Cairo Prince dominates the Holy Bull
Cairo Prince was already an early Derby contender going into Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes, and he backed up that heavy billing with a dominating win. Sent off as the 2/1 favorite, Cairo Prince (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat back off the pace in fifth early on as Coup de Grace went out to set the early pace. Almost Famous and Calvin Borel stalked Coup de Grace throughout and pounced on that rival to take the lead mid-way on the turn. Meanwhile Luis Saez and Cairo Prince had already started their march on the outside and they made a huge circling move at the quarter pole. Cairo Prince leveled out nicely once he straightened away and pulled away to win by almost six lengths. Conquest Titan made a huge late close from last early on to get up and finish second while Intense Holiday rallied from tenth to get up for third.
In the Forward Gal it was heavily favored Onlyforyou (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who went all the way for the win. Sent off at odds of 1/5, Javier Castellano put Onlyforyou right on the lead and received moderate pressure from Aurelia’s Belle (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) throughout the early portions of the race. Onlyforyou started to build a bit of a lead at the top of the stretch and gradually edged away to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Aurelia’s Belle finished in second with Resistivity (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) finishing up in third.
Rose To Gold rides the rail to win the Houston Ladies Classic
Rose To Gold broke from the rail and stayed there the entire trip as she scored a big victory in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic. Sent off as the 5/1 fourth choice in the race, Rose To Gold and Jesus Rios were fourth early on as favored Unusual Way (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went out and set the early pace with only mild pressure from Class Included (BetPTC.com Top Selection) throughout the early portions of the race. Class Included looked at the top of the stretch like she was poised to make a run at Unusual Way, but Unusual Way kicked away. Meanwhile Rose To Gold started a steady march up the rail and with a sixteenth of a mile to go she spurted through to get up and grab the win. Unusual Way finished second with Class Included running third.
In the Grade 3 John Connally Turf Cup it was favored Admiral Kitten (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who flew late to get up and grab the win. Sent off as the 4/5 favorite, Admiral Kitten was sixth early on as Fredericksburg (BetPTC.com Longshot) went out to set the pace. Fredericksburg got a serious challenge from King David (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) at the top of the lane, but turned away that challenger. However Admiral Kitten and Rosie Napravnik had all the momentum late and got up to win by a neck. Fredericksburg held second ahead of King David who ran third.
Scherzinger takes home the Santa Monica at Santa Anita
Scherzinger looked beat at the quarter pole but dug in and re-rallied to get the win in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 4 to 1, Scherzinger broke sharply and went right to the front early on, but got a big challenge from race favorite Teddy’s Promise (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who took the lead going into the turn with Heir Kitty (BetPTC.com Top Selection) taking over the second spot with Scherzinger shuffled back to third. But Mike Smith and Scherzinger re-rallied down on the rail and passed Teddy’s Promise to get up and win by a length. Iotopa (BetPTC.com Longshot) came roaring down the crown of the track to get up for second while Teddy’s Promise finished in third.
Ciao Bella Luna turned in a game performance to win the $125,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint down the hill. Sent off at odds of 5/1, Ciao Bella Luna and Kent Desormeaux were second early on behind Mark’s Mine (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who set the pace. Marks Mine reached the top of the lane with the lead and Ciao Bella Luna came right up alongside and those two battled to the line, with Ciao Bella Luna prevailing by half a length. Susan’s Express pulled off a shocker in the California Cup Oaks winning at 65/1. Susan’s Express rallied to grab the lead in mid-stretch and held off a late closing Anniversary Kitty (BetPTC.com Longshot) who got up for second with Rovenna (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) finishing third to complete a trifecta that paid $20,093.30!!
Big Macher (BetPTC.com Top Selection) scored a 2/1 victory in the Don Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint, scoring by almost two over Coach Bob and Kate’s Event. Weewinnin scored a 21/1 upset win in the Cal Cup Turf Classic by rallying from off the pace under jockey Joe Talamo. Weewinnin was fourth early on and made a huge bid down along the rail to get up over a late closing Stoney Fleece (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection). California Chrome turned in one of the more impressive performances of the day scoring a near six length win in the Cal Cup Derby. California Chrome sat a garden trip in third early on and made a decisive move at the quarter pole and opened up quickly. Tamarando (BetPTC.com Top Selection) rallied from last early on to get up into second with Life Is a Joy in third.