GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Petionville Indeed ($46) won the $100,000 Walmac Lone Star Oaks by four lengths at Lone Star Park. Tiv's Little Sister won a photo for second, finishing a neck in front of 6-5 favorite Formal Miss.
Petionville Indeed, winner of her maiden in her last start, settled in fourth early in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies, several lengths behind dueling leaders Heart of the Cat and Sea Bloom.
Sea of Green ($33.40) made a sweeping five-wide move entering the stretch and overtook 8-5 favorite Baby Shark to score a half-length victory in the $100,000 Charles Town Dash.
It was the first stakes win for the
5-year-old Sea of Green since he won the $150,000 Gallant Bob Stakes at his home track, Philadelphia Park, in October 2001. For trainer Janice Gerace, the win was just her sixth from 104 starters this year and her first from 11 horses she has started at Charles Town.
LAFAYETTE, La. - Ten Times Better validated his runaway trial win two weeks ago by capturing the $93,500 D.S. "Shine" Young Futurity by almost three lengths. Streak of Smoke, who shook clear in the turn of the five-furlong race for Louisiana-bred 2-year-olds, proved no match for the winner and had to settle for second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of 50-1 longshot Sudanas Finest.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Reformed claimer Storybook Kid continued his rags to riches saga, unleashing a powerful rally down the stretch to capture the $75,000 Independence Handicap. Skate Away finished a head behind in second, followed closely by pacesetter Dash for Daylight. The race was hotly contested with less than 2 1/2 lengths separating the entire seven-horse field.
Slop lovers Ashwood CC and Image of Approval benefited when their respective races were moved from turf to a muddy main track at Mountaineer Park.
Thistledown shipper Ashwood CC ($6.80) wired a field of seven fillies and mares in the $77,700 Firecracker Handicap for her 13th career victory in 35 lifetime starts.
Image of Approval ($13.20), fresh from a seven-length romp in the slop, built a four-length lead heading into the stretch and withstood a late surge by 2-1 favorite Eagle Time to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the $77,900 Independence Day Handicap.
ALTOONA, Iowa - Wildwood Royal scored her second stakes upset in less than a month at Prairie Meadows, overcoming a pace duel to score a three-quarter-length victory over a closing Golden Reputation in Friday's $125,000 Iowa Oaks.
Under jockey Danush Sukie, Wildwood Royal ($17.40) dueled inside of Tulapai through a quick half-mile run in 45.97 seconds. Wildwood Royal shook off Tulupai entering the stretch and opened up a three-length advantage in midstretch before holding off Golden Reputation's late bid while covering the 1 1/16 miles in a stakes record 1:41.64.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Lil' Bro Eddie ($9) won the break and scored a wire-to-wire victory in the $52,900 Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity at the Alameda County Fair on Friday.
The 2-year-old, claimed for $40,000 from his maiden victory in his last start, took advantage of a poor break by Winter Squall and a slightly slow break by One Smart Cat, who figured to contest the lead with him.
He opened a daylight margin early with fractions of 21.53 and 44.26, winning the five-furlong race by one length over late-closing Badgett's Mandate in 56.82.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Until Friday's $150,000 American Handicap at Hollywood Park, Candy Ride was unbeaten and untested in his first four starts. After the Grade 2 race over 1 1-8 miles on turf, the Argentine import can still claim to be undefeated.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The myth that is Sky Mesa will be revealed Sunday at Belmont Park.
Away from the races for 274 days, Sky Mesa makes his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Dwyer Stakes, the East Coast's traditional springboard to the second half of the 3-year-old season. A field of eight was entered for the 1 1/16-mile race, which highlights an 11-race card.
