Goldencents dominates the Santa Anita Derby
Goldencents and Kevin Krigger rebounded well from their disappointing run in the San Felipe Stakes to dominate Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita Park. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Goldencents found himself getting a nice clean trip in behind speedster Super Ninety Nine who went out to set the early pace. Goldencents came to Super Ninety Nine on the far turn and put a head in front, but the early pacesetter dug back in and they hooked up at the quarter pole. Meanwhile Flashback (BetPTC.com Top Selection) looped up three wide to make it three in a line as they came into the home stretch. Goldencents still had plenty left in the tank though as he pulled away in the final furlong to win by a length and a quarter in the end. Flashback finished second and it was another eight and a half lengths back to Super Ninety Nine who ran third.
In the Santa Anita Oaks it was Beholder (BetPTC.com Top Selection) who went right to the front and never looked back, winning with ease by nearly three lengths in the Grade 1 event. Garrett Gomez got right to the front and never looked back as they set very moderate fractions in what was a near carbon copy of their last win in the Las Virgenes. Iotapa made a nice run at 16/1 to get up for second while Fiftyshadesofhay (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) could only manage a third place finish. Battle Force (BetPTC.com Longshot) came roaring home late to catch favored Fed Biz (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and win the Thunder Road Stakes on the grass. Corey Nakatani brought the 7/1 Battle Force from near the back of the pack and got up in the final jumps to catch Fed Biz, who had led nearly every jump of the race.
Favored Jimmy Creed took home the Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes, as he and Garrett Gomez stalked the early leader Comma To The Top. They burst past Comma To The Top at the quarter pole and were able to hold off a stiff challenge from Unbridled’s Note (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who ran on nicely to finish second. Scarlet Strike caught Birdlover (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) late to win the Providencia Stakes.
Emollient crushes her rivals in the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland
Emollient stamped herself as a huge Kentucky Oaks contender as she went all the way under jockey Mike Smith to win the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland by 9 emphatic lengths. Sent off at 6/1 odds, Emollient (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) was able to cross and clear from the number 13 post position as the field went into the first turn. Smith was able to slow the pace down and as they came to the top stretch, where he really let his filly loose and she poured it on late. Tuttipaesi was able to get up and snatch the second spot from Kitten’s Point who rounded out the trifecta.
On the Opening Day card, it was Jack Milton (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) who came roaring off the turn to pass the early leader Redwood Kitten and win the $100,000 Transylvania Stakes. Sent off at odds of 5/2, John Velazquez and Jack Milton made their move at the top of the lane and never looked back, holding off a late rushing Up With the Birds to win by a neck.
Sr. Quisqueyano goes all the way in the Calder Derby
Sr. Quisqueyano (BetPTC.com Top Selection) went right to the front and stayed there as he dominated the opening day feature at Calder, the $250,000 Calder Derby. Sent off at odds of 4/1, Sr. Quisqueyano and Carlos Olivero set strong fractions as they were stalked by race favorite Speak Logistics (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection). Speak Logistics got to within a head at the quarter pole, but then Sr. Quisqueyano turned it into overdrive and pulled away down the stretch to win by seven lengths over Speak Logistics who ran second. Reporting Star (BetPTC.com Longshot) rounded out a BetPTC.com trifecta that came back worth $177 for ever $2 wagered.