UPI Thoroughbred Racing Roundup

A mixed bag of weekend races turned up some promising new stars, both among the 3-year-olds and in the ranks of older horses.

As usual, retirements of aging stars left voids in the ranks in most divisions. And it will take a little time to sort out the new pecking order with some of the important early-season Grade I events just over the horizon.

The story was similar in Dubai, where serious preparations now are under way for the year's richest day of racing, now just 10 weeks away.

See how they ran:

Dubai

(By RICHARD GROSS)

Familiar faces graced the winner's circle at Meydan Racecourse as Mike de Kock-trained Musir easily took the featured Group 3, 1-mile Maktoum Challenge Round I by 3 lengths on the all-weather Tapeta with Christophe Soumillon up as the Dubai World Cup Carnival headed into serious action in its second week.

Musir is no stranger to Meydan victory, having won the 2,000 Guineas and the UAE Derby in 2010. The 5-year-old son of Redoute's Choice has now won six of 12 starts, with three seconds, two thirds and nearly $2 million in earnings.

Stablemate Master of Hounds took second in a race that will see the two part ways, one for the turf, the other for the all-weather surface.

"I do genuinely believe Musir is a better turf horse and the Dubai Duty Free is his big target so he will switch to the grass now," de Kock said after the race. "We hope Master of Hounds is a Dubai World Cup horse. He will continue on to the second round of the Maktoum Challenge."

Master of Hounds ran a disappointing fifth in last year's Kentucky Derby, won by Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom also is believed to be under consideration for this year's Dubai World Cup.

The $5 million Dubai Duty Free and $10 million Dubai World Cup both will be run Saturday, March 31 at Meydan as part of the nine-race Dubai World Cup day race card.

Singapore's Dark Matter was another impressive winner over 1,400 meters in the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial, winning by a half-length over Kinglet. He will train to add 200 meters for the 1-mile test in the UAE 2,000 Guineas.

Addictive Dream made winning a habit when he took his second victory in the Carnival, the 1,200-meter Etisalat turf sprint, just one week after winning a similar race at 1,000 meters. The horse is trained by Dandy Nicholls and ridden by son Adrian.

In other races, Barbecue Eddie with Richard Hills aboard smoked Ariete Arrollador by 2 lengths in the 1,400-meter Etisalat all-weather handicap and Dubai favorite Frankie Dettori guided Nasqhabban to a 2-length win over Jedi in the 1 1/4-mile Etisalat turf handicap.

Santa Anita

Tapizar had things all his own way in Saturday's $150,000, Grade II San Fernando Stakes for 4-year-olds at Santa Anita. With Corey Nakatani up, the Tapit colt broke sharply, angled in to the lead and was never challenged, coasting home in front by 3 1/2 lengths. Balladry, a 15-1 long shot, rallied smartly through the lane to finish second, a nose in front of Prayer for Relief. Tapizar ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.94. It was his first start since a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November. "I'm glad he's back at a venue that shows who he is," winning trainer Steve Asmussen said. Tapizar suffered a bone chip in his knee after finishing fifth as the 3-10 favorite in Santa Anita's Grade II Robert B. Lewis 11 months ago. "Hopefully, we won't get off track with him this year," Asmussen said. "We're very pleased with today's race and hopefully he'll come out of it good. This horse has always showed a lot of talent and hopefully we can stay on track with him."

Reneesgotzip had zip to spare in Sunday's $150,000, Grade II Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, leading most of the way, then easily clearing the field in the stretch to win by 7 3/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite. Made to Love Her and Painted Woman completed the interestingly named trifecta combination. Reneesgotzip, a Kentucky-bred City Zip filly, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:15.25. "This is a tremendous filly," winning jockey Corey Nakatani said. Reneesgotzip was coming off a maiden win at Hollywood Park on Dec. 14. "Eventually I definitely would like to stretch her out," winning trainer Peter Miller said. "I think the way she relaxes and the way she has that nice turn of foot, I do think she will get two turns. I think that's in the future."

Ellafitz showed the way in Sunday's $75,000 Paseana Handicap for fillies and mares, and was never challenged in the late furlongs, winning by 4 1/4 lengths over Downhill Diva. Spirit Seeker was third and the favorite, Vision in Gold, got home sixth of seven starters. Ellafitz, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred Dixieland Band mare, ran the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.67 with Martin Garcia riding.

Gulfstream Park

Silver Medallion rallied from the back of the pack in Saturday's $100,000, Grade III Ft. Lauderdale Stakes to reach contention in the stretch, survived a bumping incident and still got home first by a neck. Yummy With Butter finished second but was set down to sixth, promoting Hollinger and Kindergarten Kid to second and third. The favorite, Mutual Trust, took the worst of the rough treatment in the lane while contending for the lead and finished fifth. Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Flat Out, making his first start on the turf, finished 12. "Guess he didn't fire on the turf," trainer Charles Dickey said of Flat Out. "He just doesn't care for it." Silver Medallion, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Badge of Silver colt, ran the 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.04 with Javier Castellano in the irons. Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said when Silver Medallion broke slowly, "Javier had to make a decision to let him settle and then he came with a good run for three-eighths. We'll see how he comes out of it but we'll probably bring him back in the Gulfstream Turf," a $300,000, Grade I event on Feb. 11.

Jackson Bend got off slowly in Saturday's $100,000, Grade III Hal's Hope Stakes, advanced into the stretch bend and had to come out around a wall of horses before getting room to run. Once clear, he outfinished Sangaree to win by a length. Cool Blue Red Hot was third at a big price. Jackson Bend, a 5-year-old, Florida-bred son of Hear No Evil, got the mile on a fast track in 1:38.19 with John Velazquez riding. "He stumbled leaving there, then had to sit there with nowhere to go until he found a place to run in the stretch," winning trainer Nick Zito said. "He's got a tremendous heart. He's very special. He has the guts of a lion." Zito said he likely will keep Jackson Bend at one turn, where he has had his most success since finishing third in the 2010 Preakness.

Former South African star Private Jet, making his first U.S. start and first anywhere in 16 months, split rivals in the stretch run of Sunday's $60,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint and got clear to win by a length over the favorite, Great Attack. The early leader, Little Nick, settled for third. Private Jet, a 7-year-old, Argentine-bred Orpen gelding, ran the 5 furlongs on firm going in 55.48 seconds with John Velazquez up for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Private Jet had won five of his 10 starts in South Africa before encountering a breathing problem. "It's great to see what he can do when he can breathe," McLaughlin said.

Tampa Bay Downs

Prospective raced near the back of the field early in Saturday's $100,000 Pasco Stakes for 3-year-olds, rallied five-wide into the stretch and outfinished Wildcat Creek to win by a half length. The favorite, Adirondack King, finished third. Prospective, a Kentucky-bred Malibu Moon colt out of the Awesome Again mare Spirited Away, ran the 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.88 with Luis Contreras in the irons. Prospective had finished 13th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall and trainer Mark Casse said that result "disappointed me. Whenever you see a race like that. … but, I have a little more faith after today." Casse said Prospective now might be slotted in the $250,000, Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay on Feb. 4 -- an increasingly important Kentucky Derby prep.

Salad Girl worked her way to the lead in the stretch run of Saturday's $100,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and gamely held on to win by a neck over the odds-on favorite, Delightful Magic. Ciguaraya finished third. Salad Girl, a New Jersey-bred daughter of Hit the Trail out of the Indian Charlie mare Indian Boot's, ran 7 furlons in 1:24.14 under Angel Serpa. "This filly was training very well, so we figured we had to take the shot at this race," assistant trainer Frank Perez said. "We'll see how she comes back, but it looked like she came back 100 percent so whatever they decide, I'm ready for her,"

Golden Gate Fields

Russian Greek rallied from last to finish first in Saturday's $100,000 California Derby, winning by a length over Cahill Chrome. Senor Rain finished third. Russian Greek, with Aaron Gryder aboard, ran the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:45.07. The son of Giant's Causeway out of the Grindstone mare Sand Dollar won won the Gold Rush Stakes Dec. 10, also with a late run to the leaders. "This horse will run in the El Camino Real Derby for sure," winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

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Sunland Park

Garretsghostlygirl was quickly on the lead in Saturday's $110,000 La Senorita Stakes for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies, opened a comfortable lead and got home first by 3 3/4 lengths over Hot For You. Easy Loving Who finished third. Garretsghostlygirl, a daughter of Ghostly Moves, ran the 6 furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.24 under Miguel Hernandez.

Delta Downs

Devious Intent stalked the pace in Saturday's $75,000 Genesis Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, battled down the lane with pacesetting Storm's Promise and finally edged clear in the final yards to win by 2 lengths over that rival. Gospel Gal finished third. Devious Intent, a Kentucky-bred Dixie Union filly, ran 7 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:34.31 with Chris Rosier aboard.

Turf Paradise

Saratoga Boot rallied into contention in the stretch run of Saturday's $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap, then won a three-way battle to the wire. The photo found Saratoga Boot a nose in front of Leroy's Dynameaux with Fast Track a neck farther back in third with a late rush. Saratoga Boot, a 5-year-old, Arkansas-bred Storm Boot gelding, ran the mile on firm going in 1:34.86 with Anne Von Rosen in the irons.

Fair Grounds

Cherokee Queen started last of nine in Saturday's $75,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Handicap for fillies and mares, circled her rivals five-wide turning for home and got by Juanita in the late going to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Pleasantly Blessed was third. Cherokee Queen, a 7-year-old, Kentucky-bred Cherokee Run mare, got the "about" 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:45.59 with Shaun Bridgmohan riding. It was her 11th win in 34 starts. She reportedly is set to be bred to Malibu Moon but, "We have to wait and see," winning trainer Steve Margolis said. "Nothing is certain."

Aqueduct

Agave Kiss went quickly to the front in Saturday's $75,000 Ruthless Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and had no trouble maintaining the advantage, coasting home first by 3 1/4 lengths under a hand ride by Ryan Curatolo. Well Kept was the best of the rest with Corderosa finishing third. Agave Kiss, a New York-bred Lion Heart filly, ran 6 furlongs on the inner track in 1:10.28. "We'll point her for the Prioress," winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. "Hopefully, she'll keep improving and we'll take it from there. She's a special one."

San Pablo drew clear in the stretch run to win Saturday's $75,000 Shots Are Ringing Stakes for 4-year-olds by 4 3/4 lengths. Isn't He Perfect was second and Sam Sparkle third. C V Eis completed the order of finish. San Pablo, a Kentucky-bred Jump Start colt, finished 1 mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:41.06 with Cornelio Velasquez riding.

Turfway Park

Lou's Angel led from the start in Saturdy's $50,000 Wishing Well Stakes for fillies and mares and held off Hot Hot Mama at the end, winning by 1 3/4 lengths. Double Espresso finished third. Lou's Angel, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred Cactus Ridge mare, covered the 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:11.95 under Rodney Prescott. She drew in from the also-eligible list and picked up her first stakes win.

Oaklawn Park

Now I Know led from the start in Saturday's $50,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, got a daylight lead on the turn and held through the lane to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Amie's Dini. Rocket Twentyone finished third. Now I Know, an Oklahoma-bred Pure Prize filly, ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.85 with Compton up.