Finnegans Wake rallies to win the San Gabriel
Finnegans Wake was last early on but was first when it mattered as he pulled off an 8/1 upset winning the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita. Finnegans Wake (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was taken back to last early on as long shot Edge of Reality went out to make the pace in the nine furlong grass event. Skyring stalked from second and as the field made their way into the home stretch, Skyring took over the lead. But that lead was short lived as Finnegans Wake and Victor Espinoza were geared to the far outside and ran on with a furious rally and blew by all the rivals in the lane to win by a length in the end, holding off a late running Patrioticandproud who finished up in second. Another long shot, Powers Ped finished in third completing a trifecta that paid $1,219 for each $1 wagered.
In the Grade 2 Santa Ynez it was Seduire (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who went right to the front and never looked back, scoring a wire to wire victory in the Grade 2 event. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Seduire and Rafael Bejarano blasted to the early lead and got through an opening quarter in a swift 21.76 seconds. They got pressed at the quarter pole by Xoxo (BetPTC.com Longshot) but once they straightened up, Seduire kicked away and ended up winning by two and a quarter lengths. Callback ran on to get second while Xoxo held on for the show money.
El Kabeir dominates the Jerome Stakes
El Kabeir picked up ten more points for the Kentucky Derby as he bested a field eight runners in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes. Sent off as the 7/5 favorite, El Kabeir (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) bounced away nicely from his far outside draw and was positioned in third by CC Lopez as they ran onto the backstretch. Ostralenka and Nasa set the early while El Kabeir waited in the wings. CC Lopez gave El Kabeir his signal turning for home and they sweeped to the lead. El Kabeir drew off to win by four and three quarter lengths. Nasa finished up in second and was seven lengths clear of General Bellamy.
Bluegrass Singer goes all the way to win the Mucho Macho Man Stakes
Bluegrass Singer went all the way on Saturday to win the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Sent off as the 2/1 second choice, Bluegrass Singer and Javier Castellano burst right to the lead and got through an opening quarter in 23.10 seconds. Castellano came to the top of the lane with a half length lead but they kicked away and drew off to win by a length and three quarters. Long shot Ami’s Flatter (BetPTC.com Longshot) came closing late to finish second, more than six lengths clear of favorite Mawthooq (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was third.
Devine Aida (BetPTC.com Top Selection) took home the top honors in the Ginger Brew Stakes. Devine Aida stalked Sunday Sonnet early on but took the lead midway down the backstretch and never looked back, getting to the stretch a length in front and pouring it on to win by three and a half lengths in the end. One of the more impressive performances of the day was turned in by Barbados who rallied from just off the pace to win the Spectacular Bid Stakes in big fashion. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Barbados (BetPTC.com Longshot) was third early on as the two outside speedsters It’s Not Me (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Ready For Rye (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out and battled for the lead. Barbados swept up with a three wide bid and blew past them both, pulling away to win by three emphatic lengths. Ready for Rye held the place spot ahead of It’s Not Me who ran third.
Night Prowler (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) had to fly from off the pace to get up in the final yards to win the Dania Beach Stakes. Sent off as the 5/2 second choice, Night Prowler was 9th early on and had to catch A Lot (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who rolled to the lead at the top of the lane and almost held on, falling a half length short of Night Prowler at the wire. In the Grade 3 Old Hat Stakes it was Ekati’s Phaeton who went all the way, winning in wire to wire fashion by a half length. Sent off at odds of 7/1 Ekati’s Phaeton had to battle early on with Concealedwithakiss but put that rival away going into the far turn. R Sassy Lass took a big run at Ekati’s Phaeton turning for home, but could just never push on by, falling a half length short in the end.