ARCADIA, Calif. - Despite a surface switch from turf to dirt, License to Run lived up to his role as the favorite in Saturday's $150,000 at Santa Anita.
Making his first start on dirt in more than a year, License to Run ($5) overcame pressure from several rivals to win by five lengths, finishing 1 1-2 miles on a sloppy track in 2:28.72. The race was transferred from turf to dirt because of persistent rain.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Cosmic Lady ($65.80) survived an inquiry to record a game victory in the $71,500 Burlingame Stakes at Bay Meadows on Saturday.
Cosmic Lady saved ground the whole way and began to move out for room after leaving the quarter pole. As she was straightening out, she was bumped by a tiring Unusual Spring, which forced Hold the Game to steady sharply behind her.
Don Six isn't the only rejuvenated sprinter entered in Monday's $200,000 at Laurel Park.
Saratoga County, winner of the Grade 3 Gotham early in his 3-year-old career, enters the General George off two sharp performances, including a 2 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream last month. If he's able to duplicate that effort, Saratoga County figures to be the major threat to favored Don Six in the Grade 2 race.
Shadow Cast won her third stakes race in a row at Fair Grounds on Saturday, flying up the rail through the stretch under Robby Albarado to take the Grade 3, $125,000 going away by two lengths. Favored Sister Swank was caught at the wire for place by Bijou.
Albarado was unhurried early on Shadow Cast, allowing the filly to settle far behind the early leader, Ide Be a Lady, who cut a measured pace under Brian Hernandez Jr., running the quarter-mile in 24.04 seconds and the half in 49.47. Sister Swank and May Gator tracked her as a team in second and third on the backstretch.
Bonus Pack, claimed three starts back by owner Robert Bone and trainer Greg Foley, returned a nice dividend Saturday by winning the $50,000 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Ridden by Turfway's leading jockey, Dean Sarvis, Bonus Pack drew abreast of early leader Sterling Gold at the quarter pole before edging clear to prevail by two lengths over Paging. The winner returned $6.40 as second choice in a field of seven older horses.
Turf Paradise canceled its live program for the second day in a row Saturday, citing unsafe track conditions caused by heavy rain. The Phoenix area has been inundated with storms the past few days, and more is expected. The track canceled Friday's card after one race.
Racing was scheduled to resume Sunday. Turf Paradise has lost six live race days this season because of unsafe track conditions caused by weather.
Cativa drew off from heavily favored Bear Fan turning for home and went on to a dominating 2 1/4-length victory Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.
Based in New York with trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. and ridden by Edgar Prado, Cativa got an ideal trip from just off the pace, running the seven-furlong Fritchie in 1:23.64 over a fast track. She returned $13 as third choice in a field of 10 fillies and mares.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Greater Good put on a show in front of a crowd of 21,932 on Saturday, when he closed from last to first to win the $100,000 at Oaklawn Park. The one-mile race is the first of three local preps for the Kentucky Derby.
Munificence finished three-quarters of a length back in second, and it was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to Humor at Last.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - If Madcap Escapade has any weakness, it would be at the starting gate, where she occasionally has had problems in the past. After she got off a step slow at the start of Saturday's $150,000 at Gulfstream Park, even her trainer, Frank Brothers, admitted he was a bit concerned.
