Trade Storm takes home the Woodbine Mile
Trade Storm had to rally from off the pace to get up late to win the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. Sent off at 9/2 odds, Trade Storm (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was tenth early on as Bobby’s Kitten as expected went out to set the early pace and it wasn’t as fast as he’s capable of. Bobby’s Kitten brought his lead into the stretch while Trade Storm was still 9th as they came into the lane. But Jamie Spencer and Trade Storm elected not to swing out wide, and Spencer had some traffic to deal with at the head of the lane. But he found room and they burst through in the final sixteenth to hold off a late charging Kaigun (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) to get the win by half a length.
Deceptive Vision got the win in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes as she turned in a very impressive three length win. Favored Lexie Lou was close up early on but couldn’t keep pace and eventually faded to last. Deceptive Vision was midpack and made a big move at the top of the lane and never looked back, winning by two and a half lengths in the end. In the Northern Dancer it was Sheikhzayedroad (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Martin Lane who rallied from last to get the win in the mile and one half event. Reporting Star set the pace and brought his lead deep into the stretch and at the eighth pole looked like he might have snuck away. But Sheikhzayedroad came roaring through down on the inside and got up late to win by half a length over Dynamic Sky who closed in to get second.
Suntracer wins a narrow photo in the Kentucky Turf Cup
Suntracer made a huge rally on the final turn and won a hard fought stretch battle to take home top honors on Saturday in the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs. Sent off at odds of 7/1, Suntracer was last of ten early on as Saffron Hall set the early pace. Suntracer and Florent Geroux started passing runners as they ran on that final sweeping turn at Kentucky Downs and they made a bold move to the lead at the furlong pole. Pyrite Mountain started his move a little bit later and started charging at Suntracer in the final yards, but Suntracer was just able to last, winning by a neck over Pyrite Mountain. In the Ladies Turf Stakes it was I’m Already Sexy (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who went all the way as the even money favorite to score by three. I’m Already Sexy was able to get away with an opening quarter of 25.42 seconds and was never really pressed. She straightened away into the lane and opened up and held Skycharmer and Rosee is Cozee at bay as they finished second and third.
Richies Party Girl and Kiama put on a great battle in the Ladies Sprint Stakes as they ran 1-2 the entire race. Kiama broke sharpest and grabbed the early lead while Richies Party Girl stayed glued to her hip from second. As they reached the daunting Kentucky Downs stretch, Richies Party Girl seized the lead and those two battled to the wire, with Richies Party Girl edging away in the final yards. Regally Ready (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was a facile winner of the More Than Ready Stakes as she stalked from second early on and gradually drew off in the lane to win by two and one quarter lengths.
Ball Dancing up in time to win the Sands Point
Ball Dancing made his US debut a winning one on Saturday as he rallied late to get up and win the $500,000 Sands Point Stakes. Sent off at odds of 5/1, Ball Dancing (BetPTC.com Longshot) stayed back in eighth early on under strong restraint from Joe Bravo. Bravo unleashed his mount at the three eighths pole and Ball Dancing came roaring down the outside with purposeful strides, getting up to catch Xcellence (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) in the final few jumps to win by half a length. Xcellence was second ahead of Sea Queen (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who was third.
Annecdote went from last to first in the final quarter mile to win the Noble Damsel Stakes. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Annecdote got a nice set up as Byrama went out and set strong fractions. Byrama ran one of her better races though and she brought her lead into deep stretch before Annecdote finally reeled her in late.
Sistas Stroll scores in the Pucker Up
Sistas Stroll (BetPTC.com Top Selection) gave jockey Drayden Van Dyke his first graded stakes win Saturday when they teamed up to win the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes. Sent off at odds of 7/1, Sistas Stroll was fifth early on as Final Redemption opened up a couple lengths early on. Final Redemption turned for home with that same two length lead, but she was gassed by the eighth pole as Sistas Stroll blew on by to win by a length and a half over the late closing VV Goodnight (BetPTC.com Longshot) and 21/1 bomber Maria Maria (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection). The BetPTC.com trifecta paid $279 for every $.50 combination.