from a strung-out field and went on to wear down front-running Bavarian Belle in the final sixteenth-mile to capture her stakes debut in the $50,000 Valdale Stakes at Turfway Park.
Ridden by apprentice Alonso Quinonez, Our Dancing Babe ($16.20) won for the third time in four starts since owner David Ross moved the Belong to Me filly from Maryland to Kentucky, where she has made every start on the Polytrack at Turfway. She finished one mile in 1:38.98.
There were no surprises as Somethinaboutlaura ($2.40) galloped to a 4 1/4-length victory in the $60,125 Foster City Handicap at Bay Meadows.
"It was pretty much a foregone conclusion if she came at all," winning jockey Russell Baze said.
Somethinaboutlaura, who had lost her past two starts, came with her "A" game. She and Gins Majesty ran one-two the whole way, and Somethinaboutlaura won in 1:34.93.
It took Somethinaboutlaura a few strides to get going, but she made the front and rated easily for Baze.
The lack of speed in the Maryland Racing Media Handicap didn't bother Lexi Star at all. Instead of sitting off the pace, the 5-year-old Lexi Star simply went for the lead.
Allowed to loaf through soft fractions of 49.15 seconds for the first half-mile and 1:13.62 for six furlongs, Lexi Star ($4.80) was uncatchable and coasted to a 6 1/4-length victory in the $86,400 feature at Laurel Park.
Trainer Chris Grove said he figured it would be better if jockey Ryan Fogelsonger put Lexi Star on the lead rather than allow another horse to set a tepid pace.
J'ray cruised to an easy victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Bayou Breeders' Cup Handicap at Fair Grounds.
Ridden with confidence by Robby Albarado, J'ray sat in fourth position behind pacesetter Candy Ball, who crawled through a 50.35-second half-mile with Cat Alert pressing her on the outside.
"She got in a great spot," said Albarado. "She was able to relax in a good position. When I called on her, she overpowered the speed."
Brent Reitz has been named the new general manager of Thistledown. Reitz, 45, has served as the track's assistant general manager since William J. Murphy, Thistledown's former GM, was named the vice president and general manager of Gulfstream Park last July.
Murphy, who was named president of Gulfstream in January, had been overseeing the operations of both facilities. Gulfstream and Thistledown are owned by Magna Entertainment.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Lava Man, the leading older horse in California, has been assigned 124 pounds for Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, a race he won in 2006.
An 11-time stakes winner, Lava Man will spot his probable rivals from seven to 10 pounds in the Grade 1 race over 1 1/4 miles.
"I think he's a deserving highweight," trainer Doug O'Neill said. "Now, he needs to run to it. The pressure is on, but he seems to rise to it. Hopefully, he can do that Saturday."
Russell Baze continued his hot streak by winning with six of his seven mounts at Bay Meadows on Friday.
Baze finished third aboard My Lacie Cat in the first race, then reeled off victories aboard Valid Star ($6) in the second, favored Ploesti Flight ($3.80) in the third, Apollo Gal ($5.40) in the fifth, Senator Matty ($6.80) in the sixth, favored Stage Fever ($3) in the seventh, and favored Handsome Lover ($3.60) in the eighth.
Baze, who won three of seven races Thursday, has now won 20 races from 48 mounts at the current Bay Meadows meet.
NEW ORLEANS - Trainer Al Stall Jr. sent out Total for a half-mile breeze in 50 seconds Saturday morning in preparation for her next assignment, the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 10.
"I talked with Jesse [Campbell] about going in 50 and she hit it right on the head," said Stall. "She's just push-button, she does everything easy. We're going to try the same thing next weekend, maybe a tick or two faster."
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Despite breaking through the gate prior to the start, Hotstufanthensome unleashed a strong run down the middle of the course in the stretch and came away with a half-length victory over a fast-closing Classic Campaign in Saturday's $150,000 Tampa Bay Breeders' Cup before 5,256 fans.
Under a well-judged ride by Rajiv Maragh, who won two races on the program, Hotstufanthensome covered 1 1/16 miles over a firm turf course in 1:41.24 to post his 10th win, and ninth on the turf.