Swiss Lake Yodeler gets up to win the Soviet Problem Stakes
Swiss Lake Yodeler needed every yard of the seven furlongs to get up late to win the $200,000 Soviet Problem Stakes at Hollywood Park on closing weekend. Sent off as the 4/5 favorite in the field of nine, Swiss Lake Yodeler (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) settled back in third early on as Rovenna went out to set the early pace, which was a solid one. Rovenna got pressured by Sprouts (BetPTC.com Top Selection) early on and as they turned for home, Sprouts drew to within a neck. Rovenna kicked back though and opened up a length in mid-stretch. Meanwhile Rafael Bejarano started to kick in with Swiss Lake Yodeler in the center of the track and they got by in the final yards to win by a length. Rovenna finished second with Sprouts rounding out the trifecta.
Class Included one of six stakes winners at Fair Grounds on Saturday
Saturday was Super Santa Saturday at Fair Grounds, with six stakes events on the card. Class Included (BetPTC.com Top Selection) got the stakes action underway with a nice win in the Blushing KD Handicap. Class Included stalked Honey Hues early on and took command down the lane to open up and get the win. Bluegrass Sapphire came roaring down the center of the track to pick up the second spot while Twirl ran third. Divine Beauty broke slowly and rushed up to get the win. Her big early move proved enough as she poured it on down the lane to win the Letellier Memorial. Sent off as the 8/5 favorite in the small field of five, Divine Beauty scored by six and one half lengths over Street Story who finished second as the biggest long shot in the field with Tony’s Hollyday who was third.
Sumoftheparts took no early heat in the Bonapaw Stakes as he went all the way to capture the stakes. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Sumoftheparts went out to the lead and was stalked by favored Great Mills (BetPTC.com Top Selection) early on. Sumoftheparts shook off the challenge from Great Mills though and drew clear down the lane to win by two and three quarter lengths. Channel Marker (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up to run second while Strong Impact (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished up in third. Prayer For Relief turned in one of the more impressive wins of the day when he blew by his competition to win the Tenacious Handicap by six emphatic lengths. Prayer For Relief got a beautiful stalking trip behind Ground Transport and promptly passed that rival going to the far turn. Prayer For Relief and David Flores kicked it into gear down the lane and opened up, beating Ground Transport by six and one quarter lengths. Agent DiNozzo (BetPTC 2nd Selection) closed from far back to get third.
Daddy Nose Best (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) roared down the center of the Fair Grounds turf to get a big win in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial. Sent off as the 3/1 second choice in the field of twelve, Daddy Nose Best stayed way back in eleventh early on as Adios Nardo went quite quick early on, getting through a half mile in 46.89 seconds over the firm Fair Grounds turf. Adios Nardo had some kick left down the lane as he burst away by three lengths, but Daddy Nose Best and David Flores were just getting into their full stride and the blew by in the final sixteenth to win by three and one half lengths over Adios Nardo. Albano (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) took command early on in the Sugar Bowl Stakes and never looked back, winning by a length and a quarter in the six furlong event. D’Cajun Cat (BetPTC.com Top Selection) actually broke on top but was headed quickly by Albano as they ran on the turn. Albano and Kerwin Clark pulled clear down the lane and held off a strong late rally from Be Well who got up for second.
Mr. Speaker upsets the Dania Beach at Gulfstream
Mr. Speaker was able to roll home late to get up and win the $100,000 Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Bon Accord (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out to the front early on and got mild pressure early on from Yes I’m Lucky. Mr. Speaker and Jose Lezcano stayed down towards the inside, saving all the ground and made a bold move through down on the rail to burst to the lead in mid-stretch. They poured it on down the lane and won by two and three quarter lengths in the end. Cabo Cat came with a wide move and got up for the second spot while Pleuven (BetPTC.com Top Selection) came five wide from last to get up and run third.