Istanford beats the boys in the Arlington Classic
Istanford never let the boys look her in the eyes in the $150,000 Arlington Classic on Saturday afternoon at Arlington as she went wire to wire to get the win. Sent off at odds of 5/1, Istanford (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) broke beautifully and coasted out to the lead and was able to set quite moderate fractions, including going to a half mile in 49.21 seconds. Solitary Ranger was just behind Istanford in a stalking spot, but once they straightened out, Istanford and James Graham started to edge away, with Long On Value (BetPTC.com Longshot) getting up to be second with race favorite Afortable (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rounding out the trifecta.
Nikki’s Sandcastle (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) scored a hard fought victory in the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup. Sent off at odds of 7/1, Nikki’s Sandcastle settled back in seventh early on as long shot Mongolian Saturday went out to set the pace. The field came bunched together at the quarter pole. Nikki’s Sandcastle and Leandro Goncalves came with a wide move just as Pass The Dice (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was trying to get room. Nikki’s Sandcastle kept that rival in for a number of strides and took first run to grab the lead. Meanwhile Mister Marti Gras came roaring down the center of the track and got right up to Nikki’s Sandcastle’s neck, but Nikki’s Sandcastle held on to win by half a length over Mister Marti Gras and Pass The Dice. Arlington Park specialist La Tia once again scored in Chicago, this time in the Arlington Matron Stakes. Sent off as the 8/5 favorite La Tia and E.T. Baird went out to the lead and set a pretty strong early pace, getting to a half mile in :48 seconds in the 9 furlong event. But La Tia just kept going and poured it on down the lane, opening up to win by over six lengths at the wire over Frivolous (BetPTC.com Longshot) and Awesome Flower (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who were second and third.
Fire With Fire flies late to win the Charlie Whittingham
Fire With Fire and Tyler Baze needed every yard of the ten furlong $200,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial at Santa Anita on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 7/1, Fire With Fire (BetPTC.com Top Selection) set up shop in the sixth spot early on as Bright Thought and Segway went out to set the pace together, getting to a half mile in a very solid 46.78 seconds. Segway took command as they ran to the quarter pole and led into the stretch, and Tyler Baze got Fire with Fire rolling in the lane as they weaved between horses and got up in the final jump to win by a neck. Segway held onto the second spot, just a neck ahead of Quick Casablanca (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran third.
Sunbean dominates the Louisiana Legends Classic
Sunbean (BetPTC.com Top Selection) continued his dominance in state-bred stakes as he won the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Classic on Saturday evening. Sent off at odds of 1/20, Sunbean stalked Coneyo Fontova early on and disposed of that rival on the turn before pulling away down the lane to win by five easy lengths under jockey Richard Eramia. Heavy On Themister (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up for second ahead of Arkansas Martini (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was third. In the Louisiana Legends Turf it was Skipberry Wine (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who rallied from dead last early to get up and win by half a length. Hopeful Notion (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) took command as they came to the top of the lane, but Skipberry Wine was catapulting past all his rivals and came up and caught Hopeful Notion late to get the win.
Heitai (BetPTC.com Top Selection) did his magic once again, as he coasted to a facile win in the Louisiana Legends Sprint. Heitai has been red-hot and opened up down the lane, pulling away from Marv in Laffite who rallied up for second while Strong and Tough (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up for third at 22/1. In the Legends Distaff it was Tensas Harbor (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who rallied from last early on down the far outside to get up and grab the win by two and a half lengths. Tensas Harbor blew them away in the final sixteenth as Little Ms. Protocol (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) got up for second ahead of She Loves Runnin (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who finished third at 19/1, finishing up a $259 trifecta.