Prince Bishop wins the Dubai World Cup
Prince Bishop shocked many on Saturday morning when the eight year old roared from the back of the pack to win the $10,000,000 Dubai World Cup. A long shot in the betting, Prince Bishop was at the back of the pack early on and made his move turning for home as he joined race favorite California Chrome (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) at the top of the lane. But Prince Bishop and William Buick burst to the lead and Chrome could never reel him in as they pulled away to win by two and one half lengths. California Chrome finished up in second while Lea (BetPTC.com Top Selection) ran on to get third.
In the $5,000,000 Sheema Classic it was Dolniya (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who sat third early on and pounced on the early leader Just The Judge turning for home to get the win. Dolniya grabbed the lead at the top of the lane and a fresh challenge from Flintshire (BetPTC.com Top Selection) emerged from out of the pack, but could not get close late as Dolniya held on to win by two and a quarter lengths over Flintshire. Solow (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) turned in an extremely powerful stretch kick as he drew away to win the $6,000,000 Dubai Turf. Solow stayed midpack early as Euro Charlene set the early pace. But once they straightened away, it was all Solow who caravanned away to win by four and a quarter lengths over The Grey Gatsby (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran second.
Victor Espinoza couldn’t get the win on California Chrome, but Secret Circle (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) gave him a win in the $2,000,000 Golden Shaheen. Secret Circle stalked the leaders early and went to the lead at the top of the lane. But Super Jockey emerged from out of the pack and ran on to challenge him and looked like he might just go on by, but Secret Circle had some more gas left in the tank and held on grimly to win by a head. Sole Power got his first World Cup Day win after several tries as he won the Al Quoz Sprint. The 7 year old rallied form just off the pace in the 5 furlong straight away grass race to prevail over Peniaphobia who ran second.
In one of the more visually impressive races of the day, Mubtaahij scored an eight length win in the UAE Derby. The Mike DeKock trainee sat a beautiful trip in behind a trio of Japanese runners early and then drew off down the lane. His connections have said the Kentucky Derby is their next spot. Earlier in the card Brown Panther scored in the marathon Dubai Gold Cup by three lengths and Tamarkuz (BetPTC.com Top Selection) won the Godolphin Mile.
Materiality scores in the Florida Derby
Materiality grabbed the lead early and had a match race with Upstart late before winning the $1,000,000 Florida Derby on Saturday. Sent off as the 9/5 second choice, Materiality (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) grabbed the lead going down the backstretch and had to deal with Upstart (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who joined him at the 3/8ths pole. They battled down the lane but Materiality prevailed, edging clear to win by a length and a half in the end. Upstart was twelve lengths clear of Ami’s Flatter who ran third. Imagining (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) scored a win in the Grade 3 Pan American, coming from off the pace to win by three quarters of a length over long shot Pyrite Mountain who finished second just ahead of race favorite Twilight Eclipse (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran third.
Birdatthewire (BetPTC.com Top Selection) closed in from off the pace to get up and win the Gulfstream Oaks. Birdatthewire had to steady early and had some traffic trouble but she was able to get in the clear and down the lane was able to reel in Eskenformoney who had seized the lead at the top of the lane. Lady Lara (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rallied from off the pace to catch Sandiva (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) in the lane to get the win in the Honey Fox Stakes. Lady Lara won by a neck over Sandiva who finished second ahead of Coffee Clique (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who completed a $73 trifecta.
Commissioner (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was able to pass a very stubborn Sr. Quisqueyano to win the Skip Away Stakes. Commissioner was second just behind Sr. Quisqueyano throughout the race and Javier Castellano was able to get him up in the final yards.
International Star takes home the Louisiana Derby
International Star made it a clean sweep of the three year old series at Fair Grounds by taking home the top honor in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby. International Star (BetPTC.com Top Selection) once again sat off the pace under Miguel Mena and rallied down along the rail, with a move similar to the ones they made in the Lecomte and the Risen Star. Stanford had gone out to the early lead and brought that lead into the lane. When International Star came to Stanford at the top of the lane, Stanford battled right back and they matched strides down the daunting Fair Grounds stretch. International Star prevailed by a length, with Stanford second, more than four lengths ahead of War Story (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who ran third.
Call Me George (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) scored a 22/1 upset in the New Orleans Handicap, rallying from off the pace to catch Moreno (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Albano (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who had battled down the lane for much of the trip. Afford (BetPTC.com Longshot) got up to finish fourth and complete a BetPTC.com Super that paid $3,463 for a buck.
I’m a Chatterbox (BetPTC.com Top Selection) continued her dominance as she won the Fair Grounds Oaks by two and a half lengths over Shook Up (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection). I’m a Chatterbox stalked Jugni and took command turning for home and was able to repel all challengers to get the win. In the Mervin Muniz Handicap it was Chocolate Ride who was able to go wire to wire to win over Slumber. Chocolate Ride was ridden to the win by Joe Talamo and was able to hold off Slumber (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who was second while Paroled finished third.