SAN MATEO, Calif. - Adreamisborn ($4.60), part of a three-horse entry and one of four horses saddled by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, got a ground-saving trip and first run on Night Bokbel to win the Grade 3 $113,750 Stanford Breeders' Cup Handicap at Bay Meadows on Saturday.
Adreamisborn sat in midpack in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. He remained on the rail most of the trip and finally got room in the lane when he spurted forward and grabbed the lead.
ARCADIA, Calif. - This time, D. Wayne Lukas got it right.
Lukas blamed himself for having Consolidator unprepared for his 3-year-old debut in last month's San Vicente Stakes, but a more aggressive training regimen left Consolidator ready for a breakout performance in the Grade 2, $250,000 on Saturday at Santa Anita.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Greater Good improved his standing among Kentucky Derby hopefuls considerably Saturday, when he ran down Rockport Harbor in the final strides to win the $250,000 at Oaklawn Park by a half-length.
With the victory, Greater Good remained perfect in four two-turn starts, all of them stakes: the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs, the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park, and the $100,000 Southwest Stakes, which was the first of the three Kentucky Derby preps at Oaklawn.
TAMPA, Fla. - Mission accomplished.
Trainer Nick Zito was hoping to use Saturday's $250,000 as a stepping-stone to bigger and better things for his top Kentucky Derby prospect, Sun King. Zito got exactly what he was looking for, a very professional 3 1/4-length victory over Forever Wild and five other overmatched 3-year-olds in Tampa Bay Downs' marquee race.
The Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby was the highlight of Saturday's Festival Day program, which included the Florida Oaks and Grade 3 Hillsborough Stakes.
TAMPA, Fla. - Trainer Kirk Ziadie has been the king of Tampa Bay Downs for the past two winters, winning with more than 40 percent of his starters during that period. Ziadie continued that dominance Saturday, winning the $150,000 Florida Oaks with R Lady Joy shortly after beating males with Whenthedoveflies in the inaugural running of the $75,000 Holiday Inn Express.
OCALA, Fla. - The Ocala Breeders' Sales Racing Festival on Monday consists of six stakes worth an aggregate $380,000. The card, held at the Ocala Training Center, is highlighted by two divisions of the $100,000 OBS Championship Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, one for 3-year-old fillies, the other for 3-year-old males.
Although the OBS does not have a parimutuel license, the black type for these restricted stakes is recognized for sales cataloging purposes. First post is 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
OLDSMAR Fla. - If Java Wit had her way, she would probably vote for Tampa Bay Downs to run 300 days a year. On Friday, she scored her fourth win of the meet without a loss when she took a wide route to beat a field of $25,000 claiming females. The race was moved from the turf to the main track after torrential rain pelted the area late Wednesday and Thursday.
The only other four-time winners at the meet are Dry Ice, Hi Time Scott, and Suave Todd.
Chinese Dragon extricated himself from traffic at the quarter pole, then accelerated and roared past his rivals Saturday to capture the $82,300 Pasadena Stakes. A grass stakes race for 3-year-olds, the Pasadena was the supporting feature at Santa Anita. The San Felipe Stakes, the day's feature, was run later in the day.
Cape Hope remained perfect on grass Saturday, when she received a perfect trip under Jose Santos to capture the Grade 3, $100,000 at Gulfstream Park.
Always close to a relaxed pace that left eight 3-year-old fillies bunched together through the opening six furlongs, Cape Hope took the lead from Royal Bean turning for home, then finished three-quarters of a length ahead of late-running Dynamite Lass. The winner returned $5 as the favorite after finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.28 over a firm turf.
