Hot Stones up in time to win the Bed O’Roses at Belmont
Hot Stones needed every inch of the seven furlong $150,000 Bed O’Roses Handicap on Saturday as she got up in the last jump to win by a nose. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Hot Stones and Irad Ortiz Jr. sat back in a good tracking spot in fourth early on as Ultimate Shopper went out to set the pace with Merry Meadow (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) just in behind in second. Ultimate Shopper brought that lead to the top of the stretch and Merry Meadow came right up alongside and started to edge away in mid-stretch. Hot Stones meanwhile came with a wide run on the outside and gradually wore Merry Meadow down late, to win by a nose. Merry Meadow was second and four lengths ahead of Calistoga who got up to run third.
In the Wild Applause Stakes it was another nose photo, this time it was Walk Close (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) holding off a late charging Wave The Flag (BetPTC.com Top Selection). Both horses stayed far off the pace early which was set by Courtesan and it was a mild pace, as they got to a half mile in 49.27 seconds. Courtesan brought the lead into the lane but was quickly overhauled by the odds on favorite Sweet Acclaim. Sweet Acclaim battled down the lane but the late charging Wild Applause and Wave The Flag both swallowed her up late, running 1-2 with just a nose separating them at the wire.
Heitai runs them off their feet in the Evangeline Turf Sprint
The $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint was a new race on Saturday night and the new premier event from Evangeline didn’t disappoint as Heitai nearly ran off the screen scoring a huge win. Sent off as the 2/1 slight favorite, Heitai (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) broke well and quickly cleared off by two lengths as they ran to the far turn in the five furlong event. Heitai and Diego Saenz started to open up on the turn and into the lane opened it up to four lengths in mid-stretch and just kept on chugging along, eventually winning by three and three quarter lengths. A pair of longshots, Whiskey Bravo and Snappy Girl got up to run second and third and force a trifecta that came back at $605 for every $2 hit.
Sunbean (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) scored as the even money favorite in the Evangeline Mile as he stalked Pushingonastring and Grand Contender (BetPTC.com Top Selection) until the top of the stretch and slowly drew away from them in the final furlong to score the win. Pushingonastring held off Grand Contender for second. In the $100,000 Opelousas Stakes it was Malibu Yankee (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who was tenth early on and rallied with a six wide move to get up and win by a neck. Malibu Yankee was still fifth with a furlong to go but jockey Gerard Melancon had plenty of gas left and rallied to catch Sister Ginger and Synapse in the final strides.
Longview Drive up in time to win the Oak Tree Handicap
Longview Drive was at the back of the pack for much of the early running of the $100,000 Oak Tree Handicap on Saturday at Pleasanton. But he was ahead when it mattered most as he rallied past favored Footbridge late to get the win. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Longview Drive (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat in last as Summer Hit (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out to the early lead with pressure from Cahill Chrome down the backstretch. Summer Hit kept the lead though into the lane and had that lead until Footbridge grabbed it from him inside the furlong pole. But Longview Drive and William Antongeorgi had all the momentum and blew by to win by a length in the end. Longview Drive was second while Summer Hit stayed on for third.
Jojo Warrior all the way in the Summertime Oaks
Jojo Warrior always looked comfortable as he jogged around the track to an impressive five length score in the $200,000 Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 3/1 second choice, Jojo Warrior (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Martin Garcia broke beautifully and found themselves sitting on a nice length lead strolling down the backstretch through decent fractions. Jojo Warrior started to extend his lead as they came to the top of the stretch and opened up at will down the lane, winning by five and one quarter lengths over 18/1 shot Live For Now and Front Range (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who ran second and third.
In the Singletary Stakes it was Home Run Kitten (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who flew from the back to get up and score the win going away. Sent off at odds of 9/5, Home Run Kitten was eighth early on as Home School and Sawyer’s Hill dueled up on the lead. Home Run Kitten and Joe Talamo came with a five wide bid while Argyle Cut tried to follow him from the back and they both flew past their rivals to finish 1-2 after being 8-9 turning for home.