OCEANPORT, N.J. - Three Valleys, making his first start since the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last October, ran down Hotstufanthensome to win the Grade 3, $150,000 on the turf Sunday on the Haskell undercard at Monmouth Park.
The 5-year-old improved his record to 3-0-1 in five starts for trainer Bobby Frankel after starting his career in Europe.
Three Valleys ($6.60), ridden by Ramon Dominguez, launched a four-wide bid turning for home that produced a neck victory.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Maybe Healthy Addiction should stay in training next year instead of being sent to Kentucky to be bred. The 5-year-old mare is certainly having a career-best season.
Sunday at Del Mar, Healthy Addiction ($9) won her third stakes of 2006 in the $300,000 . Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Healthy Addiction ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:42.92, holding off a determined stretch run from Louisiana invader Happy Ticket to win by 1 3-4 lengths. Star Parade finished third in the field of five fillies and mares.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Super Image ($3.80) broke inwardly but quickly was straightened out and then made short work of the field in the $64,775 Cavonnier Juvenile Stakes on Sunday at the Sonoma County Fair.
The heavy favorite opened quickly down the backstretch, increasing his margin at each call as he defeated At the Bada Bing, the longest shot on the board, by four lengths. He won the 51/2-furlong race in 1:04.01.
"When we were breaking, he broke a little in, but I liked how he ran after that. He's a nice horse," winning jockey Luis Martinez said.
AUBURN, Wash. - Exclusive Eagle split rivals to reach the front at mid-stretch and held off the furious late rally of Brother Bobby to post a stunning upset in Sunday's $65,000 Seattle Slew Breeders' Cup Handicap at Emerald Downs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Royal Challenger held off favored French Beret in the final strides to capture Sunday's $502,000 , the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Woodbine.
Royal Challenger was moved up from fourth to third in the second leg of the series, the Prince of Wales Stakes, after the disqualification of his stablemate, Malakoff, who was demoted from first to fifth for interference. That result is under appeal to the Ontario Racing Commission.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Bluegrass Cat, finally fulfilling the promise suggested by second-place finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, romped to a record seven-length victory in the Grade 1, $1 million for 3-year-olds Sunday at Monmouth Park.
The time was 1:48.85 for 1 1-8 miles on the fast track. It was the first Haskell win for jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher. Earlier on the card, they also teamed to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Matchmaker Stakes with Ready's Gal.
Bright One proved easily best when making his first start in a graded stakes and his first around two turns Sunday in the Grade 3 , as he led every step of the signature event at the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va.
Confidently ridden by Mark Guidry, Bright One was never seriously threatened when prevailing by 5 3/4 lengths over Cielo Gold in the 37th West Virginia Derby. Bright One, now a winner in 3 of 4 career starts, returned $4 as the solid favorite and earned $450,000 from the $750,000 purse.
Distinguish overtook Sweepingly nearing the wire for a half-length win in the $50,000 Brother Brown Stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Saturday night. It was another length back in third to Proven Cure.
Distinguish ($43) was making his turf debut in the five-furlong sprint, and sat in fifth early as Sweepingly led the field through fractions of 21.37 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.05 for the half-mile mark. Distinguish rallied through the stretch, and covered the distance in 55.97 seconds.
Justin Shepherd rode the winner for trainer Martin Lozano.
Fresh off an impressive maiden score, Tortuga Straits matched that four and a quarter length win in his debut in Saturday night's $100,000 colt and gelding division of the John Franks Memorial Sales Stake. Atta Boy Jake, who set most of the pace in the five and a half furlong affair for those who passed through the sales ring here this past spring, proved no match for winner but was almost eight lengths better than the rest in finishing second. Big Al's Choice reported third followed by Sugar Bowl Day.
