English Channel is halfway to $5 million.
English Channel pulled away to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $750,000 at Colonial Downs on Saturday. English Channel ($4.20), who extended his winning streak to four, has now won the first two legs of the $5 million Jacobs Investments Grand Slam of Grass.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - What a Song underwent a crash course in race tactics to remain unbeaten in Saturday's $104,500 at Hollywood Park.
What a Song took dirt in his face on the backstretch, circled two rivals on the turn, and fought past a tough Bashert to win by a neck. Sent off favored in the field of five, What a Song ($3.60) finished six furlongs in 1:09.55.
"He got an education out of this," winning trainer Bob Baffert said. "I like his style. He got a good test and it's nice to see. He's a good horse."
ELMONT, N.Y. - Excitement turned to concern for trainer Stanley Hough after he won the $150,000 with longshot Cacht Wells at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Cacht Wells, with Eibar Coa aboard, won the 1 3/8-mile turf race by a head over Relaxed Gesture, the even-money favorite. As Coa was galloping out, he felt Cacht Wells take a misstep and he pulled him up and dismounted. Cacht Wells was removed from the track by ambulance.
STANTON, Del. - R Lady Joy picked up only small pieces of the purse in her first two tries against graded stakes company, including a decisive loss to Round Pond, the even-money favorite in Saturday's $500,000 .
But trainer Kirk Ziadie was brimming with confidence for R Lady Lady Joy's first start in nearly two months in the Oaks.
Not a lot of people shared Ziadie's optimism, as bettors sent off R Lady Joy at 17-1, the second longest shot in a field of six 3-year-old fillies for the Grade 2 Oaks. Ziadie, however, got the last laugh.
STANTON, Del. - Soft turf, slow fractions, and having no room to run for a mile all proved to be minor inconveniences for Honey Ryder.
A 4-year-old filly ridden by Edgar Prado for trainer Todd Pletcher, Honey Ryder ($3.60) overcame every possible obstacle to draw clear to a 5 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $300,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Handicap at Delaware Park.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - It's on to the Haskell for Park Avenue Ball, a dominant winner Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.
The Long Branch is the traditional prep for the main event of the Monmouth season, the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 7.
Park Avenue Ball left no doubt he is Haskell material with a 6 1/4-length win over Chekhov, with Golden Man third.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - At the top of the Arlington Park backstretch late Saturday afternoon, Devilment and jockey Carlos Marquez ran into a tight spot - and that might have helped win the . Up close to the pace when he was beaten a neck in the Round Table prep, Devilment settled and finished this time, easily defeating Real Dandy and recording a record time in the $100,000 stakes race.
Saturday's $75,000 Nancy's Glitter Handicap at Calder proved the old adage that there is nothing certain in life but death and taxes.
Despite entering the Nancy's Glitter the undisputed leader of her division and starting as the prohibitive 1-9 favorite, Pampered Princess could not get by the pacesetting American Miss, who upset the odds-on favorite by 1 1/2 lengths under jockey Manoel Cruz. Gentille Alouette rallied to finish third.
Noble Stella ($22) held off Classic Stamp in the final furlong to capture the Grade 3, $340,800 at Woodbine.
Noble Stella raced about three lengths off a moderate early pace in the 1 1/8-mile turf event. Longshot Pandora's Secret set fractions of 24.93 and 48.74 seconds, pressed by favored Mona Rose, who won the 2004 Dance Smartly.
Noble Stella made a four-wide bid on the turn and hit the front early in the stretch en route to a one-length victory under Emile Ramsammy. She completed the distance in 1:49.95.
Accountforthegold made his first start in the state of his birth a winning one, taking the $168,400 Finger Lakes Derby for New York-bred 3-year-olds by three lengths. Gold and Roses finished second, 6 1/2 lengths in front of Naughty New Yorker, the 4-5 favorite, who closed from last to take third in the field of 10.
