Belle Gallantey all the way in the Del’ Cap
Belle Gallantey went right to the front and stayed there as she galloped around the Delaware Park oval and scored a win in the Grade 1 $750,000 Delaware Handicap. Sent off as the 6/1 second choice, Belle Gallantey (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Jose Ortiz cruised out to an easy early lead, and set the fractions with comfort going 24.55 to the opening quarter and a half in 49.51 seconds. The massive 1/5 favorite Princess of Sylmar (BetPTC.com Top Selection) got away in fifth early on, but wasn’t that far back as she only spotted Belle Gallantey three lengths going down the backstretch. Belle Gallantey got her first big challenge from Flashy American (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) came to within a head of Belle Gallantey turning for home, but Belle Gallantey and Ortiz started to kick away and opened up late, drawing off to win by almost three lengths. Princess of Sylmar finally got going late to get up into the place position while Flashy American finished up in third.
Finnegans Wake wins a thrilling edition of the Arlington Handicap
Finnegans Wake won a tight finish on Saturday when he showed up to the wire first in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap. The race was the final local prep for the Arlington Million and saw Avanzare go out and roll on the lead through slow fractions, including a half mile in 52.77 seconds. Victor Espinoza sat just behind Avanzare with Finnegans Wake (BetPTC.com Longshot) throughout most of the journey and as they straightened away into the stretch, Finnegans Wake came up to put a nose in front inside the furlong pole. He started to edge away but Admiral Kitten (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and War Dancer (BetPTC.com Top Selection) both started to roll late. Finnegans Wake found the wire a neck in front of Admiral Kitten who was just another half length ahead of War Dancer.
In the Stars N Stripes Handicap it was The Pizza Man (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who went all the way on the lead to score a half length win. The Pizza Man was unpressured early and once they straightened away, he opened up a sizeable lead. O’Prado Ole (BetPTC.com Longshot) burst out of the pack to chase from second, but came up a half length short at the wire and had to settle for the place spot at 13/1. Suntracer (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) rallied for third with Moro Tap (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) fourth, completing a $291 Superfecta.
Divine Oath (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rallied late and got up just in time to snatch the victory in the American Derby over Our Channel (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who looked home at the sixteenth pole. Our Channel sat a perfect stalking trip early on and opened up two lengths in mid-stretch, but Divine Oath and the red-hot Florent Geroux came rolling up the inside to get up late to win by a neck. Our Channel was second and Highball was third. Geroux came right back to take home the Modesty Handicap with the now 4 for 4 I’m Already Sexy (BetPTC.com Top Selection). I’m Already Sexy broke beautifully and was positioned in second early on after being saddled with a difficult post position out in slot 13. Geroux roused I’m Already Sexy to the lead at the furlong pole and won in a long sustained bid, holding off a late rally from both Gulsary who was second and Street of Gold who finished third.
Hangover Kid rallies to win the Bowling Green
Hangover Kid (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) flew late to get up and win the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap by a head. Sent off at odds of 9/2, Hangover Kid settled back in third early on as Horvat Clan went out and set the pace, which wasn’t too fast. Race favorite Grandeur (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was roused to the lead turning for home, but had a wall of challengers, the fastest charging of whom was Hangover Kid and Jose Lezcano. Hangover Kid was kept to task and got up past Grandeur in the final stride. Grandeur was second and 15/1 shot Sky Blazer finished up in third.
He’s Watching dominates the Meadowlands Pace
He’s Watching put on a clinic on Saturday at The Meadowlands when he dominated the $776,000 Meadowlands Pace. Sent off at odds of 2/1, He’s Watching (BetPTC.com Top Selection). He’s Watching (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was put into the pocket spot by Tim Tetrick, just in behind JK Endofanera (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who went out on the lead. Tetrick stayed in the pocket until they turned for home and drew clear, powerhousing away to a two and one half length win. Always B Miki rallied from far back to get up for the second spot while long shot Tellitlikeitis got the show money. He’s Watching equaled the fastest time in harness racing history with the win, stopping the clock in 1:46 and 4/5 seconds.