Potaro and Bay Eagle hooked up in the stretch of Saturday's $200,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, in New Kent, Va., and Potaro, under Brent Bartram, came away a neck winner. The victory was the third straight for Potaro, who is owned by Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Sheppard.
Potero returned $6.40 as the favorite in the field of nine 3-year-olds. He ran 1 1/4 miles on the turf in 2:02.17.
Rose of Zollern contributed to another big day for trainer Bill Mott by rolling past favored Trip to win the $82,250 HBPA Handicap on Saturday at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Under veteran Larry Melancon and 118 pounds, Rose of Zollern raced sixth early in the one-mile HBPA Cap before launching her winning bid between two tiring rivals at the quarter pole. Trip, the
119-pound highweight in the field of 10 fillies and mares, put away Maltese Superb at the top of the stretch but was no match for Rose of Zollern, who prevailed by two lengths in 1:36.89 over a fast track.
ELMONT, N.Y. - It looks like England's Legend will have a say in the female turf division after her 1 1/2-length win over favored Gaviola in Saturday's $250,000 New York Handicap at Belmont Park.
Gaviola set an uncontested pace in the 1 1/4-mile New York over the inner turf, carving out fractions of 23.76 seconds, 47.82, 1:11.25, and 1:35.48. England's Legend, ridden by Corey Nakatani, tracked the leader from second position until drawing on even terms with Gaviola, who was ridden by Jerry Bailey, with a furlong remaining.
MIAMI - It appeared to be the most wide open of the five stakes on Saturday's $1 million Summit of Speed program, but Illusioned turned the $250,000 Carry Back into a runaway victory, drawing off to a convincing 4 1/2-length victory over 9-5 favorite Beyond Brilliant. The win was the first of two straight on the card for the team of owner George Steinbrenner and trainer Bill Mott. The pair also won the featured Princess Rooney Handicap with Dream Supreme.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Lady Cherie circled rivals quickly on the second turn and went on to a one-length victory over five Ohio-bred rivals in the $75,000, nine-furlong Rose DeBartolo Memorial for fillies and mares, giving trainer Michael Nance a sweep of the Ohio stakes on Saturday. The Nance-trained Lane Lorrain had won the Cincinnatian stakes at River Downs a half-hour earlier.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Heavily Favored Strut the Stage took the $132,375 Grade 3 Toronto Cup Handicap Saturday at Woodbine with ease under Todd Kabel.
Legal Heir and Stage Classic dueled through fractions of 23.38 seconds and 46.03 in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. Strut the Stage stalked Legal Heir and Stage Classic while three wide and joined the leaders midway on the turn.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Piazza di Spagna and jockey Chuck Lopez teamed up for a front-running victory in the $75,000 Inside Information Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.
A 5-year-old mare, Piazza di Spagna shipped in for owner-trainer Rene Araya after two easy claiming wins at Belmont Park. She made the lead early in the mile turf race and never looked back, giving Lopez three wins on the afternoon.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Fair Apache was up for a fight in Saturday's $71,625 Valkyr Handicap at Hollywood Park.
After leading by a length on the backstretch, Fair Apache was challenged on the turn by Global, but fought through the stretch to win by a head.
Ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, Fair Apache ($5.60) ran 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:02.05. A 5-year-old mare, Fair Apache set fractions of 22.25 and 44.26 seconds before being challenged by Global.
"She's just steady," Delahoussaye said. "She finishes like she'll kick on, but she keeps that same pace."
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Morris Monroe has turned into a savvy claim for Bill Goddard and trainer Paul Aguirre. Purchased for $40,000 in April 2000, The Morris Monroe has since earned $158,852 and finished second in two stakes. On Monday, closing day of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, The Morris Monroe can pull an upset in the $70,000 Answer Do Stakes for California-bred sprinters on turf.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Congaree has blossomed into a star in the four months since he last started in California.
When he left in early April, he was the winner of an allowance race, and a Triple Crown prospect. When he starts in Sunday's $500,000 Swaps Stakes over 1 1/8 miles, Congaree will be a short-priced favorite to add to his reputation as one of the nation's top 3-year-olds.