Bossier City, La. - Crowned King emerged from a spirited four-horse battle past the furlong marker to win Sunday's Minstrel Stakes by a length and half.
Whippee finished second and Aledo Pass reported home third. Morning line favorite and the only previous stakes winner in the field, Zydeco Affair, was a late scratch as was Broke Again and Favorite Mister.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Despite getting stepped on by another horse, favored Wando took the Grade 2 with authority at Woodbine Sunday.
Wando tracked the pace along the rail under Richard Migliore in the mile and a sixteenth event for 2-year-olds, as Cyberdevil set fractions of :23.16 and :47.87 seconds. Gigawatt took control on the far turn and opened up a clear lead at the quarter pole, but Wando blew by him at the eighth pole en route to a three and three-quarter-length score, a final time of 1:45.10 seconds.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The stable that has developed into the most dominant force in Europe flexed its muscles Sunday at Keeneland when Landseer, trained by Aidan O'Brien, drove to victory in the richest race of the fall meet, the $600,000 .
Landseer, the 3-1 second choice, won by a neck over Touch of the Blues while Beat Hollow, the 7-10 favorite in a field of eight, finished another half-length back in third.
ANDERSON, Ind. - Perfect Drift shook off the effects of a four-month layoff Saturday night to narrowly top a field of 12 in the Grade 3, $414,700 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park.
Wiseman's Ferry and City Sharpster hooked up on the early pace of the mile and a sixteenth test as Perfect Drift and Jon Court were content to watch the race unfold from the middle of the field. As City Sharpster began to fade, Court edged Perfect Drift out going to the far turn and made his run at Wiseman's Ferry nearing the stretch.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - The third time was a charm, as Secret Romeo finally won a Michigan Sire Stakes, a prize that eluded him at ages 2 and 3. A son of Service Stripe, Secret Romeo locked up his third state championship with his win Saturday evening at Great Lakes Downs in the last of six races in the series for the progeny of Michigan stallions. The purse for each race was approximately $150,000.
ARCADIA, Calif. - A stylish win in Saturday's $500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita gave Golden Apples the first of two objectives for October.
Now, Golden Apples goes to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Arlington Park on Oct. 26 as the favorite.
"I'm relieved that's over," trainer Ben Cecil said in the winner's circle. "But I've got the next one to worry about."
ELMONT, N.Y. - Imperial Gesture followed her good-looking win in the Grade 1 Gazelle last month with another comfortable victory in Saturday's Grade 1 at Belmont Park.
Imperial Gesture, the second choice, won the $750,000 Beldame by 2 3/4 lengths over Mandy's Gold. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to the 6-5 favorite, Summer Colony, in third.
Transcendental, Allamerican Bertie, Minister's Baby, and Unrestrained completed the order of finish.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - After looking sensational in yet another stakes win, Xtra Heat has one fewer thing to accomplish in her amazing career.
"She beat the boys," trainer John Salzman Sr. said Saturday after Xtra Heat made easy work of the $250,000 at Keeneland. "We can't read about that anymore."
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sky Mesa enhanced his already glowing reputation and most likely sealed the role of favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by cruising to a four-length victory Saturday in the 89th running of the $434,800 at Keeneland.
Owned by John C. Oxley and ridden by Edgar Prado, Sky Mesa was always close to an early pace set by Truckle Feature, then launched his winning bid midway through the final turn en route to stay unbeaten in three career starts. He returned $2.60 as the heavy favorite in a field of six 2-year-olds.
