ARCADIA, Calif. - surprised owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs with an upset win in a maiden sprint last month.
What was expected to be an introduction to racing became an impressive maiden win.
"We didn't expect him to do that well going short," Shirreffs said. "He ran so well."
The victory leads Neko Bay to a second start in an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita on Wednesday.
Although many horses that raced in south Florida this winter have left for Kentucky or the Northeast, some quality runners remain, a fact on display Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.
Three of the nine races at Gulfstream on Wednesday are allowances or optional claiming races, and at least two such races showcase fillies with stakes-winning potential.
Despite meet-high attendance, business was mixed on Saturday's Santa Anita Derby program. While the announced crowd of 54,189 soared by 42 percent over last year's figure of 38,014, the handle fell 5.6 percent, to $21,454,595.
The crowd was boosted by a T-shirt giveaway and interest in Brother Derek, who is unbeaten in three Triple Crown preps this year.
The handle was affected by a small field in the Santa Anita Derby. Brother Derek, who paid $3 to win, had only four rivals.
CALGARY, Alberta - Business was far from brisk at entry time for Wednesday's program, but racing secretary Russ Armstrong was able to fashion an eight-race card for the first day of six-furlong sprints at the young Stampede Park meeting. The weather played a role in the lack of entries, as several days of rain curtailed training.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - As a horseplayer, Kiaran McLaughlin likes to look for value. As the trainer of two 3-year-olds on the bubble of making it into the Kentucky Derby, McLaughlin will be rooting for the favorites to win the last round of prep races.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - With a City is training so sharply that instead of waiting for the Kentucky Derby for his next start, plans are to run him Saturday in the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby, his owner, Ron Peltz, said Monday.
The addition of With a City brings to 13 the number of probables for the race, which is the richest at the Oaklawn Park meet. The field will be drawn Wednesday.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Nick Zito sent out five winners during the first two days of the Keeneland spring meet to take a commanding early lead atop the trainer standings, but it was far from a perfect opening weekend for Zito.
Beacon Shine, who was scheduled to be Zito's lone starter on the Sunday card, suffered a severe case of colic early Saturday in a Churchill Downs stall and died within "a couple of hours," said Zito.
"It was sad, how fast he went," Zito said.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Russell Baze were disappointed by Cause to Believe's third-place finish in Saturday's Illinois Derby, but both said they believe the colt would be a contender should owners Peter Redekop and Peter Abruzzo decide to run in the Kentucky Derby.
ARCADIA, Calif. - At 5:43 p.m. Saturday, Rafael Bejarano brought Urban King through the stretch of a $40,000 claimer on turf to win his sixth race of the day at Santa Anita.
Getting through the stretch seemed easy for Bejarano throughout the day. It was getting back to the jockeys' room after the last race that was the hard part.
Captain Strider went into the $45,985 Arizona Stallion Stakes at Turf Paradise a maiden but came out of the 7 1/2-furlong turf event a stakes winner. Ridden by Vince Guerra for owner/trainer John Matthews, Captain Strider chased pacesetter Desert Glory, then moved through strongly between horses to get the victory by a length. Captain Strider ($23.60) ran the distance in 1:32.17.
Sir Chester finished well to get second. Even-money favorite Evanstan stalked the pace, made a threatening move into the lane, but couldn't sustain his run and ended up fourth.