Gabriel Charles takes home Eddie Read
Gabriel Charles flew from off the pace to get up and win the Grade 1 $400,000 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday afternoon. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Gabriel Charles was sixth early on as Big Cazanova and favored Midnight Storm (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out and set the early fractions. They both came to the top of the lane and were headed by Twentytwentyvision (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who took over and kicked away a length in front in mid-stretch at 11/1. But from the back Gabriel Charles and Mike Smith started to fly and blew on by Twentytwentyvision at the sixteenth pole and drew off to win by almost four lengths. Twentytwentyvision held onto second ahead of Finnegan’s Wake who was last almost all the way around until he finally got going in the final furlong to finish up in third.
In the $80,000 Osunitas Stakes it was Gas Total (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who won the off the turf event. The race was scratched down to just a field of five and Gas Total was fourth early on as My Monet set the early fractions. My Monet was two clear in mid-stretch but was unable to hold off Gas Total’s momentum who got up in time to win by a neck.
Sheer Drama gets the win in the Delaware Handicap
Sheer Drama stalked Frivolous early on and pounced on that rival late to edge clear and win the $750,000 Grade 1 Delaware Handicap. Sent off as the 5/2 second choice, Sheer Drama (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was second early on as Frivolous maintained a comfortable early lead, getting through a half mile in 48.83 seconds. Sheer Drama and Joe Bravo came right to the throat of Frivolous as they turned into the lane and those two battled neck and neck to mid-stretch. But Sheer Drama had the late momentum and drew off to win by two lengths over Frivolous who was game but second best.
Syntax and Junior Alvarado rallied from off the pace to get a win in the Grade 3 Kent Handicap at Delaware Park on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Syntax was fourth early on as My Team set the fractions, which were pretty tepid early on. My Team took advantage of that slack early pace as he arrived to mid-stretch with the lead. But he got swallowed up late as Syntax burst on by to win by half a length over Money Multiplier (BetPTC.com Longshot) who ran second at 8/1.
Tiz Shea D dodges Mr. Z to get Indiana Derby score
Tiz Shea D had to deal with an erratic Mr Z. in front of him but was able to pass that rival late to win the $500,000 Indiana Derby on Saturday night at Indiana Grand. Tiz Shea D (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was sent off at odds of 4/1 and was second early on as Mr. Z pushed out to the lead. Mr. Z started to get erratic as they came to the quarter pole and Tiz Shea D and Jose Lezcano kept their composure. Once they straightened away they came up alongside Mr. Z late and edged clear to win by a length and a quarter. Mr. Z was second while race favorite Divining Rod (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finished up in third.
In the Grade 2 Indiana Oaks it was High Dollar Woman and Joe Bravo who went gate to wire at 15/1 to win the prestigious $200,000 event. High Dollar Woman was only challenged by Sweetgrass (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was second throughout and took a big run at her in mid-stretch. But Bravo left some gas in the tank and High Dollar Woman kicked on late to win by a length over Sweetgrass who was a clear second.