Untapable dominates the Mother Goose
Untapable was a huge favorite and looked the part as she dominated down the stretch to win the Grade 1 $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. Sent off as the 1/9 favorite, Untapable (BetPTC.com Top Selection) had to take back shortly after the start after Princess Violet (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) broke sharp and inward as she barreled out to the lead. Princess Violet brought her lead to the quarter pole when John Velazquez and Untapable moved by her with confidence and they powered away to win by nine and one quarter lengths. Princess Violet held the second spot while America finished up in the third spot.
Later on in the card, in the Grade 2 New York Stakes, it was Riposte (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who rallied from off the pace to get the win. Riposte was fourth early on under jockey Joel Rosario as long shot Viva Rafaela went out to set the pace which was moderate, getting through a half mile in 49.86 seconds. Riposte started to unleash her rally on the outside at the top of the lane and was followed by Tannery (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who started her rally just behind Riposte. But Riposte had lots of gas left in the tank and she held Tannery at bay to win by a length and a quarter. Tannery was second and it was three lengths back to Viva Rafaela who was third. The $100,000 Manila Stakes saw Cabo Cat and Joe Bravo hold off a late closing Long on Value (BetPTC.com Top Selection) to get the win. So Lonesome set the pace and opened up a length and a half at the quarter pole, but Cabo Cat came flying and collared him at the eighth pole and drew off to win by a length over Long on Value.
Majestic Harbor upsets The Dude and wins the Gold Cup
Majestic Harbor and Tyler Baze pulled off a 14/1 shocker on Saturday when they blew away the competition in the Grade 1 $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Majestic Harbor (BetPTC.com Longshot) was third early on as Fury Kapkori and Gary Stevens went out and set a very quick pace, going an opening quarter in 22.38 as heavily favored Game on Dude (BetPTC.com Top Selection) decided to sit back in second. Fury Kapkori brought that lead to the final turn, but was quickly inhaled, first by Game on Dude, who looked in position to pull off one of his big Southern California victories. However after he hit the front, he quickly stalled and that left Majestic Harbor flying up three wide to take over the lead. Clubhouse Ride got a beautiful run through at the top of the stretch and looked the main challenger, but Majestic Harbor started to pull away, eventually winning by six and one quarter lengths. Clubhouse Ride was second and Imperative (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished up in third.
In the Grade 1 Triple Bend it looked like Cyclometer had the race won, but a gutsy performance by Declassify saw him re-rally and get up in the final jump to win. Cyclometer (BetPTC.com Top Selection) had opened up a length lead in mid-stretch at 5/1, but couldn’t keep the momentum going and Declassify and Martin Garcia re-rallied for the nose victory. Cyclometer was second and it was Indexical who got up for third.
Sheza Smoke Show upset the $100,000 Senorita Stakes as she kicked away late to win by a length and three quarters under the red-hot Joe Talamo. Sheza Smoke Show came from off the pace as she was able to reel in the early leader, long shot Disregarded in the final furlong to get the victory. Famous Alice (BetPTC.com Top Selection) got up for second while Morning Fix (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) finished in third. The Grade 2 Royal Heroine saw Parranda (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) secure a perfect trip from a tough outside post under Elvis Trujillo to score a neck win. Parranda had to reel in Kathleen Rose (BetPTC.com Longshot) who had the lead until the final jumps when Parranda finally took over the lead.
Carve shreds the field in the Cornhusker
Carve rallied in the slop on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows to secure a big win in the Grade 3 $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap. Right To Vote went out to the lead early on and brought that lead into the stretch, but Carve (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Jesus Castanon got into the clear at the eighth pole and gradually wore down Right To Vote to get the win by a hard fought neck. Right To Vote was second with Ground Transport finishing up in the third position.
Jessica’s Star turned in a very gutsy performance in winning the Iowa Derby by a length. Embellishing Bob (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was the early pace setter and set a very honest pace. Vicar’s in Trouble (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) launched a big bid after Embellishing Bob at the quarter pole, but Embellishing Bob had some gas left and opened back up a half a length. But Jessica’s Star and David Mello just kept on grinding out in the center of the track to get the victory. Size took home the top honors in the Iowa Oaks, as she held off a late closing Ria Antonia to get the win. Size (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) broke off and took the lead early on, but quickly yielded to Dream Spinner (BetPTC.com Longshot) who opened up three lengths down the backstretch. Dream Spinner brought that lead into mid-stretch before Size burst on by inside the final furlong. Ria Antonia finally got going as the favorite but she couldn’t quite catch Size who won by a length and a quarter. Ria Antonia was second, a half length ahead of Dream Spinner who was third.