Bajan takes home the Moccasin at Hollywood Park
Betfair Hollywood Park got underway this week, and it was Bajan who went from last to first to score in the $100,000 Moccasin Stakes on Saturday. Sent off as the 4/5 favorite, Bajan was the only stakes winner in the field going into the race and came out of it the same way. Bajan (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) settled in fifth early on as Sergeant O’Rourke went out to set a demanding first quarter of 22.78 seconds. Sergeant O’Rourke brought a lead to the quarter pole, but Bajan had already gotten underway under jockey Victor Espinoza three wide. Bajan grabbed the lead at the top of the lane and edged away in the final furlong to win by two and a quarter lengths. For Emma (BetPTC.com Top Selection) came rallying four wide and was able to get up into the second spot while Lemon D’Oro finished up in third.
The Hollywood Prevue on Sunday saw Shared Belief stamp himself as a big contender for next month’s CashCall Futurity as he dominated the Grade 3 race. Shared Belief pressed the pace with Papa Turf, but Shared Belief and Corey Nakatani drew off down the lane to get up and win by seven and three quarter lengths.
Mordi’s Miracle shocks the Sunshine Millions Preview Classic at Gulfstream
Mordi’s Miracle was dismissed by the wagering public at 10/1 in the $150,000 Sunshine Millions Preview Classic, but he was all alone at the wire as he dominated the race by three lengths. Mordi’s Miracle was third early on and was able to get quite the garden trip as the two favorites in the race, Souper Speedy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Sr. Quisqueyano (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) both went out and battled each other early on. Edgar Prado guided Mordi’s Miracle to the three path and he blew by the two favorites at the head of the lane, drawing clear late to win by three lengths. Souper Speedy finished up in second with Sr. Quisqueyano in third.
In the Sunshine Millions Preview Distaff it was My Pal Chrissy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who held off a very stubborn Awesome Belle to win the $150,000 event. Sent off at low odds of 1/5, My Pal Chrissy stalked Awesome Belle who went out the front early and pounced on that rival turning for home. She opened up two lengths, but Awesome Belle dug back in and got to winthin three quarters of a length at the wire, but My Pal Chrissy prevailed.
Abaco rallies from far back to win the Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs
Abaco and Rosie Napravnik spotted the early leaders thirteen lengths in the Cardinal Handicap, but made up all the ground needed and got up to win the $100,000 event on Sunday. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Abaco (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was eighth early on as Soft Whisper went off and opened up a big early advantage. As the field went to the final turn, Soft Whisper packed it in as the rest of the field caught up and the scramble was on. Solid Appeal (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) grabbed the lead at the head of the lane, and was promptly tackled by Miz Ida (BetPTC.com Longshot) at the sixteenth pole. Abaco came down the outside though and picked them all up to win by a length. Miz Ida was second with Solid Appeal in third. Starstruck (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was fourth, so if you played the three BetPTC.com selections underneath the top selection, the Super came back $337.50 for a buck.