Trainer Dennis Manning and jockey Joe Bravo have been an unbeatable combination in major stakes races the past week and a half.
Ten days after Bravo rode the Manning-trained Valid Video to an upset in the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga, he and the Monmouth-based trainer struck again. This time, unbeaten 3-year-old colt Grand Hombre drew off to a 5 1/4-length victory in Monday's $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park.
The trainer Ken McPeek sauntered down through the Arlington grandstand late Monday afternoon, on his way to the winner's circle. He was working about as hard as Take Charge Lady did winning the Arlington Matron Handicap moments earlier.
"Well, she needed a confidence builder," McPeek said, smiling broadly.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Bis Repetitas and Senor Swinger, two colts expected to meet in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Del Mar Derby, completed their serious training for that turf race with works on the main track Monday morning at Del Mar.
Bis Repetitas, trained by Bobby Frankel, covered five furlongs in 1:01.40, a shade faster than Senor Swinger, who was timed in 1:02 for trainer Bob Baffert. Corey Nakatani is scheduled to ride Bis Repetitas, with Jose Valdivia Jr. on Senor Swinger.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Le Cinquieme Essai, Canada's champion 3-year-old last year but a major disappointment in four starts this season, came to life with a front-running victory in the $87,000 Puss N Boots.
Ridden by Neal Poznansky, Le Cinquieme Essai assumed command shortly after the start and dueled throughout the 1 1/16 miles on good turf, digging in through the stretch to prevail by a neck.
"I kept asking him, and he kept responding," said Poznansky. "He showed every bit of determination that he should."
In stark contrast to the large fields that dominated its 41-day meet, Ellis Park closed Monday with Hard Buck winning the $75,000 Tri-State Handicap in a field of three.
Hard Buck, ridden by leading jockey Rafael Bejarano, was making his U.S. debut for owner Team Victory and trainer Ken McPeek. A 4-year-old Brazilian-bred by Spend a Buck, the colt raced Classic Par into defeat before finishing well clear of Red Mountain, who nipped Classic Par for second.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The conditions shaped up perfectly for Native Heir to capture the $60,000 Icecapade Stakes in the slop. Native Heir relishes a wet track and he caught a surface to his liking as he won for the eighth time in 10 off-track efforts.
Native Heir ($7) dug in gamely to hold off a strong rail bid from Take Achance on Me to prevail by one length.
Two scratches reduced the field to four for the six-furlong, race, which went in 1:10.28.
Native Heir is trained by Mark Shuman for Michael Gill, the meet's leading owner. Abel Castellano rode the winner.
Devil Time completed a stakes-winning hat-trick when he responded to energetic handling by William Troilo and caught Cat Singer in the last stride to win the $75,000 Governor's Buckeye Cup at 1 1/4 miles. Deadline Dude rallied from last in the field of nine Ohio-breds to get up for third.
Skate Away, who has been racing closer to the pace since adding blinkers four starts ago, defeated Maysville Slew by 8 1/4 lengths to win the $125,000 DeBartolo Memorial. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Major Rhythm.
The race, which was scheduled for turf, was moved to a sloppy main track after wet weather hit the area.
MIAMI - Long or short, turf or dirt it just doesn't matter to Tour of the Cat. The versatile gelding added Monday's $150,000 Miami Mile Breeders' Cup Handicap to an already impressive resume with a 2 1/2-length victory over Last Stand in a race taken off the grass and decided on a "good" main track.
CINCINNATI - After Tiger Hunt surged past stablemate Lightnin N Thunder to win the 27th running of the $200,000 Cradle Stakes at River Downs Monday, there was a cohesive thought running through the minds of the winner's connections.
"There's one for the Derby watch," said Elliott Walden, who trains the first two finishers.
"The Breeders' Cup? I don't think so," said Barry Irwin, president of the colt's owner, Team Valor. "We're going to think about the first Saturday in May. Why wouldn't you?"
