Awesome Return gets the win in the Let It Ride at Del Mar
Awesome Return rallied from off the pace to get up and win the $75,000 Let It Ride Stakes on opening weekend at Del Mar. Sent off as the 8/5 favorite in the field of nine, Awesome Return (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was eighth early on as long shot Final Step went out and opened up a massive eight length lead going down the backstretch and got to the half mile in 45.07 seconds. Final Step got swallowed up by the field on the far turn and it was Number Five (BetPTC.com Longshot) at 12/1 who took the lead into the stretch. Number Five opened up a length at the eighth pole, but Awesome Return and Mike Smith had all the momentum rolling down the outside to get up and win by a length and a quarter. Number Five finished up in second with Cabral rounding out the trifecta.
Villandry closes from far back to win the River Cities Handicap
Villandry took money at the windows and rewarded his backers by taking home the top honor in the River Cities Handicap. Bet down to 4/1 odds from his 8/1 morning line, Villandry (BetPTC.com Longshot) stayed in mid-pack early on as race favorite Silver Max (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went out to set the early pace. Silver Max was chased by Set the Sail for the first three quarters of the race and they came to the top of the lane still 1-2. But the rest of the pack caught up to Silver Max at the three sixteenth pole and it was Villandry who had all the momentum and drew off to win by two and three quarter lengths. Long shot Hamp closed from last to get up for second while Under Control (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) ran third.
Aigue Marine prevails in the Long Island Handicap
Aigue Marine needed almost every yard of the mile and one half Long Island Handicap on Saturday as he got up in the final strides to get the win in the $200,000 race. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Aigue Marine set up in the pocket spot in third as long shot Invading Humor went out to set the pace. Invading Humor brought that lead to the quarter pole but was passed by the race favorite Danza Cavallo swooped up three wide to get the lead. Danza Cavallo opened up in mid-stretch however once Aigue Marine got clear jockey John Velazquez they were able to wear down Danza Cavallo and get up to win by a neck. Danza Cavallo finished in second while Maximova finished up in third.
East Hall takes wins the Sunshine Millions Classic Preview
East Hall continued his hot streak on Saturday as he rolled from the back of the pack to get up and win the $100,000 Sunshine Millions Classic Preview. Sent off as the 2/1 second choice, East Hall (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was sixth early on as longshot I’m Strappin Up went out to set the pace just ahead of favored Wildcat Red (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who sat second in the early going. Wildcat Red made his move going to the far turn and grabbed the lead and arrived at the top of the lane with a one length lead. East Hall and Luis Saez came three wide and gradually wore down Wildcat Red and drew off late to win by two lengths. East Hall was coming off a big win in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby and has stamped himself as a top class sprinter.
In the Sunshine Millions Turf Preview it was heavily favored Bad Debt (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied to catch a loose on the lead Breitling Flyer to win the race. Breitling Flyer opened up four lengths down the backstretch while Bad Debt stayed back in fifth early, unhurried by jockey Paco Lopez. Bad Debt started his move on the turn and pulled three wide and gradually caught the leaders at the sixteenth pole and held off a late charge from Tryer who ran second. In the Distaff Preview it was Swinger’s Party who scored a 4/1 win over a pair of longshots. Swinger’s Party took the lead at the quarter pole and opened up in mid-stretch. But she began to tire late and was able to just hold off 16/1 shot Flutterby (BetPTC.com Longshot) who finished second. A 34/1 price in the form of Don’tcallmecharley finished up in third completing the trifecta.