HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - The first three finishers in the $125,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on Saturday - Crowned King, Great Notion, and Comic Truth - will run back in the Grade 2, $500,000 Arkansas Derby.
The Rebel, run over 1 1/16 miles, was the final local prep for the Arkansas Derby, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles on April 12.
Great Notion was the 3-5 favorite for the Rebel based on his nine-length romp in the $75,000 Southwest Stakes here March 1. But his race was lost at the start Saturday.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Jason Lumpkins, who has dominated the Turfway Park jockey standings throughout the winter-spring meet, will not be suspended for his role in the disqualification of Golden Marlin from the $150,000 Bourbonette Breeders' Cup Stakes on Saturday, said Mickey Sample, a Turfway steward.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Trainer Todd Pletcher's busy week began Saturday with Lion Tamer's fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park. It continued on Sunday with two stakes winners within a half-hour span: Tweedside at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 2 Orchid Handicap and Smok'n Frolic at Aqueduct in the Grade 3 Next Move Handicap. Pletcher's hectic week ends this Saturday, halfway around the world, when he sends out Harlan's Holiday in the $6 million Dubai World Cup.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Fresh off a victory in last Saturday's Cicada Stakes with Cyber Secret, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. has now turned his attention to this Saturday's $150,000 Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap at Aqueduct in which he will run Carson Hollow.
Sunday, Carson Hollow blitzed five furlongs in 58.41 seconds over Aqueduct's main track, working in company with two other Dutrow-trained horses. It was easily the fastest of 17 workouts of the morning. Perhaps too fast.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Chuck Peery was able to enjoy the Danville Handicap as a fan last Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.
He originally entered Trickey Trevor and Big League in the six-furlong stakes but took them out when El Dorado Shooter joined the lineup for the race.
Both of Peery's horses will run in Wednesday's Golden Gate co-feature, a six-furlong, $50,000 optional claiming race.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Smok'n Frolic ($3.80) used her class and speed to overpower five rivals in a front-running, 2 1/4-length score in the Grade 3, $108,000 Next Move Handicap at Aqueduct.
It was the third victory in the last four starts for Smok'n Frolic, who catapulted past the $1 million earnings mark ($1,015,844) for Cot Campbell's Dogwood Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher.
"She broke so good, I just put my hands down and let her run,'' winning jockey John Velazquez said. "She was real comfortable out there. She was the class of the field; she was very good today.''
Thoroughbred Arthur's Dream outsprinted Quarter Horse Secret Frills to the turn under jockey J. R. Valenzuela, then battled gamely in the stretch to hold the lead and emerge the winner of Saturday's 1,000-yard $75,000-added Mt. Cristo Rey Handicap at Sunland Park.
Smoke Chaser wore down early pacesetters Orphan's Wager and Abundantly Blessed and drew off to a three-length win in the $43,600 Kissapotamus Stakes. Abundantly Blessed held second while early trailer Win Won rallied for third. The favorite, Tejano Honey, was sixth in the field of eight.
Ridden by Curt Borque, Smoke Chaser ($11.20) covered six furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.62.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Buffythecenterfold scored a nose victory in Sunday's at Santa Anita, but her win marked the rare occasion when a leader was passed and then came back to prevail.
Buffythecenterfold ($6.20) was always near the pace, rallying four wide on the turn to take the lead. Her advantage was short-lived after Watching You closed from last in the field of five 3-year-old fillies to take a half-length lead at the eighth-pole. But as quickly as it seemed that Buffythecenterfold was beaten, she rallied along the inside to score a narrow win.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Honor Me fended off a strong late bid by Chindi to win the by a half-length at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. It was another length and three-quarters back in third to Sand Ridge.
Honor Me($10) tracked pacesetter and favorite Cojet in second early, while that one led the field through fractions of 22.51 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.98 seconds for the half-mile mark. In the stretch, Honor Me took over then held off Chindi for the win, covering six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.82.
