LEXINGTON, Ky. - Bedanken narrowly held off an inside run from Mariensky to post a nose victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $115,700 at Keeneland.
Bedanken, owned by Pin Oak Stables and trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, raced well back in a field of 10 3-year-old fillies before launching an outside run down the center of the turf course. Ridden by Don Pettinger, she returned $6.80 as second choice after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.24 over a yielding course.
Despite an easy victory in the Joseph A. Gimma Stakes in her last start, Beautiful America was the second choice behind favored Combanchera in the $100,000 Maid of the Mist.
After a stretch duel, Beautiful America, who was ridden by Santos, edged away from Combanchera for a half-length win in the mile race. It was another five lengths back to Shesasmokin in third in the nine-horse field of 2-year-old fillies.
Beautiful America ($7.60) covered the distance in 1:37.61 over a fast track. Owned by Chester and Mary Broman, Beautiful America is trained by Mike Hernandez.
Dat You Miz Blue dominated the $125,000 Iroquois, winning the seven-furlong race for fillies and mares by five lengths.
Princess Dixie closed for second, finishing 2 1/2 lengths in front of the favorite and third-place finisher, Maddie May, who won the Iroquois last year.
Under Santos, who completed a consecutive stakes triple, Dat You Miz Blue stalked pacesetter Runaway Tiger and then took the lead after a half-mile.
Dat You Miz Blue covered the distance in 1:22.84 over a fast track.
Well Fancied squeezed through a narrow opening along the rail in midstretch and drew clear for a one-length victory over Tom's Thunder in the $125,000 Hudson Handicap at six furlongs. Vodka finished third, three-quarters of a length ahead of Say Florida Sandy.
The win gave Well Fancied a sweep of the New York-bred sprint stakes at this meet. On opening day, he won the General Douglas MacArthur Handicap.
Rhum, with a determined outside move, wore down favored Shopping for Love and Eventail in the final sixteenth for a 1 3/4-length victory in the $150,000 Ticonderoga.
Shopping for Love, in what was probably her last start before being sold at Keeneland next month, held for second in the 1 1/8-mile grass race for fillies and mares. Dynamic Lisa was a nose back in third in the 11-horse field.
Rhum, under Velazquez, sat several lengths off the early leaders and began her move from the outside as the field turned for home.
Quiet Ruler, winless in 11 previous tries over Belmont's turf course, pulled a 45-1 upset in the $150,000 Mohawk Handicap. Whitmore's Conn, the 2-1 favorite, finished 1 1/2 lengths back in second. It was a neck back to Chasin' Wimmin.
John Velazquez picked up the mount on Quiet Ruler when Finality was scratched. It was Velazquez's third consecutive stakes win after Santos had won the first three stakes of the day.
ELMONT, N.Y. - He may not have been as impressive as in his first two starts, but Funny Cide remained unbeaten nonetheless Saturday at Belmont Park.
After being rated while racing between horses, Funny Cide found running room along the rail nearing the stretch and won the $100,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes for New York-bred juveniles by a neck over a stubborn Spite the Devil. It was three lengths back to Go Rockin' Robin.
The Sleepy Hollow was one of seven races for New York-breds on Saturday, New York Showcase Day.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Gander, who won the Empire Classic in 1999, scored another win in the $250,000 New York-bred race on Saturday at Belmont Park.
The 1 1/8-mile was one of seven New York-bred stakes worth a total of $1 million on New York Showcase Day.
Gander, the 4-5 favorite under Richard Migliore, won by a half-length over Compelling World. It was another half-length back to longshot Lord Ofthe Thunder in third in the 12-horse field.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Futural, who was good enough to be favored in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap earlier this year, looks like the horse to beat in Sunday's
1 3/8-mile Premier's at Hastings Park. Five other horses have been entered, including B.C. Derby winner Cruising Kat.
Futural, who is winless in 2002, is obviously not the same horse who was disqualified from first place in the 2001 Hollywood Gold Cup. He banked more than $475,000 that year.