INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The field had reached the first turn of Sundays $459,250 at Hollywood Park when David Flores became aware of the potential of Romance is Diane.
The Grade 1 Starlet was the first time that Flores had ridden Romance is Diane and his early impressions of her ability were highly accurate.
"I could feel what kind of horse she was," Flores said. "You get confidence from a horse in the first part of a race."
Skirt Alert won her second straight New Mexico-bred stakes on Sunday, when she drew off to a 6 1/2-length win in the $125,000 New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap at Sunland Park. Hollywood Gone finished second, while it was another length and a quarter back in third to Alley's Lady.
Skirt Alert ($3.60) raced in sixth early, as La Mamie led the field through an opening quarter in 22.25 seconds. Skirt Alert advanced on the turn in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares, and went on to cover the distance in 1:10.59.
Bishop Court Hill broke like a shot from his far outside post and never looked back thereafter Sunday in winning the Grade 3, $110,600 at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Bishop Court Hill was posting his first victory since he also led throughout to win the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct in April. Carrying co-highweight of 117 pounds in a field of nine, he returned $9.20 to win after finishing a length ahead of Santana Springs, a 21-1 shot who rallied up the rail to take second by a head over Will He Shine, the 17-10 favorite.
Perfect Harmony overtook the leaders in the stretch and drove to a three-quarter-length win over Zarb's Gunner in the $40,000 Cocodrie at Delta Downs on Saturday night. It was another half-length back in third to favorite Magic Sunset.
The Cocodrie was one of two Louisiana-bred stakes on the card. Kimua Baby ($5.40) wired the field in the $40,000 Gardenia.
Perfect Harmony ($16.40) raced several lengths off the pace in the Cocodrie, and covered the 6 1/2 furongs, run around two turns, in 1:20.21. Kerwin Clark rode the winner for trainer Alvin Sider.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - All week long, Bill Currin had tried to get Stormello to slow down and relax in his morning exercise. But when the gates opened for the Grade 1, $441,500 on Saturday, Stormello would have none of it. He tugged jockey Kent Desormeaux to the lead, and rather than fight, Desormeaux went along for the ride.
MIAMI - Trainer Todd Pletcher didn't start walking to the winner's circle after the half-mile split was posted for Saturday's $200,000 at Calder. But he could have.
For all intents and purposes the La Prevoyante, which was switched from the turf to a sloppy main track because of two days of steady rain, was over after Pletcher's Safari Queen was allowed to coast along on the lead through fractions of 26.50 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 53.07 for the half-mile in the Grade 2 marathon for fillies and mares.
MIAMI - Devil's Preacher had never run on dirt or raced 1 1/2 miles prior to starting in Saturday's $200,000 at Calder. As things turned out, it didn't matter.
Devil's Preacher took advantage of a scratch-reduced field of only six horses and a race that absolutely collapsed in the stretch to run down Bob's Proud Moment for a 1 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 McKnight. Ramazutti, the 3-2 favorite, chased the pace for much of the way and finished a tiring third.
Diligent Prospect looked strong in his first start since March, when he was prominent throughout for a 2 1/2-length win over Any Questions in the $50,000 KLAQ Handicap at Sunland Park on Saturday.
The 5 1/2-furlong race was one of three stakes on the opening weekend card.
Diligent Prospect ($15.60) overtook pacesetter Dangerous Devon after an opening quarter in 21.89 seconds, and went on to cover the distance in a sharp 1:03.29. Francisco Duran rode the winner for trainer Bill Tollett.
Victory Pool rebounded from back-to-back poor efforts in her previous two starts to spring a mild upset in the $67,750 Gold Beauty at Aqueduct.
Send off as the 7-1 fifth choice in a field of seven, Victory Pool rallied from fifth early to be second turning for home, then flew by the pacesetting 5-2 favorite Samsincharge about 20 jumps from the wire.
Dina closed fastest for second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, and Samsincharge held third, another length behind.