Dortmund wins a thrilling edition of the Los Alamitos Futurity
With just five horses entered, the Los Alamitos Futurity turned out to be one of the more memorable races of the year as heavily favored Dortmund got up in the final stride to win a three horse photo and take the top honor in the Grade 1 $500,000 race. Sent off as the 3/5 favorite, Dortmund (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat a good trip in third as Mr. Z (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Firing Line (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went out and traded jabs on the lead, getting through a quick first quarter mile of 21.98 seconds and a half in 45.29. It looked like it was all setting up for Dortmund who got the garden trip just in behind the speedsters, but as they straightened away, Firing Line and Mr. Z continued to battle while Dortmund was just to their outside and about a half length back. The long stretch at Los Alamitos benefited the big striding Dortmund though as he finally got up in the last jump and got the headbob to win by a head over Firing Line. It was a nose back to Mr. Z who ran third, beaten only a head for all the money.
Cinco Charlie wins the Sugar Bowl at Fair Grounds
Cinco Charlie had to work every inch of the six furlongs to get the win in the $50,000 Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday. Sent off as the 2/5 favorite in the field of four, Cinco Charlie (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) battled early with Control Shake through a sizzling first quarter in 21.32 seconds. As they reached the top of the lane, Cinco Charlie finally started to edge clear of Control Shake. But he was immediately tackled by Bourbon Cowboy (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who came up on the outside and loomed into second. But Cinco Charlie just kept fighting and held off Bourbon Cowboy by half a length to get the win.
In the Letellier Memorial it was Promise Me Silver (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who rallied from just off the pace to win the six furlong event by five and a half lengths. Carolina Jasmine (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) grabbed the lead early on but Promise Me Silver and Robby Albarado made their move and blew past their competition, winning by five and one half lengths over Carolina Jasmine who finished second.
Sky Flight takes off to win the Tropical Park Derby
Sky Flight had to catch a loose on the lead long shot to get up and win the $75,000 Tropical Park Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Sky Flight and Jose Lezcano settled back in eighth early on as 25/1 Cement Clement went out to set the early pace. Cement Clement went pretty quickly early and came to the top of the lane with a two and a half length lead. But in the final sixteenth Cement Clement began to tire and Sky Flight hit his best stride as he blew by in the final yards to win by a length. Cement Clement held on for second a length ahead of Smooth Daddy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who ran third.
In the Tropical Park Oaks it was Sandiva (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who overcame her tough outside post position to win the Tropical Park Oaks. She broke well and sat a good third early on as race favorite Party Now and John Velazquez set the pace, which was a very moderate one. Party Now brought that lead to the top of the lane but was passed by Sandiva in mid-stretch. However Party Now had more left in the tank and fought back, but fell a neck short as Sandiva got the victory.