Zee Bros pulls off a shocker in the DeFrancis Dash
Zee Bros was dismissed by bettors in the $350,000 DeFrancis Dash at Laurel Park, but he rewarded those who did back by scoring a $60 upset win. Sent off at odds of 29/1, Zee Bros and jockey Jose Ortiz broke beautifully and were second early on as Favorite Tale went out to set the pace. Happy My Way (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was expected to be on the lead but couldn’t keep pace with those top two early. Zee Bros took over the lead as they started on the far turn and was promptly joined by favored Dads Caps (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) as they came to the top of the lane. As they straightened away though Zee Bros kicked away and poured it on down the lane to win by two and three quarter lengths. Happy My Way closed up for second while Bern Identity finished in third.
The big Saturday started at Laurel with Lake Sebago (BetPTC.com Longshot) winning as a 27/1 bomb. E Dubai’s Honor (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) grabbed the lead turning for home while heavily favored Overprepared (BetPTC.com Top Selection) had traffic trouble. E Dubai’s Honor had a two length lead in mid-stretch but Lake Sebago kept closing furiously and got up late to win by half a length. The trifecta paid $549 for a $2 bet. Favored Cinco Charlie (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went wire to wire in the James Lewis Stakes, dominating by two and three quarter lengths over Majestic Affair (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection).
Griff broke last early on but was able to pass all twelve of his rivals to win the City of Laurel. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Griff and Abel Castellano were thirteenth early on as the pace got hot up front. Thirty to one longshot Cutty Sark grabbed the lead in mid-stretch but was unable to stop Griff who blew by to win by almost three lengths over Cutty Sark. Who’s in Town (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied from mid-pack to take home the Safely Kept Stakes. He was able to hold off a late rally from Shayjolie who got up to finish second as the favorite. Favored Stormin Monarcho (BetPTC.com Top Selection) turned in a big performance in the Dickie Small Stakes by three emphatic lengths.
Dynamic Sky wins the Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct
Dynamic Sky got through late down on the rail to get up and win the $250,000 Red Smith Handicap. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Dynamic Sky (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was sixth early on as Micromanage and Legendary (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went out to set the pace. Legendary and jockey Sheldon Russell made a move to the lead with three eighths of a mile left and took that lead to mid-stretch. But with a furlong left it was Dynamic Sky who got through down along the rail and burst to the lead. Heavily favored Big Blue Kitten (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) had severe traffic trouble and once he finally got through he started to roll. But he was a little too late as Dynamic Sky held on to win by a length and a quarter. Big Blue Kitten finished second while 40/1 shot Margano (BetPTC.com Longshot) rallied to run third and complete a $172 trifecta for every $1 combination.
Sparkling Review rolls by late to win the Mrs. Revere Stakes
Sparkling Review and Julien Leparoux blew by their competition in the homestretch to win the $200,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Sparking Review settled in mid-pack early on as long shot Kiss Moon went out to set the pace. Kiss Moon kicked away at the top of the lane and opened up three lengths in mid-stretch. But Leparoux and Sparkling Review had all the momentum late as they burst by to win by two and three quarters lengths over Lara Lara (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who closed from thirteenth to get second. Kiss Moon held on for third.
In the Commonwealth Turf Stakes it was Heart To Heart (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who scored with ease as the even money favorite. Heart To Heart went right to the lead and was never pressured at any point as he cruised around the Churchill Downs turf course to a near four length win. Other Cheek was second all the way around at 17/1 and Bashart who finished third was fourth in the early going.
No Problem has no problem winning the Bob Hope Stakes
No Problem was the second longest shot on the board in the Bob Hope Stakes on Saturday at Del Mar, but he was first across the wire as he scored a 17/1 upset win. No Problem and Victor Espinoza sat a good trip early on in third as All Indians (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out to set the pace with pressure from Every May. They were both gone by the time they turned for home as No Problem and heavily favored Alright Alright squared off for the final furlong. But No Problem roared by at the sixteenth pole and edged clear to win by half a length over Alright Alright.