Neveradoubt pulls a shocker in the Snow Chief
Neveradoubt was being doubted by many bettors on Saturday in the $200,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Anita. At odds of 41/1 he wasn’t thought much of, but he rewarded his backers as he rallied from off the pace to get the win. Neveradoubt (BetPTC.com Longshot) was ninth early on as Richard’s Boy set a brisk early pace, getting through a half mile in 46.93 seconds. Richard’s Boy folded as they came to the top of the lane and Zinvor (BetPTC.com Top Selection) grabbed the lead in mid-stretch. Meanwhile Neveradoubt came with a six wide rally on the turn and blew by his rivals in the final strides to win by half a length, returning a monster $85.40 payout. Another long shot, 29/1 Temple Keys finished second with the exacta paying $702.
In the Melair Stakes it was Sheer Pleasure who added another stakes win to her ledger with the score. Sent off as the 4/5 favorite, Sheer Pleasure (BetPTC.com Top Selection) sat third early on as Tribal Express and Thermodynamics (BetPTC.com Longshot) went out and battled early on. Sheer Pleasure and Tyler Baze released the brakes and turned on the jets down the lane, drawing clear to win by over seven and a half lengths. Favored Motown Men (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) took home the top honors in the Tiznow Stakes, reeling in Spirit Rules in the final strides to score. Motown Men was sixth early on as Spirit Rules and Iggy Puglisi set the pace. Spirit Rules opened up at the top of the lane and made a break for home, but Motown Men flew in the final yards and got the win by three quarters of a length.
Go West Marie (BetPTC.com Top Selection) took home the top honors in the Fran’s Valentine Stakes, rallying from off the pace to get the win. My Monet went out and set the early pace while Go West Marie stalked from fifth. Go West Marie came with a four wide rally at the top of the lane and edged away late to win by a length and a quarter over a flying Chati’s On Top (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who rallied to get second. Sunday Rules (BetPTC.com Top Selection) ran her record to a perfect 5 for 5 as she and Tyler Baze went gate to wire in the Spring Fever Stakes. Sunday Rules won by three over 36/1 long shot Sidepocket Run (BetPTC.com Longshot) who completed a $15.60 exacta for a $1.
Xtra Heat loves the extra distance and wins the Louisville Handicap
Xtra Heat had no problem with the twelve furlongs in the $100,000 Louisville Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Sent off at odds of 9/2, Xtra Heat (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was second early on as Majestic Harbor (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went out to set the pace. Majestic Harbor was all out of gas by the time they got to the third and final turn and Xtra Heat and Brian Hernandez Jr. burst right to the lead and pulled away down the lane, holding on to win by a length and a half over For Greater Glory who rallied from fifth early on to get up and run second. Golden Soul (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up for third after being last early on.
Sky Treasure from last to first to upset the Nassau Stakes at Woodbine
Sky Treasure was last early on but was first when the wire came up as she won the Grade 2 $200,000 Nassau Stakes on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 19/1, Sky Treasure (BetPTC.com Longshot) was twelfth early on as Resistivity went out to the lead and set a half mile in 46.89 seconds. Jockey Gary Boulanger shifted Sky Treasure through traffic as a crush of horses had a shot with a furlong left to go. Sky Treasure burst clear late and scored by a length over Deceptive Vision (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran second and completed a $206 exacta.
Hard Not To Like wins the Gamely
Hard Not To Like added a Grade 1 win to her ledger on Saturday as she rallied from off the pace to win the $300,000 Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita. Sent off at odds of 7/2, Hard Not To Like was sixth early on as Fanticola and Joe Talamo went out to set the pace. Fanticola was able to slow em down early and as they turned for home she battled as she was challenged by long shot Blingismything. Fanticola kept the head in front but Hard Not To Like was waiting for room and once that room came, she exploded between horses and got up just in time to beat Fanticola by a neck.
Distinctiv Passion was able to go wire to wire and hold off a late bid from favored San Onofre to win the Los Angeles Handicap. Sent off as the 2/1 second choice in a field of four, Distinctiv Passion was making his first start since running in Dubai. He got to the lead early under Edwin Maldonado and was able to hold off San Onofre by a neck in the final yards.
