Force the Pass wins the Belmont Derby
Force the Pass continued his big summer as he took home the top honors in the $1,250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 10/1, Force The Pass (BetPTC.com Longshot) was third early on as Bolo (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out and set the early pace. Force The Pass and Joel Rosario made their move on the turn and blew by Bolo and poured it on down the stretch, leaving his opponents well behind as he cruised under the wire in front by three and three quarter lengths. European shipper Canndal closed from sixth early on to get up and finish second with Startup Nation rounding out the trifecta.
In the Suburban Handicap it was Effinex who held off a strong late rally from heavily favored Tonalist to get the win by a head. Effinex (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) stalked early on and was just in behind Coach Inge who had the lead as they came to the top of the stretch. Effinex took over at the top of the lane and was able to hold off Tonalist (BetPTC.com Top Selection) as they battled the whole way down the lane, with Effinex winning by a head. Lady Eli (BetPTC.com Top Selection) crushed her opposition once again as she maintained her perfect ledger by winning the Belmont Oaks Invitational. Lady Eli was ninth early on and inhaled her rivals with a five wide move on the turn before drawing off to win by almost three lengths over 35/1 shot Itsonlyactingdad who got up for second.
Private Zone (BetPTC.com Top Selection) easily won the Belmont Sprint Championship, going wire to wire to score with ease by three and a quarter lengths under jockey Martin Pedroza. The race featured scratches of some of the big contenders so Private Zone went off at a miniscule 1/5 odds and beat Clearly Now (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who finished up in second.
Shaman Ghost takes home top honors in the Queen’s Plate
Shaman Ghost dug deep late and was able to pass the favorite Danish Dynaformer late to win the $1,000,000 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on Sunday. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Shaman Ghost was eighth early on as long shot Sweet Grass Creek went out and set a very strong pace, getting through a half mile in 45.76 seconds. Sweet Grass Creek was all done midway on the turn as Billy’s Star (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) blew by to grab the lead. But that lead was short lived as Danish Dynaformer (BetPTC.com Top Selection) came up to grab the lead outside the eighth pole. Shaman Ghost and Rafael Hernandez meanwhile went wide and set their sites on Danish Dynaformer, gradually wearing that rival down and getting up to win by a length and a quarter. Danish Dynaformer was second with Conquest Boogaloo third.
Gimme Da Lute holds off Prospect Park to win the Los Alamitos Derby
Gimme Da Lute dug in late and was able to hold off Prospect Park to win the Grade Los Alamitos Derby on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 3/1, Gimme Da Lute (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was second early on behind Kentuckian (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who set an honest pace, getting through a half mile in 46.71 seconds. Gimme Da Lute overhauled Kentuckian at the top of the lane and was a length in front in mid-stretch. Prospect Park (BetPTC.com Top Selection) started uncoiling his rally from just in behind. Prospect Park fell just short at the wire though, finishing just a nose behind Gimme Da Lute who got the win.
Stormdriver dominates the Louisiana Legends Classic
Stormdriver made short work of his competition on Saturday night as he took home the top honors in the premier event of Louisiana Legends Night at Evangeline Downs, the $125,000 Classic. Sent off at odds of 1/5, Stormdriver (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was sixth early on as Udoknowjack went out and set the pace which was very moderate. Stormdriver and Diego Saenz made their move very methodically and took command from Heavy on Themister in mid-stretch and edged clear to win by two and a half lengths. Heavy on Themister finished up in second with Social Misfit (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) running third.
Big Blue Kitten closes late to win the United Nations Stakes
Big Blue Kitten turned in a furious stretch run to win the $300,000 Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Big Blue Kitten stayed off the pace set by stablemate Shining Copper who at 129/1, ensured a good pace by going a half mile in 47.58 seconds. Shining Copper brought his lead all the way to the top of the stretch, but Big Blue Kitten and Joe Bravo were out in the clear and blew on by down the lane to open up and win by a length and a half. Slumber got up for second with Twilight Eclipse rounding out the trifecta. Race favorite Main Sequence finished in seventh.
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