Twilight Eclipse finally breaks through and wins Grade 1
Twilight Eclipse has been running some great races in recent starts, but finally broke through to get that illusive Grade 1 win as he took home top honors in the Man O’War Stakes on Saturday at Belmont. Sent off at odds of 9/5, Twilight Eclipse sat second early on behind War Dancer who set the pace in the eleven furlong event. War Dancer tried to kick away but Twilight Eclipse and Javier Castellano wouldn’t let him go and they forged by in the final strides to win by a neck. War Dancer finished second and was well clear of Hyper (BetPTC.com Longshot) who finished in third.
In the Beau Gay Stakes it was Discreet Marq (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who waltzed around the oval, scoring by three quarters of a length. Discreet Marq and John Velazquez went right to the lead and were able to set an extremely slow pace, getting through an opening quarter mile in 26.13 seconds and a half mile in 50.85 seconds. He kicked away as they came into the stretch and while there was a wall of challengers mounting rallies, Discreet Marq was able to hold them all off and get to the wire in time. Madefromlucky (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied from off the pace to score in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes, holding off a late closing Conquest Curlinate (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection). Two Weeks Off and Wolf Man Rocket both battled for the early lead, going through a half mile in a brisk 46.55 seconds. The leaders started to tire as they came into the stretch and Madefromlucky and Javier Castellano blew by them with a four wide rally to get the win. In the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes it was Wedding Toast who blew past stablemate Via Strata at the top of the lane to score a big four length win. The entry was sent off at 3/5 and paid $3.30 for the win.
A.P. Indian goes wire to wire in the Decathlon on Monmouth Park’s opening day
A.P. Indian went right to the front and never looked back as he and jockey Daniel Centeno cruised to a big win in the Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park as the New Jersey track opened on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 2/1, A.P. Indian blasted to the early lead and scorched an opening quarter in 22.21 seconds. Favored Favorite Tale started to loom up as they came to the top of the stretch, but A.P. Indian had more left in the gas tank and drew off to win by almost three lengths. Favorite Tale was second, almost four lengths clear of Saucy Don who ran third.
My Sweet Addiction upsets the Vanity Stakes
My Sweet Addiction went all the way to take home top honors in the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 4/1 in the field of four, My Sweet Addiction got to the lead and was able to set very moderate fractions, getting through a half mile in 48.75 seconds. Heavy favorite Warren’s Veneda (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was last early and made a big move at the leader in mid-stretch, but My Sweet Addiction just kept on going and pulled clear to win by a length. Gas Total (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) rallied to snatch second from Warren’s Veneda who ran third.
Bal a Bali took home the top honors in the Grade 2 American Stakes, splitting runners and getting up to win by a length. Sent off as the 3/2 favoritre, Bal a Bali was fifth early on long shot War Academy went out and set the early pace. Bal a Bali and Flavian Prat blew on bye and grabbed the lead late and held off Talco (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) to get the win.