AUBURN, Wash. ? Celtic Crown took command of the 2-year-old filly division at Emerald Downs with a three-quarter length victory over Nite Moon in Sunday's $43,650 Angie C. Stakes at six furlongs.
Celtic Crown, one of two maidens in a field of nine, came from sixth position under rider Jennifer Whitaker to take a clear lead with a furlong remaining, then dug in to hold off the late charge of Nite Moon, who broke well behind the field. Fergie's Fantasy closed for third.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Give Sweet Return an inch and he'll take more than a mile. For the third time in his career, and the second race in succession, Sweet Return was left alone on the lead in a Grade 1 race, and his rivals never stood a chance.
On Sunday, in the Grade 1, $400,000 at Del Mar, Sweet Return dawdled through the first six furlongs in 1:12.70, then stormed through the final three furlongs in 33.83 seconds to win to score a 1 1/2-length victory under Alex Solis in the 1 1/8-mile grass race.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Edgar Prado wrapped up a sensational spring/summer meet by guiding Yankee Mon to a front-running, 1 1/2-length victory over West Virginia in Sunday's $109,900 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds on closing day at Belmont Park.
The victory was the 85th of the meet for Prado, the most by a leading rider here since Angel Cordero rode 92 winners in 1982. Prado swept the weekend stakes, taking Saturday's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Prado won nine stakes at the 60-day meet.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Slewpy's Storm, cleverly handled by Carlos Gonzalez, led every step of the way Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in capturing the Delicada Stakes for fillies and mares. Favored Red Lifesaver loomed boldly in the second turn but had to settle for second followed by Boomboomgirl.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Deputy Cures Blues, bursting between horses in the final strides, was up in time to capture the $125,000 Rainbow Connection by a head here Sunday.
Cricket Wicket re-rallied to take second in the five-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares while On Silent Wings, who had opened up a two-length lead with just a furlong to run, ended another half-length back in third.
Choctaw Nation successfully defended his title in the $250,000 , rallying from last in a field of six to score his first stakes win of the year.
Sent off as the favorite, Choctaw Nation ($5.40) finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.40. He made a sustained half-mile rally to win by a length over 6-1 Ace Blue. Preachinatthebar, another 6-1 shot, finished third.
The victory was even more impressive considering that Choctaw Nation made up nearly eight lengths in the final five furlongs despite a slow pace of 23.90 and 47.81 seconds set by Bear in the Woods.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A Bit O'Gold ($7) reaffirmed his fondness for the grass with a decisive victory in the Grade 2, $345,600 Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.
A Bit O'Gold, the 124-pound highweight, assumed a stalking position in the two-path in the mile and three-eighth turf event. Niigon, who defeated A Bit O'Gold in the 2004 Queen's Plate, led through honest fractions while being pressed by Burst of Fire, one of three Sam-Son Farm runners in the lineup.
VALLEJO, Calif. - Taking advantage of the scratch of morning-line even-money favorite Lunachick, Luck and Fame ($11.40) was never seriously challenged in a wire-to-wire victory in the $54,250 Fairfield Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at the Solano County Fair on Saturday.
Claimed for $32,000 two starts back at Hollywood Park by trainer Troy Bainum for Jerry Jamgotchian, Luck and Fame earned $30,200 for her first stakes victory. The filly, who finished fourth in her two previous stakes attempts, has now won three of eight starts and earned $62,397.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The major turf stakes for females at Del Mar are becoming an annual career saver for Amorama.
Last year, Amorama won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 19-1, ending an eight-race losing streak. Saturday, in her first start at Del Mar since that race, Amorama pulled a 7-1 upset in the $400,000 , ending a five-race losing streak.
To trainer Julio Canani, her price was a surprise. "She never gets any respect," he said.
Ridden by Martin Pedroza, Amorama ($17.60) won the Grade 1 Mabee by a head over Island Fashion, finishing 1 1-8 miles on turf in 1:48.01.
Pirates Bite, a 28-1 shot ridden by Calvin Borel, led from start to finish to defeat 10 other 3-year-olds Saturday in the $75,000 Regaey Island Stakes at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Pirates Bite, bred and owned by Walts David Stable, returned $59.20 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.66 over a firm turf. Slammin' Sam finished 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner in second, while Mesami, the 9-5 favorite, was another neck back in third.
