Dortmund dominates once again, wins the SA Derby
Dortmund ran his record to a perfect six for six as he and Martin Garcia dominated the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday. Sent off as the prohibitive 3/5 favorite, Dortmund (BetPTC.com Top Selection) received mild pressure from his barn mate One Lucky Dane (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) as they went through a strong opening quarter in 22.46 seconds. Dortmund started to kick on at the quarter pole and once they straightened away he poured it on, opening up to win by four and a quarter lengths. One Lucky Dane finished second ahead of Bolo who ran third.
In the Santa Anita Oaks it was favored Stellar Wind (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who rallied from off the pace to get the score. Stellar Wind was last as they ran down the backstretch and came flying with a wide trip to get the win and catch Luminance (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who finished second. In the Grade 3 Providencia it was Spirit of Xian (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who pulled off a big 16/1 upset. Spirit of Xian and Joe Talamo went right to the front and were able to slow it down just enough that they had enough left down the lane to hold off a late closing Spanish Queen who ended up second, beaten just a neck.
Carpe Diem impressively wins the Blue Grass at Keeneland
Racing from Keeneland got underway this weekend and Carpe Diem was the headliner, and he didn’t disappoint his fans as he cruised to a facile win in the $1,000,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Sent off as the 2/5 favorite, Carpe Diem (BetPTC.com Top Selection) sat right to the outside of early leader Ocho Ocho Ocho as they set a relatively unambitious pace. Carpe Diem and John Velazquez made their move at the top of the lane and quickly pulled away, winning by three lengths in the end over a late charging Danzig Moon who finished second. Ocho Ocho Ocho was able to hold third.
Lovely Maria scored as the favorite as she took home top honors in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes. Lovely Maria sat third with Angela Renee (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) just in front of her and those two moved as a team at the top of the stretch. They battled down the lane with Lovely Maria prevailing by three lengths over Angela Renee who finished second. The Madison was the other Grade 1 on the card and it saw Princess Violet (BetPTC.com Longshot) rally from off the pace to score a half length win. Princess Violet rallied four wide ahead of Stopchargingmaria who was rallying seven wide. The ground loss might have been the difference as Princess Violet won by half a length over Stopchargingmaria in the end.
In the Grade 3 Commonwealth it was Kobe’s Back who turned in a great performance, rallying from last to first to win the sprint event. Kobe’s Back had to chase home C. Zee (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who grabbed the lead in mid-stretch, but Kobe’s Back had all the momentum as he won by ¾ of a length. Something Extra went gate to wire to win the Grade 3 Shakertown, a sprint on the grass course. Sent off at 9/1, Something Extra and Shaun Bridgmohan blitzed the field, getting clear by three down the lane and holding off a fast closing Channel Marker who finished second at 44/1.
Frosted scores in the Wood Memorial
Frosted rallied on the outside to get up and win the $1,000,000 Wood Memorial to secure his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. Sent off as the 2/1 second choice, Frosted (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was sixth early on as long shot Toasting Master went out to set the early pace, which was slow to unfold. The biggest surprise early was El Kabeir (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was last down the backstretch behind the dawdling pace. Super long shot Tencendur rallied wide and grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch. But Frosted was already underway and he pulled up alongside and went on by to win by two lengths. Tencendur finished up in second, well ahead of El Kabeir who rallied from the back to get third.
In the Grade 1 Carter Handicap it was Dads Caps who scored the biggest win of his career. Long shot Green Gratto went out to the lead at 55/1 and brought the lead all the way to the top of the stretch. But Dads Caps (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rolled on by late to win by a length and a half. The Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes saw a pair of deep closers, March and Lord Nelson run 1-2. They were 7th and 8th respectively in the early going and Lord Nelson dropped back to last when he hated the dirt being kicked in his face. That enabled March to grab the lead late and hold off Lord Nelson’s miraculous late charge. In the Gazelle Stakes it was Condo Commando (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who went on a wire to wire journey, winning with ease. Puca (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was second the entire way around but was never a threat to the winner.