Golden Espony goes all the way in the Long Island
Golden Espony went right to the front and after a mile and a half was still there as she won the $200,000 Long Island Handicap. Sent off as the 7/2 second choice, Golden Espony (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) broke beautifully and established the early lead while setting a comfortable pace, getting through an opening half mile in 51.38 seconds. They came to the top of the stretch and made a break for home. Favored Danza Cavallo (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) looked to be the only one with a chance to catch Golden Espony in mid-stretch, but Golden Espony would have none of that as she repelled the challenge to win by a length and a quarter over Danza Cavallo. Gotachancetodance (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rallied from ninth early on to get up for third.
Saraguaro wins the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview
Saraguaro rallied from just off the pace to score an impressive win in the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Preview on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Saraguaro (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat fourth early on as City of Weston and Nauset Beach went out and battled early on through a moderate pace of 49.40 for the opening half mile. Nauset Beach disposed of City of Weston on the turn but was immediately greeted by Saraguaro who rolled right by and quickly spurted away, opening up down the lane and eventually winning by a length and a half. Nauset Beach finished in second while Southern Barbeque (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) finished in third.
Legal Laura (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) turned in a very impressive stretch run as she blew away her rivals in the Millions Distaff Preview. Sent off at odds of 7/1, Legal Laura stayed in fourth early on as race favorite Flutterby (BetPTC.com Top Selection) dueled early on with Moment of Delight. They were softened up by that battle and Legal Laura took full advantage, pulling away down the stretch and winning by two and a half lengths. My Miss Venezuela finished up in second while Flutterby faded to finish third after the early pace battle. Old Time Hockey (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) won the Millions Turf Preview as he flew late to get up and score the win. The Turf Preview was easily one of the most thrilling finishes of the day as four horses, including heavily favored Reporting Star (BetPTC.com Top Selection) were in a straight for most of the final furlong. Old Time Hockey prevailed by a head over One Step Salsa (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who was another head in front of Rizwan. Reporting Star was another head behind in fourth.
Spelling Again crushes her rivals in the Chilukki Stakes at Churchill
Spelling Again put on a clinic at Churchill Downs on Saturday as she blew her rivals away in the $200,000 Chilukki Stakes. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Spelling Again sat just behind early leader Keen Pauline (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) for the first half mile as Keen Pauline went an honest pace. Spelling Again and Shaun Bridgmohan moved up and took the lead from Keen Pauline on the turn and never looked back as they opened up down the lane to win by four and a half impressive lengths. Ahh Chocolate (BetPTC.com Longshot) rallied late to just get into the second place spot ahead of Gold Medal Dancer (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran third.
Full Ransom scores an upset in the Kathryn Crosby at Del Mar
Full Ransom was more than double the odds of any other horse in Saturday’s Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar, but that didn’t matter as she scored the win. Sent off at odds of 17/1, Full Ransom was third early on as Chaulk O Lattey (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went out to set the early pace in the mile and a sixteenth turf event. Chaulk O Lattey was clear as they came into the stretch, but he started to tire quickly as a slew of horses started charging after him. Full Ransom had the most clear trip as he and Santiago Gonzalez blew by late to get up and win by a length and a quarter. Chaulk O Lattey was able to hold off Beat of the Drum for second.