Grand Arch takes the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland
Keeneland is underway and Grand Arch got the meet going in a big way as he took home the top honors in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Grand Arch sat just off the pacesetters who were led by Kelinni who set a pretty moderate tempo, getting through a half mile in 48 seconds flat. Kelinni brought that lead to the top of the stretch but was quickly overhauled by Grand Arch (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who spurted clear. Meanwhile The Pizza Man (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) started to fly home on the outside. The wire came up just in time for Grand Arch who won by a head over The Pizza Man who came up just short in second.
In the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity it was Brody’s Cause who rallied from tenth early on to get up for the win. Sent off as an 11/1 long shot, Brody’s Cause sat about ten lengths off the pace early on as Sheikh of Sheikhs set the pace. Race favorite Exaggerator grabbed the lead turning for home and looked like he might spurt clear. But Brody’s Cause had the most momentum late and got up to beat Exaggerator by a length. Tepin (BetPTC.com Top Selection) turned in one of the better performances of the day as she crushed her rivals by seven lengths in the First Lady Stakes. Tepin stalked from second and took over at the top of the lane and poured it on to win over Crowley’s Law (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who got up to finish second.
Fioretti (BetPTC.com Longshot) scored a big upset in winning the TCA Stakes. Sent off at odds of 17/1, Fioretti was just behind favored Judy The Beauty (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) early on, but blew past that rival and several others as she got up to win by three quarters of a length over Heykittykitty and Judy The Beauty who finished second and third respectively. Amelia’s Wild Ride (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) won the Woodford Stakes going all the way at 14/1. Amelia’s Wild Ride got pressure early on from Mongolian Saturday but was able to shake that rival off at the top of the lane and pulled clear to win by two and a half lengths.
Tonalist wins another Jockey Club Gold Cup
Tonalist won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont for the second straight year as he crushed his rivals in the Grade 1 event. Sent off as the even money favorite, Tonalist was fourth early on as Constitution set off to make the early pace. Wicked Strong stalked Constitution and took over the lead as they ran on the final turn. Wicked Strong’s lead was short lived though as Tonalist blew by him at the top of the lane and pulled away to win by four and three quarter lengths in the end. In the Hill Prince Stakes it was Takeover Target who scored in a tough stretch battle with long shot Vision Perfect. Vision Perfect took the lead right out of the gate and kept it until mid-stretch when he was joined by Takeover Target who gradually edged clear to win by a length and a three quarters.
Greenpointcrusader crushed his rivals in the Grade 1 Champagne, scoring by over four lengths from off the pace. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Greenpointcrusader was sixth early on and made a wide sweeping move and blew by his rivals down the lane, besting second place finisher Sunny Ridge (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who got the place spot. Nickname (BetPTC.com Longshot) scored a nice win in the Frizette after stalking race favorite She’s All Ready early on and pouncing late. Nickname was second and took over from She’s All Ready at the quarter pole and never looked back, winning by three and a half lengths.
Stephanie’s Kitten got back to her winning ways as she won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl. Danza Cavallo went out to the front early and Stephanie’s Kitten (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) stayed closer than normal, just two lengths behind early on. Danza Cavallo came to the top of the lane in front but Stephanie’s Kitten and Irad Ortiz flew by late to get up and win by a length and a half. In the Kelso Handicap, it was Appealing Tale (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who went wire to wire to get the win. Appealing Tale got out in front and came into mid-stretch three lengths ahead. Red Vine (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied up into second while heavy favorite Honor Code (BetPTC.com Top Selection) could only muster a third place finish.
Wild Dude flies late to get the win in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship
Wild Dude and Rafael Bejarano flew from off the pace to get up and win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship. Sent off at odds of 2/1, Wild Dude (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was fourth early on as Masochistic (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went to the front and clipped off a very fast half mile of 43.93 seconds. Masochistic brought his lead into the stretch but stopped quickly as the early fractions caught up with him. Meanwhile Wild Dude and Kobe’s Back, who were 4th and 5th early blew on by and finished 1-2 respectively, more than four lengths clear of Glacken Too who was third.
No Silent won the Eddie D. Stakes coming down the hill, edging away late to win by a length and three quarters. No Silent was fourth early on and grabbed the lead under Gary Stevens at the top of the lane. Meanwhile Melatonin who was last at the top of the lane flew down the outside to get into contention, but No Silent held off Melatonin by a length and three quarters.