Spot rallies to get up and win the Swale Stakes
After the scratch of Havana, most bettors thought No Nay Never was a surefire winner as he was bet down to 2/5 in the $200,000 Swale Stakes. No Nay Never (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat back in second early on in the seven furlong race as Can’t Stop The Kid went out and set a very solid pace, getting to a half mile in 44.49. As they came to the top of the stretch, No Nay Never took over the advantage, but Jose Lezcano and 9/1 shot Spot (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) came roaring off the turn and blew right by No Nay Never, jogging away to win by two and one half lengths over No Nay Never. Brothersofthetime got up and ran third at 28/1.
In the Palm Beach Stakes it was 8/1 shot Gala Award (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and John Velazquez who prevailed in a long stretch drive to win the Grade 3 grass event. Gala Award was third early on favored Storming Inti went out to set the early pace. Gala Award stayed outside of Storming Inti and came up to make a line of three with My Storm Trooper between them as they ran on the final turn. Gala Award finally overhauled Storming Inti in mid-stretch and had to hold off a fresh challenger in the form Mr. Speaker (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who started to roll down the outside. Mr. Speaker continued to fly in the final yards but Gala Award got to the wire with a half a length to spare as he got the win over Mr. Speaker. Storming Inti battled on bravely to finish third.
Solitary Ranger wire to wire in dominating Battaglia win
Solitary Ranger was solitary out on the lead throughout the entire home stretch run of the $100,000 John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 9/1, Solitary Ranger (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went right to the front under jockey Florent Geroux and they set a decent pace getting to a half mile in 47 seconds. Solitary Ranger started to open up as they came to the top of the homestretch and opened up as many as 8 lengths in mid-stretch. Poker Player who was last early on came flying from out of the pack to get into a clear cut second place, but was still almost five lengths behind Solitary Ranger at the wire. Harry’s Holiday overcame a brutally tough post position and a wide trip to get up and run third.
Red Rifle goes all the way in the Maxxam Gold Cup
Red Rifle and Robby Albarado went right to the front and never looked back as they dominated the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston Race Park. Sent off as the even money favorite, Red Rifle (BetPTC.com Top Selection) broke beautifully and always looked comfortable as he set very moderate fractions. Leadem In Ken sat just in behind Red Rifle throughout the early parts of the race as second choice in the wagering Frac Daddy (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was back in third. Frac Daddy started to launch a three wide bid on the final turn and got to within about a length and a half at one point near the head of the lane, but Red Rifle had plenty left in the tank and drew off late to win by nearly three length over Frac Daddy. Texas Air (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) ran third.
Always Kitten closed from dead last to get up and win the Jersey Lilly Stakes as the 7/5 favorite under jockey Rosie Napravnik. Ibaka went wire to wire under Lindey Wade to win the Texas Heritage Stakes.