Catholic Cowboy upsets the Claiming Crown Jewel
Catholic Cowboy rallied from off the pace to get up and win the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 17/1, Catholic Cowboy was fourth early on as Cerro (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went right to the lead and was able to set a decent pace, getting to a half mile in 47.01 seconds. Cerro brought that lead to the top of the lane but Luis Saez and Catholic Cowboy found daylight and roared down the outside to win by half a length over a late closing Page McKenney (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) to get the win. Saffron Hall (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was able to get the win in the $125,000 Claiming Crown Emerald. Saffron Hall was towards the back of the pack early on as Lasso went out to set the pace. Longhunter took the lead as they came to the quarter pole but he was quickly overhauled by Rose Brier (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who grabbed the lead. But that lead was short lived as Saffron Hall and Irad Ortiz got up late to win by three quarters of a length.
Grande Shores scored a stalking win in the Rapid Transit as he and Edgard Zayas won a hard fought battle. Stallwalkin Dude had the lead at the top of the stretch when four of them lined up. Stallwalkin Dude interfered and bumped with several rivals, but that didn’t stop Grande Shores who went by to get the win. Buster Rose (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rallied from twelfth early on to get up and win the Canterbury Stakes at odds of 7/1. Buster Rose had to hold off Mr. Online who flew from the back to get up for second while Thomas Hill (BetPTC.com Longshot) rallied from far back to get third.
Best Behavior (BetPTC.com Top Selection) scored a big win in the Glass Slipper, going all the way to win by two and a quarter lengths over Don’tcallmecharley (BetPTC.com Top Selection) for a $60 exacta. St. Borealis rallied from thirteenth early on to win the Tiara Stakes for Mike Maker and owner Ken Ramsey, who is always tough on Claiming Crown day. Loverbil (BetPTC.com Longshot) was able to catch early leader Quiz Whiz to win the Express Stakes in a thrilling finish. JB’s Unc (BetPTC.com Top Selection) got the day started with a win in the Claiming Crown Iron Man when he came from off the pace to catch Francois on the lead and win by a neck.
Tiz Midnight scores in the Bayakoa Stakes
Tiz Midnight had to win a tough battle down the stretch but did just that to win the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos on Saturday. Sent off as the heavy 4/5 favorite, Tiz Midnight (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat second early on behind Yahilwa (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who set the pace, getting to a half mile in 47.04. Tiz Midnight disposed of Yahilwa turning for home but had to battle with long shot Warren’s Veneda (BetPTC.com Longshot) down the lane. Warren’s Veneda put a nose in front but Tiz Midnight and Victor Espinoza rallied back to get back in front and won by a hard fought head over Warren’s Veneda.
Catalina Red dominates the Inaugural Stakes at Tampa Bay
Catalina Red might have stamped himself a contender on the road to the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday as he crushed his rivals in the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Catalina Red (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was fourth early on but started his three wide move as they ran on the turn. Jockey Daniel Centeno kept him focused as they blew by the competition and opened up at will, pulling away to win by seven and one quarter lengths. Charlie’s Brother finished up in second with Duke Of Luke running third.
In the Sandpiper Stakes it was R Sassy Lass (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who stalked the leaders early and got up in the final yards to win by half a length. Sent off at odds of 3/1, R Sassy Lass stalked Cheers for Sidney and Coco’s Wildcat early on. Coco’s Wildcat took the lead into the lane and opened up a length and a half in mid-stretch. But Antonio Gallardo and R Sassy Lass came flying up late to get up and win by half a length.
In a Jif goes all the way to win the Holiday Inaugural Stakes
In a Jif was dismissed on the toteboard but she did all the work early and still had gas left late to win the $60,000 Holiday Inaugural Stakes. Sent off at odds of 13/1, In a Jif (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went right to the lead under jockey Rolando Aragon. They were able to open up a big lead on the turn even though they had to go fast to do it, getting to a half mile in 44.81 seconds. In a Jif started to tire late down the stretch but held on to win by a nose over a fast closing Hitechnoweenie who ran second.