Cannock Chase wins the Canadian International
Cannock Chase and Ryan Moore flew down the stretch and blew away their rivals to get the win in the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Canadian International. Sent off as the 5/2 favorite, Cannock Chase was towards the back of the field early on as Triple Threat was the pacesetter for much of the early going, getting through a half mile in 50.95 seconds and three quarters in 1:16.54. Triple Threat brought his lead into the stretch but could not maintain the momentum as both Kaigun and Up With the Birds flew by to challenge for the lead. But Cannock Chase and Moore got going at the quarter pole and zoomed by late to win by a length and a half in the end. Up With the Birds finished second while Sheikhzayedroad (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) ran on for third.
In the $500,000 EP Taylor Stakes it was Curvy and Ryan Moore who got the score. Sent off as the 2/1 favorite, Curvy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was ninth early on as Rosalind strutted her stuff on the front end, galloping through three quarters in 1:14.93 seconds. Rosalind carried that lead into mid-stretch but once Curvy got some room late she exploded like a rocket and burst on by to win by a length and a half over Talmada who got up to nose out Rosalind for second. Cactus Kris (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went from last in mid-stretch to first at the wire in the Ontario Fashion Stakes. She was wrangled to the back of the pack while race favorite Endless Light (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got to the front. Endless Light had the lead in mid-stretch and was nearly five in front of Cactus Kris at the eighth pole, but Cactus Kris flew late and got up to win by a neck.
In the Grade 3 Nearctic Stakes it was 22/1 shot Bye Bye Bernie (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who lit up the toteboard. He was midpack early on and when jockey Rafael Hernandez angled him out, they flew home to win by a neck ahead of Summation Time (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who finished second and completed a $257 exacta.
Sarah Sis bounces back in the Raven Run
Sarah Sis didn’t fare well at Charles Town last time out, but she sure looked good on Saturday as she lit up the toteboard to win the Raven Run at Keeneland. Sent off at odds of 17/1, Sarah Sis (BetPTC.com Top Selection) stalked Bar of Gold (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) early on who set a sensible pace, getting through a half in 46.37 seconds in the seven furlong race. Sarah Sis and Florent Geroux pounced on Bar of Gold in mid-stretch and gradually went by, winning by a half length in the end. Bar of Gold was second just ahead of I’m a Looker who finished third.
Lucky Lindy flies by his opponents; wins the Hawthorne Derby
Lucky Lindy exploded down the lane and opened up late to score a solid two and a half length win over Saham in the Hawthorne Derby. Flashy Jewel went to the lead early at odds of 121/1 and brought the field to the turn before folding. Down the lane it was all the deep closers who started there moves as Mission Driven grabbed the lead outside the eighth pole. But that lead was short lived as Lucky Lindy rolled by and won with ease. Saham (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up for second while Nun The Less (BetPTC.com Longshot) finished third at 18/1.
Admirals War Chest goes wire to wire to win the Maryland Millions Classic
Admirals War Chest opened up a big lead late and just barely held on as he won the $150,000 Maryland Millions Classic on Saturday by a neck. Sent off at odds of 9/2, Admirals War Chest went right to the lead under jockey Taylor Hole and opened three and a half on the turn. They were in front five in mid-stretch but started to tire quickly as Bullheaded Boy looked to be the only one closing. But the wire came up in time for Admirals War Chest as he won by a neck over Bullheaded Boy. Phlash Phelps opted to run in the Maryland Millions Turf instead of the Classic and his connections were rewarded with a three quarter length win. Sent off as the 9/5 favorite, Phlash Phillips battled throughout the late stages of the race with Roadhog (BetPTC.com Top Selection), but was able to prevail over that rival at the finish.
Lionhearted Lady took the lead early and never gave it back as she took home the top honors in the Maryland Million Distaff. The 2/1 favorite in a field of ten, Lionhearted Lady took the lead down the backstretch and edged away with ease, winning by two lengths over Aix En Provence who ran second. Jacks in the Deck (BetPTC.com Longshot) was able to just hold off the mighty Ben’s Cat (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to win the Maryland Millions Sprint by a nose. Jacks in the Deck and Ben’s Cat hooked up early and they battled down the lane head and head, with Jacks in the Deck prevailing by the narrowest of margins.