Sr. Quisqueyano upsets the Sunshine Millions Classic
Sr. Quisqueyano was dismissed in the wagering at 20/1 in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, but he rewarded his few backers with a half length triumph. Sr. Quisqueyano (BetPTC.com Longshot) was the second longest shot in the field and sat third early on as Wildcat Red (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and I’m Steppin It Up battled early, getting through a quick first quarter in 22.77 seconds. Those two went into the final turn still on the lead when Sr. Quisqueyano launched a four wide bid and took the lead at the three eighths pole. He stretched that lead at the top of the stretch to two lengths and held off a late charge from East Hall (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) to win by half a length. East Hall was second with Catholic Cowboy running third.
Pink Poppy and Julien Leparoux scored an 11 to 1 upset in winning the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Leparoux made an early move down backstretch to go after the lead after being fifth through the early stages of the race. The move proved a winning one as they relaxed once they got to the lead and held on to win gamely by a length and a half over Waterway Run and Awesome Flower who ran second and third. Dame Dorothy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) put on a dominating performance as she blew by the field with a five wide move on the turn and won with ease in the Sunshine Millions Distaff. The 2/1 favorite, Dame Dorothy held off Sheer Drama who closed from twelfth early on to get second at odds of 37/1.
Manchurian High (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) turned in a big move to win the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes. He was seventh when they got to the quarter pole but like a shot blew past his rivals and drew off to win by three and a half lengths. Race favorite Reporting Star (BetPTC.com Top Selection) finished second with Bad Debt (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) completing a $51 trifecta. Weekend Holiday won the Sunshine Millions Sprint in big fashion, opening up down the stretch to beat Grande Shores (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) by four lengths while heavy favorite Happy My Way (BetPTC.com Top Selection) could only manage a third place finish.
International Star rides rail to victory in Lecomte
International Star broke from the inside and stayed there for much of the journey before finally switching out and pulling away to win the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. Sent off at odds of 9/1, International Star stayed mid-pack early on as Hero of Humor went out to set the pace along with Tiznow RJ. Similar to how he did in his maiden score, Runhappy made a big backstretch move and took the lead over as they ran to the final turn. His lead was short lived however as numerous closers swallowed him up as they turned for home. War Story made his way to the lead in mid-stretch, but International Star and Miguel Mena just had to wait for room down on the inside and once they got room, they burst through and grabbed the lead and drew off to win by two and a half lengths in the end. War Story finished a good second while Tiznow RJ (BetPTC.com Longshot) finished third.
I’m a Chatterbox (BetPTC.com Longshot) went wire to wire to score an 8/1 upset in the Silverbulletday Stakes. The Fairgrounds Oaks series has been very productive the last many years, so keep an eye out for some of these three year old fillies. I’m a Chatterbox went right to the lead under jockey Florent Geroux and won with ease, scoring by eight lengths at the wire. String King (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) added to his Louisiana legacy as he scored a big win in the Colonel EL Bradley Stakes, rallying from just off the lead late to get up and win by a length and a quarter over Gentleman’s Kitten (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was the early pacemaker and held on for second.
Promise Me Silver kicks off Oaklawn season with win in the Dixie Belle
Oaklawn Park got underway a week late, but Thursday’s opening day saw a big win from Promise Me Silver in the Dixie Belle. The three year old filly had to rally from off the pace to catch a loose on the lead Super Saks (BetPTC.com Longshot). Super Saks was in front turning for home and kicked away by nearly two lengths, but Promise Me Silver and Cliff Berry rallied up the inside and got to the lead late to win by half a length. Sarah Sis finished up in second with Super Saks rounding out the trifecta.
On Friday it was Carve (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who dominated the Fifth Season Stakes as the heavy favorite. Sent off at 7/5, Carve and Jesus Castanon stalked Zee Bros (BetPTC.com Top Selection) early on and pounced on that rival at the top of the lane, pulling clear late to win by three and a half lengths. Code West (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied to get second ahead of Zee Bros who was third.
Saturday saw Mufajaah (BetPTC.com Longshot) score a 5/1 victory in the Pippin Stakes. Mufajaah was at the back of the pack for much of the journey but came with a sweeping six wide move to grab the lead late and draw off to win by three lengths. Haunted Heroine (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished up in third and completed a $116 exacta.