Smooth Roller crushes his rivals in the Awesome Again
Smooth Roller put on an exhibition on Saturday as he caravanned away from his rivals in the $300,000 Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita. Sent off at odds of 5/1, Smooth Roller was second early on as Bayern expectedly went to the front and carved out very reasonable fractions. Bayern brought his lead to the quarter pole but Smooth Roller rallied up and went to the lead and never looked back, drawing away down the stretch to win by five and a quarter lengths. Hoppertunity (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rallied to get up and run second with Bayern holding on to third.
Photo Call scored a bit of an upset in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive under jockey Drayden Van Dyke. Photo Call stayed midpack early on as Fanticola sprinted to the lead from the far outside post position. As they came into the stretch, Fanticola surrendered the lead to a host of challengers, but it was Photo Call who had the most momentum late and won by two and a quarter lengths. Elektrum (BetPTC.com Top Selection) flew to get up for second with Stormy Lucy (BetPTC.com Longshot) finishing up third at 24/1. Songbird (BetPTC.com Top Selection) continued her dominance of the two year old filly division as she crushed her rivals in the Grade 1 Chandelier. She went to the lead early on and and kept a comfortable margin the entire way, eventually winning by four and a half lengths over Land Over Sea (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was second and Right There (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who finished third.
Beholder (BetPTC.com Top Selection) won with ease as expected in the Zenyatta Stakes. She was sent off at 1/9 odds and made her patented big move at the quarter pole and was never really asked down the stretch and still won by over three lengths to My Sweet Addiction. My Sweet Addiction was an additional 5 lengths clear of Savings Account who finished third. Nyquist (BetPTC.com Top Selection) scored in the Frontrunner Stakes, but he had to work for it as he prevailed by half a length over Swipe (BetPTC.com Longshot) who was gallant in defeat. They were five lengths clear of Hollywood Don (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who finished third.
Big Blue Kitten gets another Grade 1; wins the Joe Hirsch Turf
Big Blue Kitten made a huge move on the turn and held on to win the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. Big Blue Kitten (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was sixth early on as his rabbit Shining Copper opened up eleven lengths early on. Shining Copper’s lead started to dwindle as they came to the quarter pole and Big Blue Kitten blew by his stablemate and opened up three in mid-stretch. Big Blue Kitten skated home to win by three quarters of a length over Slumber (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who rallied for second. Rock Fall took home the top honors in the Vosburgh Stakes, outbattling a very game Salutos Amigos to get the win. Rock Fall (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was third early on and as they straightened away, a three horse battle ensued between Rock Fall, Salutos Amigos, and Stallwalkin Dude. Rock Fall prevailed by a neck over Salutos Amigos (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who was just another head in front of Stallwalkin Dude (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection).
Isotherm rallied from well off the pace to score a win in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes. Sent off at odds of 9/1, Isotherm closed from 8th to get up in the final jump and win by a neck over Azar (BetPTC.com Top Selection). La Verdad (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went gate to wire to win the Gallant Bloom Handicap. Sent off as the heavy 1/2 favorite, La Verdad was unpressured most of the way around as she held off a late charge from Wavell Avenue (BetPTC.com Longshot) who finished second, just ahead of Dame Dorothy (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was third. Wedding Toast (BetPTC.com Top Selection) also went wire to wire, scoring with ease to win the Beldame Stakes. Curalina (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was a clear cut second ahead of Catch My Drift (BetPTC.com Longshot) who finished third.
Geothermal upsets the Lukas Classic at Churchill
Geothermal was the second longest price on the board, but came across the wire in front to score in the $175,000 Lukas Classic. Geothermal was sent off at odds of 12/1 and was sixth early on as Abraham went out and set the early fractions. Robby Albarado put Geothermal to a drive on the far turn and they quickly swept past their rivals and continued to edge away down the stretch to win by a length and a half. Departing finished second ahead of Smack Smack (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who ran third.
Saham (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went from last to first to score a win in the Grade 3 Jefferson Cup. Watchyourownbobber went to the lead early on and set a very comfortable pace early on. Saham made his move on the turn and grabbed the lead outside the furlong pole and held on to win by three quarters of a length over Watchyourownbobber who gamely held on for second. Tapiture scored a win in the Ack Ack Handicap Handicap as he held off a very game Viva Majorca (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) as they battled down the lane to finish 1-2.