Midnight Hawk takes the Sham Stakes
The Sham Stakes kicked off the trail to the Santa Anita Derby and Midnight Hawk cemented his status as a contender with a near two length win in the Sham Stakes on Saturday. Sent off as the 2/5 favorite in the field of four, Midnight Hawk (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Mike Smith pressed Kristo who went out to the early lead. Kristo and Midnight Hawk traded punches as they went head and head for much of the way. Midnight Hawk started to inch away nearing the quarter pole and gradually pulled away down the lane to win by a length and three quarters. Kristo stayed on for second ahead of Ontology who ran third.
In the Grade 2 San Pasqual it was Blueskiesnrainbows (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who went right to the front and never looked back, scoring with ease by a length and a quarter. Sent off as the 2/1 slight favorite, Blueskiesnrainbows and Martin Pedroza were able to set moderate fractions without being pushed to hard early. They kicked away at the top of the stretch as long shot Majestic Harbor started to rally from out of the pack. Majestic Harbor continued to inch closer but Blueskiesnrainbows had plenty left to hold and win by just over a length. Majestic Harbor got second with Drill (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) running up to complete the trifecta spot.
Street Story kicks off the Oaklawn season with a win in the Dixie Bell
Street Story utilized a nice stalking trip to get up late and take home the top spot in the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes on opening day at Oaklawn Park. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Street Story (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Ricardo Santana were fourth early on as Zip On and More Than Beauty (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out to dispute the early lead, through a quick opening quarter in 22.11 seconds. More Than Beauty quickly folded the tent as they went into the turn as Zip On started to edge away and made a break for home. But Street Story came with his four wide move and gradually wore down the early leaders to win by a length over a late closing Questlie who rallied down the center of the track to get second.
Drogue made quick work of the field in the $100,000 Fifth Season Stakes, as he drew off to win by nine emphatic lengths. Drogue was part of an entry that included Oaklawn superstar Cyber Secret (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who was right behind him in the early going as they both sat in mid-pack. Drogue made an early move to the lead as he took command on the far turn under jockey Calvin Borel. Drogue started to draw off down the lane as Cyber Secret moved up into the second spot, but Drogue kept going away down the lane, drawing off to win by 9 lengths in the end over Cyber Secret. Steal Case finished third to complete the exacta while Joy Boy rounded out the trifectas with his fourth place finish.
Summer Front takes home the Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream
Summer Front was bet down to 6/5 in Saturday’s Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park and he rewarded his many backers as he got up late to win the Grade 2 event. Summer Front (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was mid-pack early on as Tetradrachm went out to the early lead under Luis Saez and they were allowed to set very easy fractions. Hierro and Howe Great were right in behind and as they got to the top of the stretch, both of those two ran out of gas. Summer Front and Joe Bravo came through between horses and once they got out into the clear they started inching up on Tetradrachm and finally wore that rival down to win by three quarters of a length. Tetradrachm was clearly second ahead of Nikki’s Sandcastle (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) who ran third.
Lea turned in a sparking performance in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope, drawing clear to win by three and one quarter lengths in the end. Sent off at a juicy 6/1 odds, Lea was close up early on stalking Csaba (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) as they set a very moderate pace early on. Lea started to edge away at the top of the stretch and poured it on to win by three and one quarter lengths. Jackson Bend ran up into the second spot while Neck N Neck finished up in third.