There's no longer any doubt about Undercover's ability to handle nine furlongs.
After twice failing in 1 1/8-mile stakes, 4-year-old filly Undercover ($3.40) overwhelmed four other fillies and mares as she cruised to a 4 1/2-length victory in the $67,250 Gala Lil Stakes at Laurel Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The pick six at Santa Anita on Saturday features a carryover of $113,926.
On Friday, many tickets were out of contention after the first leg, which was won by Medinaceli ($101.60).
Saturday's pick six covers the fifth through 10th races on a card that begins at 12:30 p.m.
There are only a few changes in Saturday's pick six races.
NEW ORLEANS - The best turf horses in the country these days arrive here from other parts of the world. It's a sign of quality when international imports come to your race, and Sunday's $650,000 at Fair Grounds has six of them, with five former Europeans and one Chilean-bred joining five U.S. horses in the race, a Grade 2 at about 1 1/8 miles.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - San Dare rallied from last to win both the Grade 3 Honey Fox and The Very One handicaps here earlier this winter. But trainer Rick Hiles and jockey Mark Guidry may have to employ an altogether different strategy if San Dare is to continue her winning ways in Sunday's $200,000 Orchid Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.
The Grade 2 Orchid attracted a field of nine older fillies and mares, the majority of whom - like San Dare - are at their best when racing from behind.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark - The $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Sunday was flung wide open last week when the top sprinter on the grounds, Beau's Town, shipped to Fair Grounds and won the $150,000 Pelleteri Breeders' Cup.
His absence makes the Hot Springs more evenly matched, and probably helped it attract a few more starters.
"With him in the mix, it would have been pretty thin," said trainer Don Von Hemel, who will start Sand Ridge. "But with him out of the picture, I think they've got a chance to get six or seven horses.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - There may not be a quicker filly or mare for a half-mile at Woodbine than Dreams Go Bye, a diminutive 5-year-old nicknamed Mighty Mouse by her trainer, Mike Catania.
Dreams Go Bye will try to run as fast as she can, for as far as she can, in Sunday's La Voyageuse Handicap, a five-furlong race worth $107,000.
ARCADIA, Calif. - In the five months since Buffythecenterfold finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, trainer Mel Stute has not lost faith.
"Everybody says I'm crazy, but I think she's the second-best filly in the country," Stute said.
Stute's analysis will be tested Sunday at Santa Anita, where Buffythecenterfold returns in the $75,000 Santa Paula Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The 6 1/2-furlong stakes drew five entrants, and since none are named Storm Flag Flying, expectations for Buffythecenterfold will be high.
NEW ORLEANS - A minor illness has forced the California invader Redattore out of Sunday's Explosive Bid Handicap. Redattore, who flew here Wednesday, won the Grade 2 Frank Kilroe Mile in his last start and would have been one of the two favorites in the Explosive Bid, but trainer Richard Mandella elected not even to enter Redattore after he showed signs of illness.
"He spiked a little fever," Mandella said. "It could just be a little shipping fever, but we can't take a chance."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Smok'n Frolic was no match for Allamerican Bertie when the two met in the Grade 2 Rampart Handicap at Gulfstream Park on March 1. The good news for Smok'n Frolic is that there are no Allamerican Berties in Sunday's $100,000-added Next Move Handicap at Aqueduct.
Smok'n Frolic, the 120-pound highweight, will be a deserving favorite over six other fillies and mares in the 1 1/8-mile Next Move.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Offlee Wild, forced to skip the Florida Derby because of a bacterial infection, worked five furlongs in 1:01 at Gulfstream Park on Friday and remains on target for his next start, Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes on April 12.
Offlee Wild worked shortly before 9 a.m. with jockey Mark Guidry in the irons and was never under pressure, although he did drift a bit coming off the turn and through the stretch, finishing up well off the inside rail.
