Dubai Sky takes home the Spiral
Dubai Sky wasn’t hindered by his outside post as he went from the 12 hole to the winner’s circle on Saturday to win the Grade 2 $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park. Sent off at odds of 7/1, Dubai Sky (BetPTC.com Longshot) and Jose Lezcano broke well and were able to get closer to the inside as they went into the first turn as several horses, including race favorite Royal Son (BetPTC.com Top Selection) were right up on the pace. They slowed it down as they ran down the backstretch and Dubai Sky and Lezcano made their move four wide as they ran on the far turn. They swept to the lead as Conquest Typhoon emerged from out of the pack as the main danger. But Dubai Sky showed no sign of relenting and he pulled away down the lane to win by two and a quarter lengths. Conquest Typhoon was second while 37/1 shot Firespike closed from behind to get up for third.
In the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks it was Jose Lezcano once again, as he and Don’t Leave Me rallied from tenth early on to get up and win by three quarters of a length. Don’t Leave Me was tenth early on and had to cover a ton of ground as she was seven wide at the quarter pole. But she had all the momentum and was able to gather in Sweet Success who had been in front the entire way and win by three quarters of a length. Sweet Success was second while Sharla Rae (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished in third.
Firing Line blows away the field in the Sunland Derby
Firing Line looked pleased that he didn’t have to face Dortmund again on Sunday as he dominated the $800,000 Sunland Derby, winning by a colossal 14 and one quarter length margin. Firing Line (BetPTC.com Top Selection) broke well and was kept down on the inside early by Gary Stevens as they went through solid opening fractions. They held their position down the backstretch as the top five runners were only separated by half a length going to the half mile pole. But Stevens let it out a notch with Firing Line and he responded, opening up at will down the lane and pouring it on. Where’s The Moon got up to finish second ahead of Pain and Misery (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who finished third at 24/1.
In the $200,000 Sunland Oaks it was Callback (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who finished in front of stablemate Maybelline, but after a stewards inquiry, Callback was taken down from first and placed fourth for interference down the lane. Jockey Martin Garcia had the lead by a length with Callback when she ducked in strongly and cut off Fancy and Flashy, who had to check hard. After reviewing the tape the Stewards disqualified Callback from first and placed her fourth behind Fancy and Flashy.
Classic Point wins one more for Jerkens
It was an emotional scene at Gulfstream Park on Saturday when Classic Point, trained by Jimmy Jerkens won the Grade 2 Inside Information Stakes. Classic Point (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) had been trained by Jerkens’ father Allen in previous years, and to get a big win just days after Allen’s passing made for many tears in the winner’s circle. Classic Point stalked the leaders early and when race favorite Merry Meadow (BetPTC.com Top Selection) started to retreat on the turn, Classic Point grabbed the lead late and was able to hold off a game run from You Bought her and won by a neck.
In the Grade 2 Royal Delta Stakes it was Sheer Drama who destroyed the field, pulling away to win by almost seven lengths. Sheer Drama sat just off the pace set by a pair of long shots early on and when Joe Bravo pushed the button she exploded, winning with ease. Race favorite House Rules (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished in second while Molly Morgan (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) ran on to get third.