ELMONT, N.Y. - As Bill Mott watched the opening half-mile of Saturday's $250,000 unfold at Belmont Park, he began to feel nauseated.
The Mott-trained Wend, who had been forwardly placed in all four of her turf victories, was last of six under Jerry Bailey after a half-mile run in a pedestrian 52.15 seconds.
"When I saw the fractions and where she was, I wanted to throw up," Mott said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The result of the Locust Grove Handicap was the same as a race four weeks beforehand, albeit with a far more dramatic twist.
Delta Princess needed every bit of her flashy late run Saturday to get past Shaconage to capture the $164,550 at Churchill Downs, duplicating the one-two finish of the June 4 Mint Julep Handicap. This time, favored Delta Princess, ridden by Brice Blanc, seemed beaten with less than 100 yards to go, but a furious late run took her to a half-length victory.
There was a good reason jockey Mark Guidry ventured north from Churchill Downs to Arlington Park on Saturday, and his name is Purim.
Purim had won each of his first two starts by 2 3/4 lengths, and he was only slightly less dominant in the Grade 3, $150,000 , beating the longshot United by 2 1/2 lengths in a sharp performance. The jump from an entry-level allowance to a graded stakes, as well as his first experience shipping, didn't phase Purim, who sat just off the pace, made the lead in the stretch, and finished well for a convincing victory.
When Dynamist won her maiden for trainer Michael Dickinson in her debut last October, she had the look of a stakes winner. It took her five more races and more than eight months, but she finally did the trick, winning the $75,300 Denise Rhudy Memorial at Delaware Park.
Dynamist ($13.20) rallied under Jose Caraballo to defeat Grat by two lengths in the Rhudy, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies. Toll Taker finished another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Favored More for Me finished fifth in the field of six.
There were no surprises in the $60,000 Brookmeade Stakes at Colonial Downs. With Patience justified her 2-5 favoritism with a 4 1/2-length stroll in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares. Old Fashion Girl, the 5-2 second choice in the six-horse field, wasn't even able to give With Patience a scare, but finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Miswes, who at 7-1 was the third choice in the field.
Wannatalkaboutme ($9.60) won her second race in a row Saturday at Woodbine when she scored a 2 3/4-length victory in the $168,550 My Dear Stakes, a five-furlong test for 2-year-old fillies.
Dave Clark rode Wannatalka-boutme, who broke on top in the five-furlong race and set fractions of 22.56 and 46.71 seconds while being pressed by Howaboutrightnow. She began to edge away early in the stretch and prevailed easily over a closing Sudsy Baby.
"She was very professional," said Clark. "She just does what she has to do."
Shamoan ($6.20) survived a wide trip and a claim of foul by the rider of runner-up Apache Point to score a one-length victory in Friday's $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.
Under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., Shamoan pressed the pace outside of even-money favorite Thor's Echo and Raving Rocket through a half-mile in 46.80 seconds. Shamoan challenged outside of Thor's Echo midway on the final turn and took a narrow advantage entering the stretch.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Ready and Alluring was no match for Gold Strike but was much the best of the others in the Labatt Woodbine Oaks on June 12.
And with Gold Strike having run third last Sunday in the Queen's Plate and not running Monday, Ready and Alluring will be an odds-on choice and the probable winner of the $250,000 Labatt Bison City.
The 1 1/16-mile Bison City, which follows the 1 1/8-mile Oaks as the second leg of the triple tiara for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, attracted a field of six. All carry 121 pounds.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In the aftermath of a breakthrough victory by Kitten's Joy in the Secretariat Stakes last August in Chicago, the colt's connections found themselves in a dilemma: shorter or longer?
Owner Ken Ramsey and trainer Dale Romans ultimately chose longer races for Kitten's Joy than the 1 1/4-mile Secretariat, a decision that paid off with the 2004 Eclipse Award for top turf horse. Still, both men believe that either option would have been the correct one, since Kitten's Joy has the kind of brilliance and versatility to be a top miler, too.
