Weekend Rewind Feb. 23-24: A Look Back at the Weekend Stakes Highlights
The final weekend of thoroughbred racing in February came to a close with eight graded stakes races that lived up to their billing.
The highlight of the weekend races were the stakes for the three-year-old colts and fillies, whose prep season was in full display at Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds.
Gulfstream had the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) for the colts and the Davona Dale Stakes (G2), while Fair Grounds countered with the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G3).
But there were other interesting stakes races on both of those race tracks, as well as in Santa Anita, where the top sprinters had their showdown at the San Carlos Stakes (G2).
Let's take a quick look back at the highlights of what happened on each of these graded races.
Fair Grounds Handicap (G3)
1 of 8This race was expected to become a match race between the two favorites, Optimizer and Willcox Inn, after seven defections left this race with only five participants.
Willcox Inn was sent to the lead by Jose Lezcano, and they set the pace for three-quarters of a mile, but then Jon Court queued Optimizer, who had been in stalking mode in second place, and he responded.
Optimizer took the lead just before they entered the stretch and maintained the lead in the stretch to win by two lengths.
Willcox Inn tired badly and finished fourth as Bim Bam and Two Months Rent passed him in the stretch to finish second and third.
Fair Grounds Handicap —Grade 3
Purse: $145,500
Distance: About One And One Eighth Miles On The Turf
Track Condition: Soft
Winning Time: 1:56.06 Fractionals: 24.76, 51.52, 1:17.00, 1:42.94
| 7 | Optimizer | Jon Kenton Court | 4.00 | 2.60 | 2.20 |
| 5 | Bim Bam | Richard E. Eramia | 4.20 | 3.00 | |
| 6 | Two Months Rent | Rosie Napravnik | 3.00 | ||
| Also ran: 3 - Willcox Inn , 10 - Cavalero | |||||
| Scratched horses: Hyper (Trainer), Major Gain (Trainer), Unlatch (Trainer), Golden Yank (Trainer), Quality Control (BRZ) (Trainer), Strike Impact (Trainer), Macho Bull (Trainer) | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Bluegrass Hall, LLC | |||||
| Winning Owner: Calumet Farm | |||||
| Winning Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas |
Mineshaft Handicap (G3)
2 of 8This race was highlighted by the rematch between Mark Valeski and Infrattini, who got the win in last month's Louisiana Handicap.
Mark Valeski, with Rosie Napravnik aboard, was sent as the slight favorite over Infrattini on the race that also featured Travers Stakes co-winner Golden Ticket.
As expected, Hero of Order took the lead and was followed closely by Infrattini and Golden Ticket to his outside, while Mark Valeski settled in fourth covered at the rail.
As Hero of Order started to come back to the field, Mark Valeski was boxed in behind the three horses up front and with nowhere to go.
If Infrattini would show his late kick again, this race was going to be over soon for Mark Valeski.
But this time Infrattini didn't fire, and Napravnik was able to angle Mark Valeski to the outside, and once in the clear, he surged to the lead and drew clear for the one-length win.
Cool Street was flying in the final strides and finished a surprising second, passing Golden Ticket just before the wire. Hero of Order and Infrattini completed the top five.
Mineshaft Handicap —Grade 3
Purse: $148,500
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:44.82 Fractionals: 25.30, 49.64, 1:14.80, 1:38.60
| 2 | Mark Valeski | Rosie Napravnik | 3.80 | 2.60 | 2.10 |
| 4 | Cool Street | John Jacinto | 7.60 | 3.60 | |
| 5 | Golden Ticket | James Graham | 2.40 | ||
| Also ran: 6 —Hero of Order, 7 —Infrattini, 8 —Macho Bull, 1 —Raison d'Etat | |||||
| Scratched horses: Golden Yank (Trainer) | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Brereton C. Jones | |||||
| Winning Owner: Brereton C. Jones | |||||
| Winning Trainer: J. Larry Jones |
Canadian Turf Stakes (G3)
3 of 8Data Link, the even-money favorite, was making his first start since winning the Citation Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park, after shipping out West on Nov. 23.
The nation's leading jockey Javier Castellano had the task of riding Data Link, and he didn't disappoint.
Global Power took the early lead, followed by Joes Blazing Aaron and second-betting choice Howe Great.
After the half-mile, jockey John Velazquez urged Joes Blazing Aaron to take the lead and he did so just as they reached the three-quarter mile pole.
The field was compacting up front, and Castellano had Data Link in sixth place, just behind the pack after saving ground on the first turn.
As they turned for home, Joes Blazing Aaron had the lead by just over a length, but Data Link was on the clear, and Castellano was urging him confidently, just enough to catch a late tiring Joes Blazing Aaron and drawing clear to win in a hand-ride late by a length.
Beau Choix and third-betting choice, Za Approval, rallied from the back together to finish third and fourth with the early trailer, Empire Builder, rallying to finish fifth.
Canadian Turf Stakes—Grade 3
Purse: $150,000
Distance: One Mile On The Turf
Track Condition: Firm
Winning Time: 1:33.01 Fractionals: 23.26, 46.98, 1:09.51
| 4 | Data Link | Javier Castellano | 4.20 | 2.80 | 2.40 |
| 1 | Joes Blazing Aaron | John R. Velazquez | 7.40 | 4.60 | |
| 2 | Beau Choix | Luis Saez | 4.20 | ||
| Also ran: 10—Za Approval, 6—Empire Builder, 7—Global Power, 3—Howe Great, 5—Cash Rules, 8—Scatman, 9—Night Party | |||||
| Scratched horses: Gourmet Dinner (Main Track Only) | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Stuart S. Janney III, LLC | |||||
| Winning Owner: Stuart S. Janney III | |||||
| Winning Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III |
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Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G3)
4 of 8A Fair Grounds prep race for the Kentucky Oaks, this races was another stakes race with two dominant entrants.
Undefeated Todd Pletcher filly, Unlimited Budget, made her 2013 debut, facing the rapidly improving Dancinginthecircle.
Rosie Napravnik and Unlimited Budget made this race a no contest.
Dancinginthecircle blitzed to an opening quarter fractional of 22.88, and even though jockey Terry Thompson slowed the pace down for the half-mile (46.40), the damage was done.
Napravnik had Unlimited Budget running in-hand on fifth place and started to slightly make her move from the half-mile.
Unlimited Budget took the easy lead in the final turn and was in front by four lengths when they turned for home.
From there it was an easy ride to the wire, winning by 3.75 lengths. Promise Me More closed from last in the early going to finish second.
Blue Violet and Every Way, that were also running in the back, finished third and fourth just ahead of the tiring Dancinginthecircle.
Rachel Alexandra Stakes—Grade 3
Purse: $200,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:45.38 Fractionals: 22.88, 46.40, 1:12.32, 1:38.56
| 7 | Unlimited Budget | Rosie Napravnik | 5.00 | 3.60 | 3.00 |
| 6 | Promise Me More | Miguel Mena | 11.80 | 6.40 | |
| 5 | Blue Violet | Mark Guidry | 6.60 | ||
| Also ran: 8—Every Way, 3—Dancinginthecircle, 1—Finding More, 9—Midnight Ballet, 4—Neith, 2—Alluring Lady, 10—Daddy's Song | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Ocala Stud | |||||
| Winning Owner: Repole Stable | |||||
| Winning Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher |
San Carlos Stakes (G2)
5 of 8The Lumber Guy finished a game second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last year here at Santa Anita, but since then he has been a total disappointment.
He had finished seventh in the Malibu Stakes and was sent as the heavy favorite under Garrett Gomez but was never a factor, running third early and then weakening to finish seventh for the second consecutive race.
But the show belonged to Sahara Sky, who for the second consecutive race, earned a triple-digit Beyer figure for his win.
He was sixth after the initial quarter-mile, and jockey Joe Talamo had to rally him four-wide on the far turn and three-wide in the stretch to catch a stubborn Comma to the Top in the final half-furlong and win by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Capital Account was flying at the end. He came from dead last to finish a late running second place ahead in front of Comma to the Top.
Comma to the Top had to duel with Justin Phillip for half a mile and ran a game third, clear over two lengths from Drill, who came from seventh place to finish fourth just ahead of a tiring Justin Phillip.
Second-betting choice, Midnight Transfer, was sixth and a total non-factor.
San Carlos Stakes—Grade 2
Purse: $200,750
Distance: Seven Furlongs On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:21.28 Fractionals: 22.11, 43.88, 1:08.09
| 6 | Sahara Sky | Joseph Talamo | 14.60 | 6.20 | 4.00 |
| 2 | Capital Account | David Romero Flores | 5.80 | 4.40 | |
| 1 | Comma to the Top | Edwin A. Maldonado | 5.00 | ||
| Also ran: 8—Drill, 3—Justin Phillip, 5—Midnight Transfer, 7—The Lumber Guy, 4—Canonize | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Martin Stables Inc. | |||||
| Winning Owner: Hollendorfer, Jerry and Sweetwater Stable | |||||
| Winning Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer |
Davona Dale Stakes (G2)
6 of 8Dreaming of Julia was making her first start of 2013 and was expected to regain the winning form that made her one of the most impressive two-year-old fillies of 2012.
But the rapidly improving Live Lively had other plans, and jockey Joel Rosario sent her out to the lead from the fourth post position and never looked back.
Live Lively set swift fractions of 23.54, 46.77 and 1:10.21, and with John Velazquez settling Dreaming of Julia in an easy stalking position, it looked like a matter of time for the favorite to take the lead.
But as they approached the home stretch, Dreaming of Julia was in a full-out drive since the middle of the far turn and was not making any progress.
Live Lively went wire-to-wire, holding off by 1.5 lengths with Dreaming of Julia, who gave chase but never caught the leader.
It was 5.75 lengths to Private Ensign in third, with Lady Banks and Twice Told Tale rounding up the short five-filly field.
Live Lively had won her previous two races and was making her stakes debut. You knew she had to ran the race of her life to beat Dreaming of Julia, and she did.
Her final time of 1:42.30 was within a half-second of the track record of 1:41.81 set by Itsmyluckyday when he won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) last Jan. 26.
Davona Dale Stakes—Grade 2
Value of Race: $245,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:42.30 Fractionals: 23.54, 46.77, 1:10.21, 1:35.37
| 4 | Live Lively | Joel Rosario | 6.20 | 3.20 | 2.20 |
| 3 | Dreaming of Julia | John R. Velazquez | 2.60 | 2.10 | |
| 1 | Private Ensign | Javier Castellano | 2.10 | ||
| Also ran: 2—Lady Banks, 5—Twice Told Tale | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Edward A. Cox, Jr. | |||||
| Winning Owner: Lee Lewis | |||||
| Winning Trainer: Mark A. Hennig |
Risen Star Stakes (G2)
7 of 8The shocker heard around the world, or at least all around the bayou.
Ive Struck a Nerve struck bettors' pockets with his $272.40 shocking win at the wire by a nose over a stubborn Code West.
Ive Struck a Nerve came from last to first, saving ground on the far turn, while race favorite Normandy Invasion—who bobbled at the start—had to go seven wide and practically lost any small chance he had at the time.
Once they turned for home, jockey James Graham swung Ive Struck a Nerve to the clear on the sixth lane and from there he made his rally to catch Code West, who had regained the lead from Oxbow, and was battling Palace Malice, who was trying to get to the front five wide.
Ive Struck a Nerve nosed out Code West, then it was half-a-length to the photo finish between Palace Malice, who was third by nose over Oxbow.
Normandy Invasion found his best stride late to finish fifth just a length behind. Golden Soul, Mylute and Proud Strike rounded up the first eight, who were separated by only four lengths.
Risen Star Stakes—Grade 2
Purse: $400,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:44.52 Fractionals: 23.92, 48.34, 1:12.74, 1:38.00
| 8 | Ive Struck a Nerve | James Graham | 272.40 | 110.60 | 42.40 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Code West | Martin Garcia | 8.80 | 5.60 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Palace Malice | Rosie Napravnik | 4.60 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Also ran: 10—Oxbow, 9—Normandy Invasion, 4—Golden Soul, 5—Mylute, 1—Proud Strike, 11—Bethel, 3—Agent, 13—Circle Unbroken, 7—Hardrock Eleven | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scratched horses: Sunbeam (Also Eligible), Departing (Trainer), He's Had Enough (Trainer) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2)
8 of 8Violence entered the year as one of the favorites to win the Kentucky Derby and as a top contender for the Triple Crown.
He suffered the first loss here, finishing a game second to Orb, after chasing sensible fractions.
After closing the gap to pacesetter Majestic Hussar at the three-quarter pole with a freakish 1:08.85 fractional, Violence led the field as they turned for home, but Orb was hitting his best stride, just passing Majestic Hussar and positioning himself just 1.5 lengths behind Violence.
Once they hit the final furlong, Orb had just passed Violence and looked like he would draw clear and win the race. But Violence reacted and gamely came back to fight for the lead, with Orb reacting himself and edging him by a neck at the wire.
On Sunday it was reported on Bloodhorse.com that Violence is off the Kentucky Derby trail after fracturing his right front medial sesamoid bone.
If he makes a full recovery, it will be decision time; a possible lucrative career at stud or risking coming back to racing from what most of the time is a career-ending injury.
As for Orb, he is now one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby, and it will be interesting to see if he comes back for the Florida Derby where he would clash against Itsmyluckyday and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and reigning two-year-old champ Shanghai Bobby.
Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes —Grade 2
Purse: $400,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles On The Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:42.24
| 1 | Orb | John R. Velazquez | 12.80 | 4.00 | 3.00 |
| 3 | Violence | Javier Castellano | 2.40 | 2.10 | |
| 8 | Speak Logistics | Joel Rosario | 4.00 | ||
| Also ran: 4 —Majestic Hussar, 9 —He's Had Enough, 6 —Cerro (IRE), 11—Sr. Quisqueyano, 2—Joshua's Comprise, 5—Elmutahid | |||||
| Scratched horses: Sky Captain (Trainer), Falling Sky (Trainer) | |||||
| Winning Breeder: Stuart S. Janney III, LLC. & Phipps Stable | |||||
| Winning Owner: Janney III, Stuart S. and Phipps Stable | |||||
| Winning Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III |
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