Metaboss flies home late to win the El Camino Real Derby
Metaboss flew from off the pace to score an impressive win in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Metaboss (BetPTC.com Longshot) and Alex Solis set up shop in eighth early on as Conquest Typhoon (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Indianaughty battled out for the early lead. They were able to set a pretty mild pace and Conquest Typhoon brought his lead to the top of the stretch. He was in front by half a length in mid-stretch but Solis and Metaboss swung out wide for the drive and gobbled up the early leaders, pulling clear late to win by two and a half lengths. They picked up some precious Kentucky Derby points in addition to the $120,000 winner’s share of the purse. Cross the Line (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up to finish second while Conquest Typhoon held on for third completing a $178 trifecta.
Lady Sabelia goes all the way in the Barbara Fritchie
Lady Sabelia certainly loves Laurel Park and she added another win to her local record as she went wire to wire to win the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes. Sent off as the 5/2 second choice, Lady Sabelia (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Horacio Karamanos flew early and got to the lead comfortably through an opening quarter in 22.67 seconds. Princess Violet (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) stalked just in behind while the race favorite Sam’s Sister (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was fifth early on. Sam’s Sister came wide at the quarter pole with her move but Lady Sabelia had spurted clear, opening up three in mid-stretch and holding off her competition in the end to win by a length and a half. Princess Violet finished up in second with 65/1 shot Expression running third.
In the $100,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes it was Lunar Surge (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who flew up the rail and went last to first to get the win. Sent off as the 5/2 favorite, Lunar Surge was tenth early on as Flores Island went out to the early lead. Flores Island coasted around the track and was still two and a half clear at the eighth pole. But Jose Ortiz and Lunar Surge rolled up the rail and got up to win by a length. Flores Island was second with Luna Time in third. In the $100,000 John Campbell Handicap it was Page McKenney who outfinished a pair of long shots to get the score. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Page McKenney (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was mid-pack early on as Cerro opened up a big lead early on. Page McKenney was one of numerous closers who came flying late as he got up for the win by a neck over 19/1 Behemoth. It was another head back to 79/1 AP Cino who finished third.
Warren’s Veneda from last to first to win the Santa Maria
Warren’s Veneda passed all seven of her rivals on Saturday as she went from last to first to win the Grade 2 $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 9/5 second choice, Warren’s Veneda was dragged to the back of the pack by jockey Tyler Baze as Sweet Marini (BetPTC.com 2nd Choice) and Awesome Baby (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out to the early lead. Baze kept Warren’s Veneda out in the clear and they launched a four wide bid at the quarter pole, seizing the lead by mid-stretch and pulling clear late to win by almost three lengths. Long shot Uzziel got up for second at 55/1 while race favorite Thegirlinthatsong (BetPTC.com Top Selection) finished in third.
In the $75,000 Sweet Life Stakes it was She’s a Big Winner who grabbed the lead going down the hill and never looked back, fending off a late challenge from race favorite Bobbi Grace (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to get the win. Sent off at odds of 7/1, She’s a Big Winner and Brice Blanc took advantage of their outside draw and that right hand turn as they were close up throughout. They took over as they crossed the dirt into the stretch and as Bobbi’s Grace came right to their outside, they were able to turn that one away and win by a length. Bobbi Grace finished second with Spirit of Xian running third.