HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Ask Me No Secrets, a rapidly improving filly trained by David Hofmans, won her first stakes before a crowd of 21,836 at Oaklawn on Saturday when she led from start to finish to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Oaklawn Breeders' Cup by 4 1/2 lengths over Red n'Gold.
It was a head back in third to even-money favorite Descapate, who was followed under the wire by Caressing and Search Party.
The Oaklawn Breeders' Cup, the final local prep for the Grade 1,
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Harlan's Holiday avenged his two setbacks at the hands of Booklet earlier this winter, rallying from off a blistering pace to score a 3 1/2-length victory over Blue Burner in the $1 million at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Booklet, who dueled through record-setting early fractions with Smooth Jazz, finished fourth in a field of 11 3-year-olds.
The victory gave trainer Ken McPeek, who trains Harlan's Holiday for owners Jack and Laurie Wolf, the first Grade 1 victory of his career.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Mr Ross held off a late surge by Remington Rock at the wire to defend his title successfully in the Grade 3, $100,000 Razorback Handicap by a neck before 21,836 at Oaklawn. It was another neck back in third to Big Numbers, who finished a length in front of fourth-place finisher and 3-5 favorite Crafty Shaw.
NEW ORLEANS - Serena's Tune shouldered lofty expectations throughout her career, and though she never reached the top of the game, she at least leaves it on a winning note. Serena's Tune won the $125,000 Victoria Lass Handicap on Saturday at Fair Grounds in what was probably her final start before being bred to Storm Cat this spring.
NEW ORLEANS - Fair Grounds could have become a showcase for the Sam-Son Farms stakes horses this month. Instead, the Sam-Son stars will be waiting for Keeneland.
Strut the Stage, second in the Grade 1 Secretariat last year, twice entered turf allowance races here as trainer Mark Frostad tried to start the colt's 4-year-old campaign, but the first race failed to fill, and when the second was rained off the turf, Strut the Stage scratched.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The gawkers and whisperers were out in force Saturday in the vicinity of Sec. 224 in the clubhouse box.
That's where O.J. Simpson watched the beginning of the Florida Derby card with a small group of friends before moving on to the turf club. Simpson, who now lives in the Miami suburb of Kendall, said it was his first-ever trip to Gulfstream.
"I used to go to the track in California all the time," said Simpson, who formerly owned horses in partnership with B. Wayne Hughes and other Los Angeles-area owners.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Just because Ethan Man has shown himself to be a prototypical miler doesn't mean Pat Byrne isn't tempted to try him at a classic distance. Ethan Man, a son of Glitterman, was highly impressive in drawing off to win the seven-furlong on the Gulfstream Park undercard Saturday, leading Byrne to name the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass Stakes as the colt's next possible start.
"This is the time of year that everyone wants to stretch out," said Byrne, who trains Ethan Man for West Point Thoroughbreds. "Why is that?"
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Bobby Frankel's domination of graded stakes races continued Saturday when No Slip won the Grade 3, $200,000 Golden Gate Breeders' Cup Handicap.
No Slip ($4.20) was not originally going to run in the race, but Frankel entered him when defending champion Northern Quest came up with a quarter crack earlier in the week.
Although the Golden Gate Fields turf course had been favoring speed, No Slip came from off the pace set by stablemate Sumitas to win the 1 1/8-mile turf race by two lengths over Kerrygold. Sumitas finished third.
OLDSMAR, Fla. - Jockey Bobby Walker Jr. and the horse Comedy Club have more in common than the victory they shared on Friday's card.
Comedy Club has been in several barns in his 35-race career and has raced at a number of tracks around the Midwest. Walker, a native of Louisiana, has ridden at a number of tracks around the Midwest.
Comedy Club has competed from the bottom claiming ranks up to allowance company, while Walker has gone from being sidelined with injuries and out of action completely to being among the leading riders at Canterbury last summer.
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Affirmed Success proved there is still some life in his 8-year-old legs by accelerating past Multiple Choice approaching the eighth pole and drawing clear for a two-length victory in Saturday's $108,200 Toboggan Handicap at Aqueduct.
Vodka got up in the final jump to nip Multiple Choice by a neck for second. It was 6 1/4 lengths back to Wrangler, the 4-5 favorite, who finished a nonthreatening fourth. Run Kush Run and King's Messenger completed the order of finish.
