If the bettors were to be believed, Saay Mi Name was supposed to offer scant challenge to Abbondanza in the $60,000 Chesapeake at Colonial Downs, perhaps keeping the favorite company for a half-mile before gracefully fading through the pack.
It didn't work out that way.
Saay Mi Name, 6-1 in the five-horse field, dueled 6-5 favorite Abbondanza into defeat and held off Founding Chairman by 1 3/4 lengths to win the six-furlong stakes under Christopher VanHassel. Abbondanza faded to third.
U R Flashy ($7) held off 2-1 favorite To the Brim to win her first stakes in the $125,800 Nandi at Woodbine.
U R Flashy led throughout the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies, recording fractions of 22.98 and 46.47 seconds under Jim McAleney. To the Brim, who raced inside of U R Flashy in second, surged late to finish a neck back, and Bajan Princess wound up third in the seven-horse field. The final time was 1:11.45.
It was the third Nandi victory for McAleney, who teamed with U R Flashy's trainer, Reade Baker, to take last year's edition with Bosskiri.
Jockey Cliff Berry won six races on opening night of the Remington Park meet Friday, including the $40,000 Adena Springs Matchmaker with Timeless Dreamer.
Timeless Dreamer ($10) was up for a neck win over Runs Naked in the five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, which was run over a course rated good. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to favorite Queena Corrina.
"She got clear at the right time," said Berry, who rode Timeless Dreamer for trainer Chuck Turco and owners Jack and Christine Henry.
Run Zeal Run gave his rider, Omar Rodriguez, his first North American stakes win Friday night, when he drove to a one-length win in the $40,000 J.R. Straus Memorial. The race was the opening night feature at Retama Park.
Run Zeal Run ($12.40) dueled through fractions of 22.16 and 44.94 seconds before going on to cover the six furlongs in 1:09.77.
War Bridle finished second, and it was another four lengths back in third to Charming Socialite, who was part of an entry and was a slight favorite over fourth-place finisher Captain Malory.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Bob Baffert takes aim at his third Haskell Invitational win in the last five years Sunday at Monmouth Park.
The silver-haired Baffert won the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell with a pair of 1-5 favorites: Point Given in 2001 and War Emblem in 2002.
Baffert returns this year with Roman Ruler, who figures to also be favored, but at a higher price given the more competitive nature of this year's race.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park has an international flavor, with two Europeans among the contenders, one by way of Canada.
The 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares also awards stallion seasons to the first three finishers, with Northern Afleet, Afleet Alex's sire, among the prospective stallions.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Spruce Run should find the distance and the company more to his liking in the Grade 3, $150,000 Oceanport Stakes after running in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes, Monmouth's premier grass stakes.
took a big leap in class in the United Nations, and the 1 3/8 miles of the race was a reach, since he seems most comfortable at a mile to 1 1/16 miles, which is the distance of the Oceanport.
The $1 million Haskell headlines the Sunday racing at Monmouth Park, but if you're looking for established Grade 1 winners, you'll have to look at the undercard.
My Trusty Cat, who captured the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill in May, and Wildcat Heir, winner of the 2004 Grade 1 De Francis Dash, will run in supporting stakes on the 14-race card. In all, there are seven stakes on the undercard. Post time for the opener is noon.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With Saint Liam all set for Saturday's Whitney Handicap, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. turned his attention Friday morning toward his other handicap star. Offlee Wild, winner of the Suburban Handicap in his last start, breezed six furlongs in 1:13.43 over Saratoga's main track.
Offlee Wild is being pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 Saratoga Breeders' Cup here on Aug. 21.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Coming off a near-track-record performance at Belmont Park last month, Silver Train is expected to bounce when he runs in Sunday's $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga.
The question most handicappers must ask before playing against him is can he bounce and still win the Grade 2 race at six furlongs? It's a question even trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. will be asking.
