LAUREL, Md. - A year's worth of frustration for owner David Shimmon and trainer Bob Hess Jr. evaporated in the raw, rainy conditions at Laurel Park on Saturday when D'wildcat rallied up the rail to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash by 1 3/4 lengths.
Longshot Deer Run rallied down the center of the track to nose out Sassy Hound for second. Completing the order of finish were Outstander, Rusty Spur, Boston Common, Avanzado, and Thunderello.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dr. Kashnikow, whose most recent victory came in this race last year, used a fortunate head-bob to defeat 53-1 shot Foster's Landing by a nose Sunday in the at Churchill Downs.
With Robby Albarado riding again, Dr. Kashnikow, a 5-year-old Canadian-bred gelding, rallied from 10th in a field of 11 before gaining a slight advantage in deep stretch. But then Foster's Landing, who always had been near the pace, rallied back, and it was a timely bob of the head that preserved the repeat triumph for Dr. Kashnikow.
"I knew it was real close," said Albarado.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Since arriving in this country from France, Rolly Polly has sprinted on the turf and dirt, and run long on turf. But she does one thing best, and that is sprint on turf. In Sunday's $75,000 Safely Kept Handicap at Hollywood Park, she won for the fifth time without a loss in the United States at her specialty, with a late rally that got her up just in time.
ANDERSON, Ind. - Crafty Shaw returned to the winner's circle with a strong 1 1/4 length win over five others in Saturday's $103,600 Michael G. Schaefer Mile.
Under a good ride from James Lopez, Crafty Shaw followed along just off the early pace set by Strike Reality for a half mile. Lopez edged up outside to put a head in front approaching the stretch then went strongly to hold M B Sea at bay in a meet-best 1:35.69 over a track rated good but showing signs of a frozen base. The time was more than two seconds faster than the previous best at the distance this season.
VINTON, La. - Louisiana breds continued a lucrative fall schedule here Saturday night with five stakes restricted to those bred in the Bayou State.
Four weeks following the Louisiana Breeders' Festival at Louisiana Downs and three weeks before Champion's Day at Fair Grounds, state-breds put on a heck of a show on Premier Day at this slots-rejuvenated oval.
HOUSTON - The connections of Leo's Last Hurrahy plan to look at some major 3-year-old races for the colt next year after he proved he could handle two turns with a powerful, length and a half win over Worker Man and Zydeco Affair in the $150,000 Sam Houston Texan Juvenile on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.
The Juvenile was the lone open company race on the Texas Champions Day program, which featured nine stakes worth a combined $625,000.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Several longshots won at Hollywood Park on Saturday, producing a carryover of $114,086 into Sunday's nine-race card.
Sunday's pick six begins with the fourth race. Here are some notes regarding the pick six races.
Fourth race - Prime Step is the 8-5 morning line favorite, but he is not being raised in class despite winning his last start by 6 1/2 lengths and being claimed. He has a big pace advantage, though, so opposing him is difficult.
LAUREL, Md. - A year's worth of frustration for owner David Shimmon and trainer Bob Hess Jr. evaporated in the raw, rainy conditions at Laurel Park on Saturday when D'wildcat rallied up the rail to win the Grade 1, $300,000 by 1 3/4 lengths.
Longshot Deer Run rallied down the center of the track to nose out Sassy Hound for second. Completing the order of finish were Outstander, Rusty Spur, Boston Common, Avanzado, and Thunderello.
MIAMI - Best of the Rest put an exclamation mark on Calder's inaugural Florida Million card when he rallied from out of the darkness to post a 1 1/2-length victory over The Judge Sez Who and four others in the $200,000 Carl G. Rose Classic. The Rose was one of six statebred stakes races worth a combined $1 million on Saturday's program.
Best of the Rest gave Jerry Bailey his second stakes winner on the card. Earlier, he won the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup aboard Miesque's Approval.
