Constitution rides rail to win the Florida Derby
Javier Castellano took advantage of a timely opening at the rail at the quarter pole and proceeded to get up to win the $1,000,000 Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream. Sent off as the 3/1 second choice, Constitution sat just off the pace early as Wildcat Red (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and General a Rod once again went out to the front as they did in the Fountain of Youth, only this time the pace was more reasonable. Wildcat Red brought the field to the quarter pole with favored Cairo Prince (BetPTC.com Top Selection) mounting his rally on the outside while Constitution and Castellano elected to stay down on the rail. Wildcat Red turned wide into the stretch and Constitution didn’t hesitate and burst right through the opening. Wildcat Red and Constitution battled the entire way through the stretch and it was Constitution who got up on the rail to win by a neck. Wildcat Red was a game second with General A Rod a length back in third.
Turf warrior Newsdad was able to close from last to get up and win the Pan American Stakes. Sent off at 5/1, Newsdad was tenth and last early on as long shot Joes Blazing Aaron went out to set the early pace. Joes Blazing Aaron led the field into the stretch and looked for a second like he might sneak away as in mid-stretch he opened up a length and a half. But the closers came rolling late with Newsdad getting up over Vertiformer (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) to win by a neck. In the Skip Away Stakes it was Micromanage who rallied on the outside to pull clear down the lane to win by a dominating four and one quarter lengths.
Hey Leroy scored an 11/1 upset in the Appleton Stakes, rallying from off the pace to get up for the win under jockey Alex Solis. Mr. Online (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) opened up a big lead in mid-stretch, but couldn’t hold off the fast late rally from Hey Leroy. In the Orchid Stakes it was Anjaz (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who went to the front and stayed there, leading all the way around the oval to win by over two lengths over Viva Rafaela.
The Gulfstream Oaks saw In Tune (BetPTC.com Top Selection) stamp herself as a future star with a neck win over House Rules (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) after a prolonged stretch battle. And in the Grade 3 Rampart it was Gamay Noir who shocked everyone winning at odds of 49/1 coming from off the pace to catch Unlimited Budget (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Devil’s Care (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who had been battling up front for much of the race.
African Story wins the worlds richest race
African Story (BetPTC.com Longshot) rallied from off the pace at 17/1 under jockey Silvestre De Souza to get up and win the $10,000,000 Dubai World Cup on Saturday as part of a huge card at Meydan. None of the favorites ran their race and it was African Story who showed his heels to the field, drawing off by almost three lengths over Mukhadram and Cat O’Mountain. In the Sheema Classic it was Gentildonna (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who turned in one of the more amazing performance in recent memory as she had to overcome some serious traffic trouble to get up and win the $5,000,000 event by a length and a half over Cirrus Des Aglus.
Just Away was slow away but blew them away down the stretch to win the $5,000,000 Dubai Duty Free by six emphatic lengths. Just Away was highly thought of by the bettors and turned in one of the more memorable stretch drives in recent memory, pouring it on to win over Vercingetorix and Dank (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who ran second and third respectively. In the Golden Shaheen it was Sterling City who rallied from off the pace to catch Rich Tapestry who looked like he might be home free in mid-stretch to get the win.
Amber Sky went all the way to win the Al Quoz Sprint as she held off late rallies from Ahtoug and heavily favored Shea Shea (BetPTC.com Top Selection). Shea Shea was last about halfway through the 5 furlong race and was flying late but couldn’t quite get to Amber Sky in time. Toast of New York turned in a big upset performance in winning the UAE Derby by a strong two and a half length margin. Toast of New York is Triple Crown nominated and did get points for the Kentucky Derby so he could be making the trip to Churchill Downs this year. Certerach scored a 29/1 upset as he held off the defending champ Cavalryman to win the Dubai Gold Cup, a two mile marathon event. And the day started off with Variety Club (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) besting Soft Falling Rain (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to win the Godolphin Mile.
Vicars in Trouble rebounds in the Louisiana Derby
Vicars in Trouble didn’t fire in the Risen Star Stakes last time, but the three year old was back on his game on Saturday as he won the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Vicars in Trouble (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went right to the front under jockey Rosie Napravnik and set a moderate pace with mild pressure from In Trouble (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Rise Up early on in the race. Vicars in Trouble started to edge away on the turn, but was quickly met with a challenge at the top of the lane by favored Intense Holiday who drew to within a length. But once they straightened out, Vicars in Trouble started to pull away and won off by three and a half lengths over Intense Holiday and Commanding Curve who ran second and third.
Palace Malice turned in one of the more memorable runs of the day as he powered away by almost five lengths to win the New Orleans Handicap. Palace Malice (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was close up early on as Bradester set the early pace. Palace Malice took command at the top of the lane and his nemesis Normandy Invasion (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) came up to him, but Palace Malice had plenty left and drew off to score by five ahead of Normandy Invasion. Skyring went wire to wire to take home the Mervin Muniz over a soft turf course. Skrying got to the lead and turning for home it appeared the two favorites, Amira’s Prince (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Real Solution weren’t taking to the surface and were spinning their tires. Skyring just had to hold off Amira’s Prince who finally did get going, but came up a neck short. Untapable (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was once again dominant as she drew off down the lane to win the Fair Grounds Oaks by almost seven lengths over Fiftyshadesofgold.