HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Grand Reward stole the Grade 2, $500,000 at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, cruising on the lead in the early stages and holding off a late bid from Second of June to win the race by a neck. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back in third to 4-5 favorite Eddington.
The win was the first in a stakes for the 4-year-old Grand Reward, a son of Storm Cat and Serena's Song. He covered the 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.54.
STICKNEY, Ill. - A stakes race can look one way before it is run and come out with a completely different appearance. The Grade 2 , before the horses lined up, bore a great resemblance to a second-level allowance race. When the dust settled, an actual Kentucky Derby contender had been born.
Greeley's Galaxy ($5.60) had never run in a stakes race before shipping to Hawthorne from California, but he blew the doors off seven rivals with a powerhouse stretch run, drawing off to win by 9 1/2 lengths and running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.62.
STICKNEY, Ill. - When the trainer Percy Scherbenske had Synco Peach ready for the first start of her 4-year-old season at this time last year, the prevailing mood in the filly's camp mixed anticipation with trepidation. Synco Peach had raced three times at age 3, showing high-level talent in an Arlington maiden win, but she had injured herself and undergone surgery, and Scherbenske wrestled with wondering how Synco Peach would come back.
Just fine, just fine.
STICKNEY, Ill. - As Lord of the Game has climbed the ladder of conditioned allowance races, his feet hardly have touched the rungs. Lord of the Game, who won a $10,000 maiden claimer here last Dec. 31 by more than 22 lengths, flew to a second-level allowance victory on March 11; he hardly had to work for a 7 3/4-length score over third-level allowance horses here April 2. And unless Lord of the Game suddenly finds the climb too steep, little stands between the horse and yet another victory in the featured sixth race on Tuesday at Hawthorne.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Just like in her previous start, Sis City ran off and hid from her rivals, posting a 10 1/2-length victory Saturday in the 68th running of the Grade 1 at Keeneland.
The victory in the $500,000 Ashland figures to make Sis City the favorite in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks, barring a start by Sweet Catomine, who ran fifth Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher retired his champion sprinter Speightstown at the end of last year. It now appears he has a capable replacement in Forest Danger.
Forest Danger vaulted to the top of the East Coast sprint division Saturday by running past Medallist and Don Six in the stretch to win the Grade 1, $350,000 by 1 3/4 lengths before 9,944 at Aqueduct. Medallist, the only horse to beat Forest Danger, finished second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Don Six. Unforgettable Max, Mass Media, and Primary Suspect completed the order of finish.
OLDSMAR Fla. - Joyful Ballad gave locally based horses their third win of Saturday's Florida Cup card at Tampa Bay Downs when she looped rivals on the second turn and went on to post a three-quarter-length win over Marwood in the Ogle and Company Stakes.
The Florida Cup card comprised six $75,000 stakes.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Greater Good put in his final work for the Grade 2, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park, going six furlongs in company in a bullet 1:12.60.
He is one of the top choices for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, which will close out the meet next Saturday.
Greater Good came on the track at 6:55 a.m. Central and backtracked to the quarter pole under regular rider John McKee. He went into his work at the six-furlong pole, breaking off a few lengths behind regular workmate Copy My Notes.
Jockey Donnie Meche has been suspended through Oct. 15 and fined a total of $1,500 by Oaklawn Park stewards for two separate violations cited in a ruling issued Saturday. An attorney representing Meche waived the rider's right to an appeal, according to the stewards at Oaklawn.
Meche was suspended 90 days, from March 20 through June 17, and fined $500 for refusing to furnish a drug test as ordered by the Oaklawn stewards. He also was suspended 120 days, from June 18 through Oct. 15, and was fined $1,000 for "conduct detrimental to racing," according to the ruling.
There was no doubt that Procreate had speed. But most bettors didn't think he had the class to win the $50,000 Yankee Affair Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. They were wrong.
Procreate, sent off at 16-1 off victories in a claiming race and a starter allowance, grabbed the lead almost immediately in the five-furlong turf race and cruised to a 5 1/4-length victory over fellow longshot True Love's Secret. The final time of 53.79 seconds set a world record for five furlongs.
Shake the Bank, at 10-1, completed a trifecta that returned $4,672.
