Shared Belief wins a hard fought Malibu
Shared Belief ended his three year old season with an exclamation point as he won a hard fought battle to take the $300,000 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on opening day. Sent off as the heavy 1/2 favorite in the field of nine, Shared Belief (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was fourth early on and stuck between horses as Chitu (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Indianapolis went out to battle through an opening quarter in a pretty reasonable 23.12 second opening quarter mile. Chitu and Indianapolis continued their battle to the top of the lane while Shared Belief and Mike Smith started their rally on the outside. Shared Belief got to the lead just inside the eighth pole and faced a fresh challenge from 72/1 shot Conquest Two Step (BetPTC.com Longshot). Shared Belief held him at bay though and won by a neck over Conquest Two Step while Chitu ran third completing a trifecta worth $127.50.
In the Grade 1 La Brea it was Shared Belief’s trainer Jerry Hollendorfer who sent out an upset winner as Sam’s Sister reeled in a loose on the lead Taris to get the win. Sent off at odds of 12/1, Sam’s Sister was sixth early on as Taris (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went right to the front and drilled an opening quarter in 21.85 seconds and a half mile in 43.97 seconds. Taris turned for home and opened up nearly a four length lead in mid-stretch, while Sam’s Sister emerged out of the pack to get into the second spot. Sam’s Sister and Elvis Trujillo gradually wore that rival down, getting up in the final strides to win by half a length over Taris who was second.
In the $200,000 Mathis Bros. Mile it was Alert Bay (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who won a hard fought battle at 9/1 to hold off Home Run Kitten (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to get the win. The exacta paid $60.20 for every $1 wager.
Irish Mission wins the La Prevoyante at Gulfstream Park
Irish Mission got a very clean trip and had enough kick late to win the $100,000 La Prevoyante Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, one of three stakes on the card. Sent off as the 2/1 favorite, Irish Mission (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was fifth early on Bohemian Dance and Modern Stone set the pace, getting through the first half mile in 52.93 seconds. Those leaders came to the quarter pole but were out of gas and the closers all blew by with Irish Mission leading the charge. Irish Mission held on to win by three quarters of a length over a flying Tabreed who finished second ahead of Photo Call who was third.
In the Mr. Prospector it was Speechify (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who sat a beautiful garden trip behind the leaders and pounced on them down the lane. Sent off as the 9/5 favorite, Speechify and Paco Lopez were third early on as Mongolian Saturday and Risk Factor (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out to the front. Speechify swung into action at the top of the lane and blew by them at the eighth pole, gradually edging away to win by a length and a quarter. Divine Oath (BetPTC.com Top Selection) scored from off the pace to win the W.L. McKnight Stakes at 12 furlongs. Divine Oath grabbed the lead at the top of the lane and had to hold off a challenge from 47/1 long shot to win by half a length. Manchurian High (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) finished up in third at 10/1.
Rise Up dominates at the Fair Grounds
Rise Up got back to his winning ways on Saturday as he dominated the $60,000 Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds. Sent off as the 2/1 favorite, Rise Up and Brian Hernandez Jr. blasted right to the front and opened up a five length lead as they hit the top of the lane. Highball (BetPTC.com Top Selection) burst out from the pack to chase the leader, but Rise Up was long gone, winning by three and three quarter lengths in the end.
Kiss To Remember (BetPTC.com Top Selection) lived up to her billing as the heavy favorite as she won the Pago Hop Stakes with ease. Sent off at 4/5, Kiss To Remember was second early on as Divine Beauty (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out and set the pace. Kiss to Remember collared that runner in mid-stretch and edged away down the lane to win by a length and a quarter.