ARCADIA, Calif. - King Robyn, who won an $80,000 claiming race in January, scored his first stakes win in the $80,700 for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Alex Solis for red-hot trainer Jeff Mullins, King Robyn ($7) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.21, holding off a sustained rally from 18-1 Truckle Feature. Eye of the Tiger finished third, followed by Indian Express, Rojo Toro, and Only the Best. Jimmy O, Our Bobby V., and Red Apache were scratched.
ALBANY, Calif. - Presidio Heights ($12.20) opened a daylight lead on El Dorado Shooter down the backstretch and held him off by a neck down the stretch to win the $67,400 Danville Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.
El Dorado Shooter, who ran fractions of 21.08 and 43.16 seconds in winning the Ken Maddy Sprint Handicap in his last start, broke alertly but saw Presidio Heights rush past him early. Presidio Heights ran a 21.08 opening quarter as he built a two-length lead and a 42.89 half-mile as he maintained his advantage. The final time in the six-furlong race was 1:08.11.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Krz Ruckus outran five-furlong track record holder Olympian to capture the $108,000 Briartic Handicap, the opening day feature of the Woodbine meeting.
Krz Ruckus and Olympian dueled up front throughout the five-furlong sprint, setting fractions of 21.52 and 44.38 seconds over the sloppy going. Krz Ruckus began to edge away in the final sixteenth to prevail by a length in 57.26 seconds.
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.
