Songbird and Shagaf Best In Oaks and Derby Preps

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THE WEEKEND WRAP UP

March 5th – 6th

Songbird Canters Home to Triumphant Win in Gr. 3 Santa Ysabel

Superfilly Songbird once again demonstrated she is not only the best filly in this year’s crop, but perhaps even the best 3-year-old in the country. Romping in Saturday’s $100,000 Gr. 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro hit the wire 3 ¾ lengths ahead of the nine horse field, traveling the 1 1/16-miles under the easy hand ride of jockey Mike Smith.

A clean break from the gate, Songbird set the pace going 23.20 in the opening quarter. Under confident handling by Mike Smith, she began to separate herself from her competition. Jockey Rafael Bejarano started to urged Jade Princess to keep up with the favored leader after a half mile in 46.02 with long shot My Dynamo moving into third as Not Now Carolyn started to retreat. Songbird continued galloping going six furlongs in an impressive 1:09.98 and opened up to a six length lead in the stretch (1:36.09). Though land Over Sea continued to close, it was not enough to catch the winner, who cruised to the wire and stopped the clock at 1:43.02.

Now undefeated in six career starts, Songbird has accumulated $1,742,000 in earnings and remains the leader on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 90 points — 30 points ahead of east coast sensation Cathryn Sophia, who is currently ranked second.

Remaining Kentucky Oaks preps carrying points of 50-20-10-5 include: the Honeybee (Oaklawn 3/12), Sunland Park Oaks (Sunland Park 3/20) and Bourbonette Oaks (Turfway Park 4/2).

Payouts
Songbird $2.10 $2.10 $2.10
Land Over Sea $3.80 $2.60
Mokat ————– $5.40
Jade Princess

$1 Superfecta $133.80

Shagaf Gritty in Gotham Stakes

Making his first graded stakes debut Shagaf proved he belonged in the $400,000 Gr. 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct this last Saturday. The 3-year-old son of Bernardini showed grit in the stretch, digging deep to win over front running Laoban by 1 ¼ lengths.

Piloted by Irad Ortiz Jr., Shagaf broke well from the two post and stalked pace setting Laoban through the first quarter in 23.33, later settling into fourth while Laoban continued to set fractions 47.16, 1:11.69, and 1:38.80. Withers Stakes winner Sunny Ridge began to move on the turn for home and managed to get within a half length of Laoban, but tired and finished fourth. Adventist and Kendrick Carmouche rallied in the stretch but simply could not catch Shagaf or one up the tiring frontrunner. Adventist finished third, two lengths behind the winner and three-quarters of a length behind runner-up Laoban. The final time for the 1 1/16-mile race was 1:45.90

Shagaf is Kentucky-bred by Shadwell Farm LLC and is owned by Shadwell Stable. Undefeated since breaking his maiden first time out last November at Aqueduct, the Chad Brown trainee is 3-for-3 with earnings of $298,800. Saturday’s Gotham marks Shagaf’s first graded stakes win, which earned him 50 points towards the first Saturday in May. He currently sits third on the leader board — 1 point behind Gun Runner (2nd) and 20 points behind Mohaymen (1st).

Remaining Kentucky Derby preps carrying points of 50-20-10-5 include the Tampa Bay Derby (Tampa Bay Downs 3/12), San Felipe (Santa Anita 3/12), Rebel (Oaklawn 3/19), Sunland Derby (Sunland Park 3/20) and Spiral Stakes (Turfway Park 4/2).

Payouts
Shagaf $4.50 $3.60 $2.90
Laoban —- $10.80 $5.10
Adventist ——— $3.60
Sunny Ridge

$1 Superfecta $349.50

Blofeld Wins Turbulent Gulfstream Park H.

Saturday’s $500,000 Gr. 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap is easily our pick for this weekend’s most exciting and precarious race. Trainer Todd Pletcher had the one-two punch with winner Blofeld edging out stablemate Stanford in a thrilling upset. However, the most interesting part of this race was Anchor Down, another Pletcher trainee, who almost took out favorite Valid during the stretch run.

The field of seven older horses all broke well from the gate, being lead by Anchor Down the majority of the backstretch with Stanford, Valid and Blofeld only separated by a few lengths. Into the homestretch, the four were tightly grouped as Stanford began to pull away and Valid geared up to make his move. Anchor Down drifted right and right into Valid, causing him to stumble badly in what could have been a very bad fall for both horse and jockey Nik Juarez.

“I think we would have won the race. I’m thankful that Valid is okay, not many horses would have been able to recover and keep on running the way he did,” Juarez told EverythingEQ. “He is a warrior, an iron horse and I thank him for protecting us both. He deserved to win that race.”

With Valid out of contention and Anchor Down disqualified, Blofeld and John Velazquez rallied up the rail to beat Stanford by a nostril. This was the first win for Blofeld in 16 months and brought his career earnings to $650,600. Valid came out of the race safe and sound with only a few superficial lacerations and is reported to be doing just fine.

Payouts
Blofeld $21.40 $7.20 $3.60
Stanford —– $4.20 $2.60
Valid ————— $2.20

$1 Trifecta $158.40

Grand Tito Goes The Distance in Mac Diarmida

Grand Tito lived up to his name in Saturday’s $200,000 Gr. 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream Park, traveling 1 3/8-miles in 2:12.55. The 6-year-old son of Candy Ride and jockey Emisael Jaramillo pulled off a 1 ¼ length upset over 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile participant Kaigun and favorite Mr Maybe.

Grand Tito was given a perfect ride by Emisael Jaramillo, settling in second early behind the 50-1 long shot leader O’Prado Ole as he cruised through a half mile in 48.88 and six furlongs in 1:14.28. As the field reached the far turn, Grand Tito patiently waited for the stretch to make his bid with eventual runner-up Kaigun, commencing his rally along the rail on the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Grand Tito was on his left lead and opened up a 1-½ length lead over Kaigun, holding it to the wire. The runner-up finished three lengths in front of third place finisher Mr. Maybe.

After finishing in the money in five Graded Stakes events all on turf in 2015, Grand Tito’s persistence paid off. “Last year he got beat by some good horses. He had a nice race in Saratoga behind Ironicus when he set the track record. This year he is showing us a little more. We’re very happy,” said assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr.

Owned by Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s, Grand Tito has won 9 of his 33 career starts including the Gr. 3 Miami Mile in 2014. He was purchased as a yearling at Keeneland for $225,000 and has since earned $585,387.

Payouts
Grand Tito $20.40 $8.00 $5.40
Kaigun ———– $7.40 $3.80
Mr Maybe ————– $5.40
O’Prado Ole

$1 Trifecta $228.10
$1 Superfecta $1,865.50

Heavenly Prize Invitational Goes to Mei Ling

Todd Pletcher trained Mei Ling was off a step late but was not deterred as she persevered to win the $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, March 5. It was the mare’s second stakes victory, and the first of 2016.

The 5-year-old daughter of Empire Maker, ridden by jockey Jose Ortiz, was sent straight to the lead despite being a step slow out of the gate. The pair posted fractions of :27.17 for a quarter, :48.05 for a half, and were as many as five lengths ahead of the opposition there. With no sign of letting up, Mei Ling went three-quarters in 1:12.82. The rest of the field was competing for second as the leader hit the wire 3 ¼ lengths ahead for a final time of 1:45.07. Saythreehailmary’s finished second while Pangburn and Include Betty dead-heated for third.
Mei Ling had not won since running in the September 7 Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth Park. She now has 4 wins, 6 seconds, and 4 thirds from 18 starts, with earnings of $405,883. 

Payouts
Mei Ling —–$9.60 $5.10 $3.30
Saythreehailmary’s $6.60 $3.60
Pangburn —————- $2.80 (DH)
Include Betty ———— $2.60 (DH)

$1 Superfecta $334.00 or $329.50

Princess Erindelle Scores in Allen Black Cat Lacombe S. 

Princess Erindelle, who was sent off at 25-1 and was last of the field of 13 horses at the halfway mark, soared down the stretch on the outside to upset the $50,000 Allen Black Cat Lacombe Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday.

Princess Erindelle was still in last about three furlongs from the wire when jockey Marcelino Pedroza sent her to the far outside. With powerful strides, she managed to gain ground quickly enough to take the lead with a half-furlong to go. After taking over, she switched to the wrong lead and lost momentum, though not so soon as to lose her advantage. She hit the wire half a length ahead of Pancake in a final time of 1:32.37.

The Lacombe was Princess Erindelle’s first official victory. She has run on the board in all six of her starts, and is credited with two wins, but the first was the result of Fair Grounds stewards taking down the winner.

Payouts
Princess Erindelle $53.80 $19.60 $11.40
Pancake —————– $6.40  $5.20
More Than Most —————- $10.60
Inconclusive

$1 Exacta → $151.50
$1 Trifecta → $1,157.87
$1 Superfecta → $11,578.70

Awesome Gent Awesome Again in Jimmy Winkfield S.

Keeping his winning streak alive, Awesome Gent once again showed up-and-coming sprint talent in Sunday’s $125,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, contested over the inner track at Aqueduct. Winning by four lengths over Quijote, the 3-year-old gelding covered the six furlongs in 1:10.60.

Sitting comfortably in third coming into the turn, Awesome Gent jumped on leaders Moon Over a Beauty and Sudden Surprise on the stretch. The Todd Pletcher trainee continued to pull away approaching the wire, making short work of the six horse field. Fractions for the race: 22.17, 45.64, 58.01 and a final time of 1:10.60.

“He’s gradually improved in the afternoon and the mornings,” assistant trainer Byron Hughes said. “His breezes have gotten better; his races have gotten better too.”

Awesome Gent is by Awesome Again and is owned by Burning Sands Stables. Since being gelded after a disappointing eighth place finish in his debut, Awesome Gent has won three straight – earning $142,492.  

Payouts
Awesome Gent $9.40 $4.70 $3.40
Quijote ————- $4.20 $2.90
King Kranz ————— $3.40
Condo King

$1 Superfecta → $275.00

Subtle Indian Not So Subtle in Hot Springs S.

Subtle Indian continued his win streak at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, bringing himself to 3-for-3 after taking the $100,000 Hot Springs Stakes. The stakes was the last local prep race for the Gr. 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap next month, which is a target for Subtle Indian according to trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Jockey Ramon Vazquez, who was also aboard Subtle Indian in his previous start, got his mount out of the gate quickly and the pair went straight to the lead. They led the field through a quarter in :21.78 and a half mile in :44.71. Alsvid and Den’s Legacy did their best to wear down the leader but neither were quite up to the challenge; Subtle Indian covered the six furlongs in 1:09.28 to win by a length. Den’s Legacy was second with Alsvid a neck back in third.

Saturday’s winnings brought Subtle Indian’s earnings up to $260,300. He has won six of his eight races to date.

The $1 trifecta of Subtle Indian, Den’s Legacy and Alsvid (1-2-4) paid $26.00

THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP COVERS 3-YEAR-OLD KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS PREPS, BREEDERS’ CUP “WIN AND YOU’RE IN” RACES, AND STAKES RACES FEATURING NOTEWORTHY HORSES. TRACKS COVERED INCLUDE SANTA ANITA, DEL MAR, LOS ALAMITOS (TB), GULFSTREAM PARK, TAMPA BAY DOWNS, AQUEDUCT, BELMONT PARK, SARATOGA, KEENELAND, CHURCHILL DOWNS, OAKLAWN, MONMOUTH PARK AND FAIR GROUNDS.

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