ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Leonnatus Anteas was named in honor of one of the bodyguards of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian warrior king who held a special place in the heart of the late horse owner Steve Stavro.
But it was the rivals of Leonnatus Anteas who needed protection at Woodbine on Sunday, as the colt stormed down the stretch to capture the $150,400 Vandal.
Leonnatus Anteas was making his first start in the Vandal, a five-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-olds.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - There's a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old maidens Wednesday, and in northern California that's big news. Not only is it the first turf race offered for 2-year-olds, it is the first race as long as a mile. In fact, it's the first race longer than 5 1/2 furlongs offered for 2-year-olds.
In the first week of the meet, a six-furlong race in the condition book drew no entries.
"These races need to go," said racing secretary Tom Doutrich. "In Seattle, they're already going 6 1/2. Hopefully, if horsemen see them every year, they'll have horses ready."
DEL MAR, Calif. - Principle Secret overcame an awkward start to score an emphatic victory on Sunday in the Grade 2, $150,000 for 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
Principle Secret ($4.80), the favorite, had prompted the pace in his debut victory here on July 22, but in the Best Pal was forced to rally from behind after "the ground broke out from under him" at the start, according to jockey Alex Solis.
AUBURN, Wash. - Immigration gave his many backers a scare when he broke slowly in Sunday's $45,000 Strong Ruler Stakes at Emerald Downs, but he recovered to post a convincing 2 1/2 length victory over Liberty for Al in 1:17.60 for 6 1/2 furlongs.
It was the third win from as many starts for Immigration, a 2-year-old son of Delineator from the barn of trainer and part-owner Howard Belvoir. Immigration, who was ridden by Jennifer Whitaker, paid $3.20 to win as the heavy choice in a field of eight. He earned $22,275 for Belvoir and his partners, Harley Hoppe and Dan Corby.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Four double-digit winners at Saratoga on Sunday led by Kon Krete Kid ($95) helped spur a pick-six carryover of $77,968 into Monday's Saratoga card.
Kon Krete Kid, trained by Jamie Sanders, drew in off the also-eligible list for this maiden 2-year-old turf race, then benefited when Giant Chieftain, who appeared on his way to victory at 4-1, ducked out under Javier Castellano in deep stretch.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - First-time starter Leonnatus Anteas ($17.70) got up in the final strides under Jono Jones to capture the $150,400 Vandal Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.
All six 2-year-olds vied for the early lead in the five-furlong dash, before favored Spread the News and Mutakinmove dueled up front around the turn. Spread the News emerged with a clear lead in mid-stretch, as Leonnatus Anteas and Carysfort Light were both in the midst of a wide rally.
Marvelously consistent and racing over his sixth different track in his last six starts, Dreamsandvisions rallied from off the pace under Luis Quinonez to capture Saturday night's $150,000 Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs. Longshot Biloxi Pride also came from well back to finish second followed by favored Stockholder and Mauk Fourth. Biloxi Breeze, Watchem Smokey, High Strike Zone and Salic Law completed the order of finish.
Saturday Deelites became a stakes winner on Saturday night at Retama Park when he forged to a half-length win over Sir Maximus in the $65,000 Retama Park Turf Breeders' Cup Handicap. It was another neck back in third to Goosey Moose.
Saturday Deelites ($4) sat in third early, as Sir Maximus and Goosey Moose traded the lead through fractions of 25.53 seconds for the opening quarter and 50.88 for the half-mile mark. Saturday Deelites overtook those two and drove home, covering the mile and a sixteenth over firm turf in 1:44.89.
