River Belle won a four-horse charge in the stretch to take Saturday's $150,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a nose over Lenatareese.
Cape Town Lass was just a nose farther back in third and Sister Swank finished fourth, another 1/2 length in arrears.
River Belle, a British-bred daughter of Lahib, ran the 1 1/16 mile on "good" turf in 1:44.59 with multiple British riding champ Keiren Fallon up for trainer Todd Pletcher. The filly is owned by a partnership led by Team Valor.
"She is a tough filly," Fallon said. "It's the third time I've ridden her and the third time I've won on her, so she's done me some good." It was the second win in four U.S. starts for River Belle and Pletcher credited Fallon. "I thought we had a great trip and he pulled her out and she came with a steady run," he said.
Also Saturday, Mocha Queen rallied from last in a field of 11 to win the inaugural running of the $70,000 Pent Up Kiss Handicap for fillies and mares at 5 furlongs on the grass. The 3-year-old daughter of Cozzene found room between rivals in the final furlong, survived some bumping and was under pressure from jockey Brice Blanc to get up for a 3/4-length victory over Black Escort. Favorite Dyna Da Wyna held third. Mocha Queen finished the 5 furlongs in 58.02 seconds.
Sunday, Broadway View came from well back and outfinished America Alive to win the $150,000 Commonwealth Turf Stakes for 3-year-olds by a nose. Capo was third. Broadway View, a Kentucky-bred son of Broad Brush, ran 1 1/16 mile on firm turf in 1:44.75.
In other weekend racing:
International
There was no question about the dominating performance turned in by Ain't Here in Sunday's Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial at Sha Tin in Hong Kong. The only question is: What race was that a prep for? The Hong Kong Cup or the Hong Kong Vase. The 2,000-meter Cup and the 2,400-meter Vase are both run as part of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's climactic international racing festival Dec. 12. "I'm going to New Zealand for a few days and I'll think about it there," said trainer Donald Hayes. In Sunday's event, Ain't Here sat well off a strong pace, launched a bid that got him to the front with 200 meters to go and won by more than a length over Bowman's Crossing. The favorite, Bullish Luck, was 1/2 length farther back in third.
Calder Race Course
Supah Blitz returned from California to his native Florida to win Saturday's $200,000 Carl Rose Classic, top-billed event on the Florida Million program. With Jerry Bailey riding, Supah Blitz rated off the pace, then took charge in the stretch, winning by a length over Hear No Evil. Bob's Proud Moment was third. Supah Blitz ran 9 furlongs in 1:52 2/5. "He's a 4-year-old colt but he acts like a 7-year-old gelding," said winning trainer Doug O'Neill, who said the colt will be pointed to the Sunshine Millions races on Jan. 29. Coincidentally, Rosemary Homeister Jr., who rode Supah Blitz in the 2003 Kentucky Derby, announced her retirement from race riding during the weekend.
Hopelessly Devoted won the $200,000 Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths over favorite Alix M. Shady Woman was third. Hopelessly Devoted, with Cornelio Velasquez up, ran 1 1/16 mile on firm turf in 1:45 3/5. Final Prophesy, at odds of 50-1, upset the $150,000 Bonnie Heath Turf Cup. The 5-year-old son of World Stage just held off the late rush of Gin and Sin to win by a head, running 9 furlongs on the grass in 1:47 1/5. Weigelia returned to his home base after racing at Saratoga and Keeneland to win Saturday's $150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint by 1 length over Onebadshark. Love That Moon was third. Weigelia got 6 furlongs in 1:10 1/5.
In Saturday's juvenile events: Flamenco, twice second to Afleet Alex before winning the Cowden Stakes at Belmont in his last start, shipped in from New York to win the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile by 4 lengths over Closing Argument; Aclassysassylassy followed her sweep of the Florida Stallion Series by taking the $150,000 Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies by 4 1/2 lengths over Running Bobcats; Turk's Ransom won the $100,000 Arthur Appleton Juvenile Turf by a neck over Eastern Sand; and Rich in Spirit shipped in from Kentucky to win the $100,000 John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf by 1 length over Dansetta Light.
Hawthorne Race Course
Home of Stars upset the climactic final event of Saturday's six-race festival for state-breds, the $100,000 High Alexander Handicap. Racing min mid-pack until the quarter pole, the 4-year-old son of Home At Last rallied through the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Magic Doe, with favorite Wiggins third. Home of Stars, with Larry Sterling Jr. aboard, covered 1 1/16 mile in 1:45.22.
Cashmere Miss also provided an upset victory in the $100,000 Illini Princess Handicap, coming from off the pace to beat fellow longshot Arsen Annie by 2 1/4 lengths. Ms. Lydonia was third and the favorite, Keeping the Gold, finished sixth. Cashmere Miss, a 4-year-old Kokand filly, ran the 1 1/16 mile in 1:46.09, toting Carlos Silva.
Favorites fared poorly in the 2-year-old events, as well. In the $100,000 Sun Power Stakes for colts and geldings, Humor At Last, with Sterling up, beat odds-on choice Stormy Afternoon by 2 1/4 lengths. Humor At Last, a son of Distorted Humor, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.70. Toll Taker went to the post as the favorite in the $100,000 Showtime Deb Stakes for juvenile fillies but lost her rider at the start. Bluesbdancing, a Golden Gear filly, took advantage, winning by 3 1/4 lengths over Meadow Bride in 1:12.34.
Synco Peach dueled favorite Jaguar City into submission in the $100,000 Powerless Handicap and went on to beat that rival by 2 1/2 lengths with Fighting Fever third. Synco Peach, a 4-year-old daughter of Whadjathink, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.19. Fighting Fever is owned by former Gov. Jim Edgar.
The only winning favorite in the six stakes was Silver Bid, who bested five rivals in the $100,000 Lightning Jet Handicap. Big Bold Sweep was second and Shandy third. Silver Bid, a 6-year-old son of Buckbean, was clocked in 1:10.56.
Woodbine
Ablo, at 19-1, upset Saturday's $250,000 (Canadian) Coronation Futurity and emerged as a contender for next year's edition of the Queen's Plate. The son of Lite the Fuse led from the early stages and won by 1 1/2 lengths over Mikey Missile. Feather Bed completed an all-longshot triactor worth $2,530.40. Winning trainer Roger Attfield said Ablo "has shown me a lot of ability but he has had sore shins most of the year." He said he will take the colt to Florida and plans to run him at Keeneland in the spring before returning for the run-up to the Queen's Plate.
Also Saturday, Wando easily won the $100,000 (Canadian), 7-furlong Mt. Sassafras Stakes, scoring by 3 lengths over Twisted Wit. Millfleet was third. Winner of last year's Canadian Triple Crown and Horse of the Year honors, Wando won his second straight since donning blinkers. Trainer Mike Keogh said he hopes to run Wando back next year in some of the same races he ran with Langfuhr a decade ago, including the Carter and the Met Mile in New York.
Sunday, Financingavailable drew clear in the stretch to win the $150,000 (Canadian) Jammed Lovely Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by 7 3/4 lengths. Flashy Anna was second and Hong Kong Dancer third. Todd Kabel, who won five races on the card, rode Financingavailable, a daughter of Kiridashi. She ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:23.12.
Aqueduct
Classic Endeavor went quickly to the lead in Saturday's $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap and eased home first, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Colita. Snake Mountain was third and the favorite, Powerful Touch, struggled home second-last of seven. Classic Endeavor, with Edgar Prado up, ran 9 furlongs on a "good" main track in 1:49.70. He is a 6-year-old son of Silver Buck.
Sunday, Magoo's Magic led from gate to wire in winning the $75,000 Huntington Stakes for 2-year-olds. The Awesome Again colt got home 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Storm Creek Rising, with Tani Maru third. The favorite, Malheur, finished fifth. Magoo's Magic ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.17.
Sunland Park
Shemoveslikeaghost moved like a fast ghost in Saturday's $125,000 New Mexico Racing Commission Handicap, tracking the pace and then drawing clear in the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths over Hat Creek. Scarzane was third. Shemoveslikeaghost, a 4-year-old daughter of Ghostly Moves, ran 6 furlongs on the fast track in 1:09.83.
Delta Downs
Witt Ante won a three-way battle to the wire in Saturday's $100,000 Gold Cup Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds, beating Meteor Impact to the wire by a neck and Walk in the Snow by another head. Meteor Impact then was set down to last in the eight-horse field for drifting in on rivals on the second turn and Nitro Chip was moved up to show money. Witt Ante, a son of Upping the Ante, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:40.55.
Hoosier Park
Added Edge dueled to the wire with Coach Jimi Lee before winning Saturday's $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Mile by a nose. Perfect Cut was third. Added Edge, with Ramsey Zimmerman riding, saved ground through most of the race before making his move on the inside in the stretch. "My strategy going into the race was to sit off the speed," Zimmerman said. "The horse just drug me to the finish line. In the stretch, he charged right through on the inside and wasn't giving up." The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike now has won three of eight starts this year.
Pimlico
Two Punch Gal went quickly to the front in Saturday's $75,000 Politely Stakes for Maryland-bred 3-year-old fillies and got home first, 1 length in front of Sea of Promises. Free Dip was third. Two Punch Gal, a daughter of Two Punch, ran the 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.96 with Ryan Fogelsonger in the irons for trainer Carl Nafzger.
Mountaineer Park
Discreet Hero dominated Saturday's $100,000 Mountaineer Mile Handicap, opening up a 6-length lead and coasting home a 4 3/4-length winner over favorite Sonic West. Frankie R's Winner was third in the five-horse field. Discreet Hero, a 6-year-old son of Honour and Glory, finished in 1:40.36 on a fast track. The gelding is trained by Bernie Flint.
Hollywood Park
Anziyan Royalty stalked the pace in Saturday's $75,000 On Trust Handicap for Cal-breds, dueled into the stretch with Lava Man and won by 1 length. Jack's Silver was third at 41-1 and the favorite, Areyoutalkintome, finished fourth. Anziyan Royalty, a 4-year-old Anziyan colt, ran 7 1/2 furlongs in 1:27.30 with David Flores in the irons.
Sunday, Royally Chosen won the $85,000 Cat's Cradle Handicap for Cal-bred fillies and mares by 3 lengths over Cyber Slew, with Tucked Away third. Royally Chosen, a 6-year-old In Excess mare, ran 7 1/2 furlongs for Flores in 1:27.94.
