Mucho Macho Man dominant in his return
Mucho Macho Man galloped home the easiest of winners on Saturday as he trounced his competition to win the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park. Sent off as the 1/9 favorite in the field of five, Mucho Macho Man (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Gary Stevens settled back in second early on as Bernie The Maestro (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out to set the early pace. Bernie the Maestro led until the far turn when Mucho Macho Man quickly drew up alongside and blew by him by the time they reached the quarter pole. Mucho Macho Man pulled away down the lane and drew off to win by 14 emphatic lengths over 42/1 shot Joshua’s Comprise (BetPTC.com Longshot) who ran into the second spot.
Ribo Bobo (BetPTC.com Top Selection) kept his hot streak in order as he won the Sunshine Millions Sprint. Sent off as the 6/5 favorite, Ribo Bobo sat back in third early on as Star Harbour (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out to the front and set very sharp early fractions. Ribo Bobo and Paco Lopez made their move at the top of the stretch and quickly went to the lead. They drew off late to win by almost two lengths over Happy My Way and Star Harbour who ran second and third respectively. In the Sunshine Millions Turf it was Star Channel who got up in the final strides to catch Old Time Hockey (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to get the win. Old Time Hockey grabbed the lead outside the quarter pole and he and Star Channel hooked up mid-stretch. They battled the whole way with Star Harbour prevailing by a head in the end.
Ullapool went right to the front and never looked back as she won with ease in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Sprint. She was the 2/1 second choice and was able to get a little bit of a breather up front and had plenty left down the stretch as she held off favored My Pal Chrisy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran up into the second spot. Paranda (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) grabbed the lead in the midpoint turning for home in the Filly and Mare Turf and she drew away to win by three easy lengths. EB Ryder (BetPTC.com Top Selection) got up to run a good second at 24/1 to complete a nice $90 exacta. Sweet N Discreet (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) rallied from off the pace to catch Devil’s Cave (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) to take home the top honors in the Sunshine Millions Distaff.
Vicar’s in Trouble scores a big win in the Lecomte at Fair Grounds
Vicar’s in Trouble (BetPTC.com Top Selection) drew away down the stretch to score a big win and pick up some Kentucky Derby points in the process as he won the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. Roman Unbridled went out to the early lead and Vicar’s in Trouble sat in the second spot under jockey Rosie Napravnik. Vicar’s in Trouble made his move at the top of the stretch and quickly drew away under urging, pouring it on to win by just under seven lengths. Albano (BetPTC.com Longshot) got up to finish in second while the heavy favorite Gold Hawk (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished up in third.
Eden Prairie overcame a tough post position to win in the Marie Krantz Memorial. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Eden Prairie was close up in second early on as 63/1 bomber Masquerade went out to set the fractions. Masquerade brought that lead into the stretch and Eden Prairie and Rosie Napravnik came after them and finally pulled clear to win by a length over Masquerade who stayed on for second and completed a $334 exacta. Unbridled Forever (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied late to get up and catch co-favored Divine Beauty (BetPTC.com Top Selection) in an exciting edition of the Silverbulletday Stakes. Divine Beauty had the lead early on and brought that lead into the lane, but Unbridled Forever and Robby Albarado came with a strong move on the far outside and got up to win by a length and a half.
Daddy Nose Best (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) showed a massive turn of foot as he catapulted past every rival in the field to win the Colonel ER Bradley Handicap. Daddy Nose Best and the red-hot Rosie Napravnik were last early on and they had to wait for room as they turned into the stretch. But once they got room, Daddy Nose Best exploded and got up to win by a neck over Adios Nardo. Fordubai (BetPTC.com Longshot) pulled off a 7/1 upset when he took home the Louisiana Handicap. Grand Contender (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out to the early lead and set the fractions as Fordubai sat back in the second spot with Prayer For Relief (BetPTC.com Top Selection) right behind him in third. Fordubai came up to grab the lead in mid-stretch and Grand Contender fought on to hold the second spot with Prayer For Relief finishing in third.
Shakin It Up with a big win in the Strub Stakes
Shakin It Up made it two big wins in a row as he rallied from just off the pace to win the Grade 2 Strub Stakes at Santa Anita. Shakin it Up dominated the Malibu Stakes on opening day and came right back to win the Strub. Heir of Storm went out to the front while the Baffert duo of Govenor Charlie and Shakin It Up sat second and third. Govenor Charlie grabbed the lead into the stretch but Shakin It Up quickly pounced on that rival to get up and drew away to win by two and a half lengths. Govenor Charlie finished up in second while Hear The Ghost (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) got up to run third.
Kafister pulled off an upset in the Megahertz Stakes, scoring a front running win at 12/1. Kafister went to the lead and was challenged by Gal Has To Like It early on. Favored Close To the Edge came up to challenge into the lane but Kafister just kept on finding more under Victor Espinoza to hold on and win by half a length over Close To The Edge.