Bayern dominates the Haskell
Bayern lived up to his massive potential on Saturday as he scored the biggest win of his career in the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Sent off at odds of 9/2, Bayern (BetPTC.com Top Selection) broke beautifully and cruised right to the lead under jockey Martin Garcia. Bayern received only mild pressure eearly on from Wildcat Red (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) as they reached the half mile in 47.66 seconds. Bayern and Garcia let it out a notch as they reached the top of the lane and once they straightened away, it was all over as Bayern blasted off to win by seven and one quarter lengths. Long shot Albano kicked in late to get up for second as Wildcat Red finished in third. Favored Untapable was wide throughout and could only manage a fifth place finish.
In the Grade 3 Oceanport it was Guys Reward (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who stormed home late to get the win. Sent off at odds of 9/2, Guys Reward and Paco Lopez were mid-pack early on as Fredricksburg went out to set the fractions. Fredricksburg brought the field into the lane and still had a length lead mid-stretch. But once Guys Reward was angled out and saw daylight he exploded to get the win. Valid and Bradester put in a memorable battle in the Monmouth Cup as they ding donged from the three eighths pole home. Bradester (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was out setting the pace when Valid (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) came running after Bradester at the 3/8ths pole and they battled the rest of the way, with Valid inching clear late to win by half a length.
Starstruck (BetPTC.com Longshot) got a beautiful ride from Kerwin Clark as they split rivals and burst through late to win the Matchmaker Stakes on the turf. In a race where the top five runners were only separated by a half length at the eighth pole, Starstruck had all the momentum and won by a length and a quarter over Irish Mission and Watsdachances (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection). Rainbow Heir sat a perfect garden trip as she stalked and pounced to win the Teddy Drone Stakes for jockey Angel Serpa. Ribo Bobo (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was the heavy favorite but couldn’t keep up with Rainbow Heir and finished third. In the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Majestic River (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who scored a big two and one half length victory over Montana Native (BetPTC.com Top Selection).
Wicked Strong impressive in winning the Jim Dandy
Wicked Strong started out the second half of his year in style as he won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on Saturday at Saratoga. Sent off as the 2/1 second choice, Wicked Strong (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) broke beautifully and ended up in second early on, much closer than usual with the addition of blinkers. Legend went out to set the pace and it was quite moderate, getting to a half mile in 47.73 seconds. Wicked Strong made his move on the far turn and was followed by race favorite Tonalist (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who was surprisingly behind Wicked Strong throughout the early stages. Wicked Strong turned in front and Tonalist came after him, but Wicked Strong had much more left in the tank and opened up to win by two and a quarter lengths. Tonalist was second, well clear of Kid Cruz (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who ran third. In the Grade 2 Amsterdam it was Coup de Grace who came with a flying finish to get up and win that sprint event. Coup de Grace was sixth early on and came roaring after C. Zee (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was on the lead early. Coup de Grace grabbed the lead at the eighth pole and drew away late to win by three lengths and set himself up as a big contender for the Grade 1 Kings Bishop which comes up next month.
Fed Biz goes all the way in the San Diego Handicap
Fed Biz went right to the front and never looked back as he cruised to a huge win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap. Bet down to the 3/1 second choice, Fed Biz and Martin Garcia burst right out to the front and received virtually no pressure through an opening half mile of 47.29. Fed Biz opened up at the top of the lane and never looked back as he poured it on late to win by almost six lengths. Footbridge burst out of the pack to get up into the second spot with You Know I Know finishing up in third. In the Fleet Treat Stakes it was favored Go West Marie and Kent Desormeaux who won a hard fought battle down the lane over Wonderful Lie to win by a half a length.