Wise Dan shines once again, wins the Shadwell Turf Mile
Death, Taxes, and Wise Dan. Those seem to be three certainties in life as once again the gutsy gelding prevailed for another turf win, this time in the $1,000,000 Shadwell Turf Mile. Wise Dan (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) broke away last in the one mile event but was eventually guided up into the sixth position as Silver Max went out to set the pace. Silver Max turned for home with a two length advantage while Wise Dan and John Velazquez went the overland route, going six wide into the lane. Silver Max was overhauled by Sayaad (BetPTC.com Longshot) who took a short lead. But Wise Dan had all the momentum as he flew late down the outside to get up in the final yards and win by a length over a late closing Grand Arch. Sayaad held on for third.
Carpe Diem might have stamped himself as the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as he careered away to a huge six length win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity. He was close up throughout and made a move after the lead on the far turn and never looked back as he opened up down the lane. Mr Z finished up in second with Bold Conquest rounding out the trifecta. Dayatthespa stalked Istanford early and pulled away down the lane to win the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes. Sent off at odds of 7/2, Dayatthespa got the jump on most of her rivals as she pounced on the lead at the quarter pole. Better Lucky (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied up for second while favored Filimbi ran third.
Leigh Court put in a furious late rally down the far outside to get up and win the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. The fourth choice in the wagering in just a field of six, Leigh Court and Gary Boulanger were fifth early on favored Stonetastic (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) battled through wicked early fractions with R Free Roll (BetPTC.com Top Selection). Stonetastic put away R Free Roll but couldn’t hold off Leigh Court who rallied by and won by three lengths. Southern Honey (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) rallied to get up for second at 6/1 ahead of Stonetastic. No Nay Never won the Grade 3 Woodford Stakes impressively off a seven month layoff. He went right to the front and never looked back, tiring a bit late but holding off 55/1 shot Mongol Bull by half a length.
Daredevil dominates the Champagne Stakes
Daredevil made easy work of his competition in Saturday’s $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park as he strolled to a two and a half length win. Sent off as the 8/5 favorite, Daredevil (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Javier Castellano sat back off the pace early on while long shot Holy Boss set the early pace. Daredevil made his move four wide and rolled past Holy Boss and opened up, down the lane, holding off a very game Upstart (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran second and was twelve lengths clear of third. The Grade 1 Frizette saw a huge upset as 24/1 bomber By The Moon (BetPTC.com Longshot) took home the top honors. By The Moon was second early on as Cavorting went out to set the pace. By The Moon went right on by Cavorting at the top of the lane and opened up down the stretch, winning by two and one quarter lengths. Wonder Gal got up for second over Feathered who was third.
In the Temperence Hill Stakes it was Ever Rider (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Village Warrior who put on a fantastic show, battling all the entire way down the stretch. Village Warrior set the pace and had the lead for almost every yard of the mile and five eighths marathon, but Ever Rider came flying late and got up to win by half a length. They were nine lengths clear of Cary Street (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who was third. In the Hill Street it was Ring Weekend (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who finally got clear in the final strides to get up and win over a 40/1 bomb in Daddy’s Kid.
East Hall shocks the Indiana Derby
East Hall came flying down the stretch and reeled in a loose on the lead Vicar’s in Trouble to win the Grade 2 $500,000 Indiana Derby. Sent off at odds of 16/1, East Hall (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was second early on, just behind Vicar’s In Trouble (BetPTC.com Top Selection) throughout the early portions of the race. Vicar’s In Trouble set a very relaxed pace and the whole race shape changed when race favorite Atreides broke slowly and was fifth early on. Vicar’s in Trouble cruised into the lane but East Hall just kept wearing him down and finally edged clear in the final fifty yards to win by a length. Vicar’s in Trouble was second while Just Call Kenny (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) finished in third. The BetPTC.com trifecta paid $220.60 for every $1.
The Indiana Oaks saw Tiz Windy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who roared past favored Unbridled Forever (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) in the final sixteenth to get the win. Unbridled Forever looked like a winner at the quarter pole but Tiz Windy and BJ Hernandez came flying and got up to win with ease over Unbridled Forever who finished second.