A determined Verne's Baby ($4.80) shrugged off several challenges on the front end en route to a narrow victory in Saturday's $162,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine.
Verne's Baby dueled with Olympia Fields through fractions of 23.15 and 46.20 seconds in the seven-furlong event for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds. Moonshine Justice, the 7-5 favorite, and Enough Is Enough stalked the leaders, and Enough Is Enough came up inside Verne's Baby exiting the turn.
Dontshootthemsngr displayed grit and determination battling for the lead into the stretch before drawing off to a 4 1/2-length win over seven Ohio-bred 3-year-old rivals in the second running of the $45,000 Wintergreen Handicap.
Away quickly under jockey Irwin Rosendo, Dontshootthemsngr set the pace for almost a half-mile, was headed by March Dancer, then came back to gain a slight advantage. He was joined by Circulator entering the stretch, put that one away quickly, and drew off under strong handling.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rarely has revenge been so sweet. Nearly a month before the 131st was run Friday at Churchill Downs, trainer Steve Asmussen had been greatly humbled by a filly he had lost by way of the claim box, Sis City, who crushed an Ashland Stakes field that included the Asmussen-trained Summerly.
But the Grade 1 Oaks produced a dramatically different result when Summerly, ridden by Jerry Bailey, turned back heavily favored Sis City at the eighth pole, then drew clear to a two-length triumph.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainer Neil Howard entered Shadow Cast in stakes on the turf and the dirt this week and was fully expecting to run her in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Comp USA Turf Mile.
But after consulting with owner Bill Farish Jr. and going over the merits of both races, the decision was made to run her in Friday's Grade 2 Louisville Breeders' Cup on dirt instead.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - One year after finishing a surprising fourth in the Kentucky Derby, Limehouse returned to Churchill Downs to post a 1 3/4-length victory over Skipaslew in Friday's $112,900 .
The Alysheba was one of five supporting stakes on the Kentucky Oaks Day card.
Javier Castellano timed Rey de Cafe's run to perfection and the 3-year-old colt got up in the final stride to edge Rush Bay by a nose in the $114,700 .
Rey de Cafe had finished third, behind Chattahoochee War and Guillaume Tell, in last month's Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland, losing by a neck after taking the lead at midstretch. On Friday, Rey de Cafe made his run later in the stretch.
Mighty Beau bounced back from a tough beat in last month's Shakertown Handicap by blowing past pacesetter De Valmont in midstretch and drawing clear to a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $113,500 .
Chosen Chief rallied to be second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Sgt. Bert.
As much as he would like to shake the one-dimensional label, Brice Blanc is widely known as a highly proficient grass rider. Blanc insists he is equally capable on dirt, and yet the reason for his glowing turf reputation was on full display when Blanc gave Sweet Talker a sensational ride to win the $112,400 .
Sweet Talker, always near the pace when saving ground, burst through an opening near the edge turning for home, then opened a big advantage that carried her to a three-quarter-length triumph over fast-closing Rich in Spirit.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Hollywood Park has received approval from the California Horse Racing Board to begin offering dime superfectas. The discounted bet could be launched as quickly as Wednesday, if the automatic tote machines can be altered to accept dime wagers.
According to general manager Eual Wyatt, there is concern that Scientific Games, which operates the tote system, may not be able to put a dime designation on the self-service betting machines by Wednesday. Tests were scheduled after racing on Saturday and Sunday, Wyatt said.
