HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Aly Quatorze came to south Florida winless in five career starts. But a little maturity and a lot of patience have resulted in two straight victories and a berth in Saturday's Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes.
Aly Quatorze worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 seconds under trainer Nick Zito's assistant Jamie Sanders on Monday morning. It is Sanders whom Zito credits for Aly Quatorze's sudden emergence.
Golden Oldie ($6.20) dominated the $50,000 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park, easily drawing off to a five-length victory under jockey Axel DaSilva.
Golden Oldie now has won 8 of 29 starts and just over $190,000. The Dust Commander, named for the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner, is his first stakes victory.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Favorite Funtime parlayed a slow pace into her first major stakes win in Sunday's $200,000 Santa Maria Handicap* at Santa Anita.
Allowed to set her own pace, Favorite Funtime held off a late challenge from Verruma to score by a head in the Grade 1 Santa Maria. Ridden by Gary Stevens, Favorite Funtime ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.15, beating a field that included Spain and Queenie Belle, who failed to mount challenges.
NEW ORLEANS - Repent did nothing Sunday to contradict the notion he's a major contender for the Kentucky Derby, winning the Risen Star Stakes* at Fair Grounds by two and one-quarter lengths in the first start of his season.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Moon Queen led from start to finish in Sunday's $100,000 The Very One Handicap at Gulfstream Park, and though no one ever got close to her, and she won by 6 1/2 lengths, she provided her supporters with some anxious moments as she neared the finish.
With less than 50 yards remaining in the race, Moon Queen suddenly ducked to the outside and changed leads. Jockey Jerry Bailey had to hold on tightly to the reins as Moon Queen flashed under the wire.
ALBANY, Calif. - Fertile set a fast early pace and cruised to a 1 1/4 length victory over That's Our Tricky in the $57,925 Vallejo Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday.
Fertile ($4) was never challenged in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, winning in 1:10.03 after setting fractions of 21.37 and 44.11. She provided jockey Jason Lumpkins with his first of five straight wins on the card.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Bob Holthus, who is winning races at a 40 percent clip at Oaklawn Park, pulled his second mild upset in a stakes race this meet when he sent out Red N' Gold to win the $50,000 Pippin before a Saturday crowd of 28,833.
It was five lengths back in second to Victory At Sea, who was 5.25 lengths clear of third-place finisher Please Sign In. Devout Sinner, the favorite, finished another 2.25 lengths back in fourth.
ARCADIA, Calif. - An upset win by Nazirali in Saturday's $200,000 * at Santa Anita did more to confuse than clarify California's marathon turf division.
Nazirali ($16) won the Grade 2 San Luis Obispo Handicap in his stakes debut.
Denon, the winner of the Hollywood Derby last November, finished fourth as the 3-5 favorite after being trapped on the rail on the final turn.
ALBANY, Calif. - Hall Of Gold broke down after winning the $59,163 Richmond Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.
The 4-year-old filly won the six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length over Bullish Miss, who won a four-way photo for second. Hall Of Gold ($7.60) ran the six furlongs in 1:09.48 before suffering a fractured sesamoid in her left front leg as she pulled up into the turn after the race.
"She gives you what she's got every time, and it's usually enough," said winning jockey Chad Schvaneveldt, after Hall Of Gold won for the sixth time in 10 starts.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- R C Mr Hay Boy ended Leaping Plum's seven-year domination of the Grasmick Handicap Saturday afternoon at Fonner Park, posting a $58.20 upset in the process.
Leaping Plum, in what is thought to be a world record, had won the Grasmick each year since 1995. An 11-year-old, trained by Joe Moss, Leaping Plum finished third Saturday, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.