Criminologist ran her winning streak to four races with a convincing victory in Saturday's $150,000 Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs.
With John Velazquez riding for trainer Shug McGaughey, Criminologist sat comfortably behind the leaders until the quarter pole. When asked, she surged four-wide to the lead and went on to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Argentina. Nottawasaga was third.
The 9 furlongs went in 1:51.06 on firm turf.
"It worked out really good," Velazquez said. "We got a good position. I got her to the three-eighths pole and put her in a space where I wanted to be and waited until the eighth pole. I waited for Argentina, to see where she was. When I asked her, she responded right away."
McGaughey assistant Pam York said Criminologist will ship back to New York, then head for Gulfstream Park and a winter campaign.
Also Saturday, Junior College led all the way to a 5-lengths win in the $65,000 Bet on Sunshine Handicap. Santana Strings was second and Celluloid Hero finished third. Junior College, a 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred gelding by Ide, ran the 6 furlongs in 1:08.82 for jockey Jesus Castenon.
Sunday, Flying Circle flew home after trailing much of the way in the $100,000 Mariah's Storm for fillies and mares. After a determined stretch run, the 5-year-old, Kentucky-bred Pembroke mare finished first, 1/2 length ahead of Taletobetold. The favorite, Smitty's Sunshine, was third. Flying Circle ran the 5 furlongs on firm turf in 57.43 seconds with Manuel Aguilar up for trainer David Fawkes.
In other weekend racing:
International
Sacred Kingdom and Good Ba Ba staked their claim to places in the Dec. 9 Cathay Pacific International races with victories in trials on Saturday at Sha Tin. Sacred Kingdom was eased up by jockey Gerald Mosse as he set a track record for the 1,200 meters of 1:07.5, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. "Gerald did well to find cover on him and said he was relaxed well in midfield," said winning trainer Ricky Yiu. "He took his time for as long as possible but at the 300 meters, the horse was fighting him so he let him go." In the local prep for the Mile, Good Ba Ba surged down the middle of the track to beat Floral Pegasus by a neck, just missing the track record. "The target is the International Mile," winning trainer Andreas Schutz confirmed. "And I'm expecting he can show a little more that day. I didn't push him to improve for this race and obviously he has still done well. But I think there is more to come."
Aqueduct
Hunting rallied down the stretch to win Saturday's $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap by 1 length over the favorite, Utopia. Evening Attire finished third. Hunting, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred gelding by Coronado's Quest, ran the 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:48.08 with Alan Garcia Aboard. Trainer Shug McGaughey saddled the winner for owner Stuart Janney III. Hunting, making his first stakes start, won for the fourth time in 11 tries. He won a conditioned allowance at Monmouth Park in his last previous start.
In Sunday's $75,000 Gailey Gailey Stakes for fillies and mares, Rewrite rallied along the inside past the furlong pole and was up in time to win by 1 length over Trouble Maker. Now More Than Ever finished third. Rewrite, a 4-year-old, New York-bred filly by Editor's Note, ran the 1 mile on "good" turf in 1:39.07 for jockey Alan Garcia.
Hollywood Park
Foxy Danseur relaxed on the lead in Saturday's $100,000 Sharp Cat Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, then hit another gear in the stretch and won by 2 3/4 lengths. Champagne Eyes finished second and Czechers was third. Foxy Danseur, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Mr. Greeley, got the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:43.06 under Mike Smith, winning for the second time in seven starts. "She was so relaxed, I just stayed where I was. And when I called on her, she responded real well," Smith said." Winning trainer Christopher Paasch said the Hollywood Starlet "has been the goal since the beginning of the year if she's ready. If not, we'll wait for the Santa Anita weather and try her in the Santa Ysabel."
Sunday, Colonel John sat off the pace in the $100,000 Real Quiet Stakes for 2-year-olds, swung wide around the leaders entering the stretch and drew off to win by 3 lengths over Overextended. Cafe Tortoni finished third. Colonel John, a Kentucky-bred colt by Tiznow, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:42.92. Corey Nakatani had the ride for trainer Eoin Harty.
Woodbine
True Metropolitan not only won Saturday's $150,000 Autumn Stakes for the second time, but also did it in track-record time. After sitting chilly behind a runaway leader, the western-based Proud and True gelding came to the lead three-wide at the top of the lane and then held on at the end to win by 1/2 length over Leonnatus Anteas. Gouldings Green finished third. True Metropolitan, a 5-year-old Florida-bred, finished the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:42.22, barely eclipsing the mark set just over a month ago. "He enjoys what he does and he does it well," said winning trainer Terry Jordan.
Jockey Jeremy Rose rode both of Sunday's stakes winners -- Connections in the $125,000 (Canadian) Kennedy Road Stakes for 3-year-olds and up and Initiation in the Glorious Song Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. "I love Canada," he quipped after bringing Connections from last of 11 to win the Kennedy Road by 1/2 length over pace-setting Ballado Dancer. Just Rushing finished third. Initiation, a 6-year-old, Kentucky-bred Unbridled gelding, ran the 6 furlongs in 1:08.79 on the all-weather track. Initiation also came from last to win the Glorious Song, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths over Victory Romance with the favorite, Shilla, checking in third. Initiation is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Deputy Minister. She got the 7 furlongs in 1:22.75.
Golden Gate Fields
McCann's Mojave rallied to the lead at the top of the stretch in Saturday's $150,000 All American Stakes, then held off the late bid of Putmeinyourwill to win by a neck. Hello Sunday finished third. McCann's Mojave, a 7-year-old, California-bred son of Memo, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.04 under Frank Alvarado. Steven Sprecht trains the horse.
Delta Downs
Costa Rising, the odds-on favorite, set a pressured pace through the early furlongs in Saturday's $100,000 Gold Cup for Louisiana-breds, then drew off handily at the top of the stretch and coasted home an easy winner. Southern Invasion was second, 2 1/2 lengths back, and Magic Sunset made a late run to finish third. Costa Rising, a 4-year-old Royal Strand colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.96 under Kerwin Clark.
Lee's Spirit pressed the pace in Saturday's $60,000 Calcasieu Stakes for state-bred 2-year-olds, came four-wide around the turn to take the lead and won by 3 3/4 lengths. Super Ride was second at odds of nearly 60-1 and Must Acquit finished third. Lee's Spirit, a Leestown gelding, finished 5 furlongs in 59.75 seconds with Donald Simington up.
Shan Jade followed the game plan perfectly in Saturday's $60,000 Creme de la Creme Stakes for Louisiana-bred juvenile fillies, stalking, swinging around the leaders and drawing off in the final furlong to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Little Thorn led early and held on for second and Swifty Victress was third. Shan Jade, the odds-on favorite, ran the 5 furlongs in 59.52 seconds for jockey Gerard Melancon. She is by Finest Hour.
Zarb's Ballerina came from just off the pace to win Saturday's $75,000 Magnolia Stakes for state-bred fillies and mares by 4 lengths over Carl's Frosty Girl. Doeny Ghost finished third. Zarb's Ballerina, a 3-year-old daughter of Zarbyev, ran 1 mile on a track rated "good" early in the card in 1:41.08.
Hawthorne Race Course
La Wildcat led from gate to wire in Saturday's $45,000 Miss Power Puff Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, winning by 3/4 length in a game finish. Bamboo was second and it was 1/2 length farther back to Capricious in third. La Wildcat, a daughter of Forest Wildcat, ran 6 furlongs under Timothy Thornton in 1:12.1.
