Moreno wins the Charles Town Classic; Shared Belief eased
Moreno put in a track record performance on Saturday as he won the $1,500,000 Charles Town Classic. But after the race all the talk was about Shared Belief, the huge favorite who broke awkwardly and was eased halfway through the race and did not finish as the 1/5 favorite. Moreno (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) broke very well and stalked from second early on as long shot Warrioroftheroses went out and set the pace. Moreno overhauled him as they ran on the second turn while Shared Belief was being pulled up. Moreno maintained his lead into the stretch as Imperative tried to burst out of the pack to chase him, but Moreno kept clear, winning by two lengths in the end. Imperative finished up in second with Page McKenney rounding out the trifecta.
In the $150,000 Sugar Maple Stakes it was Mike Smith getting the win aboard Taketheodds who wore down Flattering Bea late to score by a neck. Flattering Bea (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went right to the front and set the pace with no early opposition. Taketheodds remained out in the clear in third early on and started their move on the final turn. As Flattering Bea straightened away with the lead, Taketheodds surged late and got up to beat Flattering Bea by a neck.
Dramedy pulls off a shocker in the Elkhorn
Dramedy was dismissed at 30/1 on the odds board on Saturday in the $250,000 Elkhorn Stakes. But jockey Joe Bravo rode a brilliant race and was able to just hold on for a big upset win. Dramedy went right to the front early in the mile and one half event with some mild pressure from My Afleet (BetPTC.com Top Selection). They opened up a ten length lead down the backstretch and as they ran on the final of three turns the pair was still way in front. Once they straightened away Bravo forged Dramedy to the lead and the come from behinders started to roll. But Dramedy had made the break for the lead early enough and held on to win by a neck. Dynamic Sky (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) flew from out of the pack to get second with Unitarian (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) running third.
Whiskey Ticket holds on to win the Illinois Derby
Whiskey Ticket was making just the second start of his career in Saturday’s $400,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course. But he made it a winning one as he held off a late charge from Conquest Curlinate to win by a nose. Sent off at odds of 2/1, Whiskey Ticket (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was fourth early on as A. Rod Again and race favorite Cross The Line (BetPTC.com Top Selection) battled early on. Whiskey Ticket made his move for the lead at the top of the lane and Conquest Curlinate who was last early on started to lengthen his stride. Whiskey Ticket was clear with a hundred yards to go and Conquest Curlinate was flying, but the wire came up just in time for Whiskey Ticket as he won by a nose.
Queen of the Sand closes in to win the Santa Barbara
Queen of the Sand and Drayden Van Dyke flew late to get up and win a thrilling edition of the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Queen of the Sand (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was 8th early on, essentially in last place after favored Diversy Harbor (BetPTC.com Top Selection) pulled up out of the race early on. The pace was moderately cut out by Fanticola who was unpressured throughout the early portions of the race. Fanticola came to the lane with a length and a half lead and looked in mid-stretch like she might hold on. But Queen of the Sand erupted between horses and got up in the final jump to win by a nose over Fanticola who led every jump but the most important one and finished second.
In the La Puente Stakes it was another huge performance by Papacoolpapacool (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who stalked the early leader Anytime Anyplace (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and rolled by that one at the top of the lane, drawing off to win by four and a half lengths. Hero Ten All (BetPTC.com Longshot) ran on to finish second with Ride Hard Cowboy (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) finishing third.