Boisterous picked up from injured stablemate Point of Entry to win the biggest race in a weekend of important grass races.
The question now is -- where next? Trainer Shug McGaughey held out options from California to Chicago to upstate New York.
And that was only one of the big events on a crowded weekend calendar. Arlington Park featured a great "Million Preview Day" with a big crowd and perfect weather. It was Virginia Derby day at Colonial Downs. Hollywood Park offered big grass races on both Saturday and Sunday.
Races at Delaware Park and Canterbury Park in Minnesota didn't lose their luster by being rained off the turf.
A potential new French star blazed to victory in Paris. The July Cup races at Newmarket confirmed a leader among European sprinters. A former Aussie star got back on track in Ireland. And a local favorite won in Singapore -- possibly on her way to a "better life" (read on) in Australia.
By the way, and not to get too far ahead of ourselves, Del Mar opens for racing Wednesday and Saratoga swings into action on Friday. Better check and see how those tomatoes are doing in your garden because it's mid-summer for sure.
Turf
Boisterous surged to the lead a furlong from home in Saturday's $600,000, Grade I Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park and quickly got clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Twilight Eclipse. Exclusive Strike rallied from the back of the eight-horse field to finish third while Optimizer went the opposition direction, fading to finish fifth. Boisterous, a 6-year-old son of Distorted Humor, was subbing for stablemate Point of Entry, one of the nation's top turf runners, who was sidelined with an injury after his last race. He ran 1 3/8 miles on the good inner turf course in 2:14.11. John Velazquez rode the Phipps Stable homebred for trainer Shug McGaughey. Boisterous has figured in the exacta in five straight races, all graded stakes, since finishing ninth in last year's Grade I Arlington Million. He has 11 wins from 25 career starts and Saturday's win pushed his career earnings over the $1 million mark. McGaughey said he and the Phippses will retreat to Saratoga and think about the Grade I Sword Dancer at 1 1/2 miles at Saratoga Aug. 17, the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million on the same date and the Grade I Pacific Classic on the Del Mar all-weather course Aug. 25. "When we get up there, we'll see how he's doing," the trainer said. "The Arlington Million I'm a little bit gun shy on because I don't really understand why he ran bad there last year. Somebody said, 'He didn't run all that bad. He was ninth, beaten [5 3/4 lengths].' But he ran bad." And, despite his happiness for Boisterous, owner "Dinny" Phipps still is looking ahead for his wounded warrior. "It makes up for some," Phipps told Daily Racing Form. "But I'd like to have Point of Entry back. I think he's the best horse in the country this year and I hope he gets to prove it."
War Dancer got to the lead at the sixteenth pole in Saturday's $500,000, Grade II Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs and prevailed as the meat in a sandwich in a tight, three-way finish. Charming Kitten missed by a head and it was just another head back to Jack Milton in third. The early leader, Redwood Kitten, finished fifth and Fear the Kitten was sixth. The favorite, Rydilluc, contested the early pace, then faded to finish in a dead heat with Gefest for eighth and ninth, beating only one rival. War Dancer, a Kentucky-bred War Front colt, ran 1 1/4 miles on the good outer turf course in 2:03.57 with Alan Garcia in the irons. It was his third win in seven starts. Trainer Kenny McPeek said he would like to get War Dancer to the Breeders' Cup one way or the other, adding it's still tough at this time of year to see how developing 3-year-olds might match up against older horses.
Nine-year-old Rahystrada won the $200,000 Grade III Arlington Handicap for the third time on Saturday, setting up a potential record fourth start in the Grade I Arlington Million in five weeks' time. With Rosie Napravnik up, the Rahy gelding raced right behind the early pace, worked his way to the lead entering the stretch turn and held on to win by a half length despite shifting out sharply in the lane. Temeraine, sent off at generous 24-1 odds, rallied for second. Dullahan, making his first start since a dull effort in the Dubai World Cup, showed interest late to take third as the favorite. Rahystrada finished 1 1/4 miles on the firm Arlington Park turf in 2:01.66. "We're as amazed as anybody" by the old gelding's performance, trainer Byron "Scooter" Hughes said. "He keeps telling us he wants to go, so we go. Great ride by Rosie. She had it all in hand. It was great." Rahystrada finished third in last year's Million, fifth in the soggy 2011 edition and fourth in 2010. Kent Desormeaux, who rode Dullahan, said his horse was intimidated when he saw the winner duck out late, although there was no actual interference. "That was it," he said. "I really think we could have won." Trainer Dale Romans said Dullahan is headed for a faceoff with Game On Dude in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in six weeks.
Infinite Magic appears to have found a home going long on the grass. The More Than Ready colt stuck close to the pace in Saturday's $200,000, Grade III American Derby at Arlington Park, then prevailed in a tight, three-way finish. The favorite, Admiral Kitten, was up late but finished a head behind the winner. Stormy Len was only a nose behind that one in third. Infinite Magic, with Channing Hill up, ran 1 3/16 miles on firm turf in 1:55.41 in the local prep for the Grade I Secretariat Stakes on Arlington Million day. Raced in England earlier, Infinite Magic is undefeated in his only three starts on grass going longer than a mile. "The horse put me in a nice position," said winning rider Channing Hill, who recently returned from a shoulder injury. "We had a beautiful trip and he really dug in the last 16th of a mile to have a really good score here. The thing I was concerned with was with him not being able to see [far outside rivals] all the way out there. But once he did, he ended up re-breaking and I was really surprised how much horse I had to the wire."
Dark Cove waited patiently behind the leader in Saturday's $150,000, Grade III Stars and Stripes at Arlington Park, went to challenge on the stretch turn and had things his own way in the stretch, winning by 1 3/4 lengths. Suntracer was second, a nose in front of The Pizza Man, and Ioya Bigtime, who made all the early going, settled for third. "It was a pretty clean trip," said Rosie Napravnik, who steered the winner for trainer Michael Maker. "We sat where I thought would be the best spot." Dark Cove, a 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, finished in course-record time of 2:27.39 over firm going. He was claimed for $50,000 in April 2012. "That was my father," said Jeff Ramsey, representing his parents, Ken and Sarah Ramsey. "He loves to claim." Mark Partridge, farm manager for the Ramseys, said the $400,000 American St. Leger at 1 1/2 miles on Arlington Million day would be a logical next race for the horse. Longer term, he said, could be a trip to Australia. "We're always looking for a Melbourne Cup horse," Partridge said.
Another one to watch for the longer races is Al Qasr, a Kenny McPeek trainee who took Saturday's $75,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes at Colonial Downs with a pace-pressing trip. The 5-year-old son of Aptitude beat Target Sighted by a neck and Amen Kitten by another neck in the 1 1/2-mile turf tussle, getting home in 2:30.90 over good turf with Ben Creed riding. McPeek dropped him out of graded stakes company for a confidence-builder in his fourth start after coming from South America. He finished fourth in the Grade II Elkhorn Stakes back in April.
Filly & Mare Turf
It was no walkover but Marketing Mix got the job done against five male rivals in Sunday's $100,000, Grade III Sunset Handicap on getaway day at Hollywood Park. Going longer than her norm at 1 1/2 miles, the 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro mare tracked the early pace, moved quickly to a daylight lead with 1/4 mile to run and held off Dhaamer at the end by 1 length. It was another 6 3/4 lengths back to Extensive in third. Marketing Mix, with Gary Stevens up for trainer Tom Proctor, finished in 2:26.78 over firm going. Marketing Mix was second to the Irish-trained I'm A Dreamer in last summer's Beverly D. at Arlington Park and second to Zagora in last fall's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Proctor would love to redress one or both of those grievances this season. "She has a lot of options, but she'll probably go in the Beverly D.," he said. "We'll see. Let's hope she comes out of the race well and we have that decision. That's the main thing. It's nice to win the last Sunset. A lot of good horses have won it. It means something to me." Hollywood Park closes at the end of the year and the property will be developed for other uses.
Emollient settled in behind the leaders in Saturday's $350,000, Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park, worked to the lead midway down the stretch and held on to beat Emotional Kitten by a half length. Topic was third, 3/4 of a length farther back. Emollient, a Kentucky-bred Empire Maker filly trying turf and the California circuit for the first time, ran 1 1/4 miles on firm going in 2:02.38 with Mike Smith aboard. She was coming off a sixth-place finish in the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan on dirt at Pimlico and before that won the Grade I Ashland at Keeneland on the all-weather course. "She broke so flat footed I just put her right in behind," Smith said. "I could tell how slow they were going, so I went for it to get on the clear and make the pace move. Looking back at it now, I can say it was a great move." Rodolphe Brisset, assistant to winning trainer Bill Mott, said Emollient "answered a couple of questions today. We didn't know about the grass and we didn't know about the mile and one quarter." He said the plan is to keep the filly on the turf but the Ashland win gives them options for the Juddmonte Farms homebred.
Ausus tracked the pace in Saturday's $200,000, Grade III Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park, came three-wide toward the leaders in the stretch run and quickly went by to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Artemus Kitten stalked the early pace, led briefly and settled for second. La Tia, in front for the first half, held third. Ausus is a 4-year-old daughter of Invasor, out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare El Raabi. She finished the 1 3/16 miles on firm turf in 1:53.94 under James Graham. The Shadwell Farm homebred picked up her first stakes win in the local prep for the Grade I Beverly D. and trainer Daniel Peitz said that Aug. 17 race will be her next start. "I was pretty explicit with James about not giving her too much to do," he said. "Try to keep her within 2 or 3 lengths. When she turned for home, he gave her a perfect ride."
Nellie Cashman tracked the slow early pace in Saturday's $150,000, Grade III Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs, exchanged the lead with Three Hearts in the lane before taking command and held off the favorite, Praia, to win by a half length. Three Hearts was a nose farther back in third. Nellie Cashman, a 20-1 long shot, covered 9 furlongs of good turf in 1:52.86 with Forest Boyce up. She is a daughter of Mineshaft out of the Pine Bluff mare Alison's Winner. She took seven tries to post her first victory, which came in her last previous race, a $35,000 affair for state-breds at Penn National.
Treasured Up kicked clear in the stretch run to win Saturday's off-the-turf $200,000 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park by 1 3/4 lengths over Angel Terrace. Explainable was third. Treasured Up, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly, ran 1 1/4 miles on the wet-fast main track in 2:05.92 with Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons. It was her fifth win in 13 career starts and she has run well on all types of surfaces. The race lost half its original 10 starters after the surface switch, among them the Alan Goldberg entry of Laughing and Tannery.
Turf Mile
Notacatbutallama rallied to challenge for the lead a furlong out in Saturday's $100,000 Solar Splendor Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park and edged clear, winning by a half length. The pacesetter, Joha, held second, a length in front of Balance the Books. Notacatbutallama, a New York-bred Harlan's Holiday colt, got 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in 1:42.56 with John Velazquez aboard.
Mister Mardi Gras made the trip from Chicago for Saturday's $125,000 Mystic Lake Mile and Team Block wasn't inclined to scratch just because the race came off the turf. Good call, as the 6-year-old Belong to Me gelding, who has won over every type of surface, rallied from well back in the scratched-down field to win by 3/4 of a length over Stachys. Wild Jacob finished third. Derby Kitten stumbled at the start, dropping jockey Chris Landeros. Mister Mardi Gras, toting Francisco Torres, got home in 1:38.00 over the fast main track. He now has three wins and two seconds in his last five starts, including a second in the Grade III Hanshin Handicap at Arlington Park.
Saturday's $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes came off the turf with a bunch of resulting scratches. Of those left, Awesome Flower proved best, outfinishing the favorite, Bryan's Jewel, to win by a half length. Kune Kune finished third. Awesome Flower, a 4-year-old Flower Alley filly, ran the mile on a fast track in 1:37.54 with Chris Landeros up for trainer Michael Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
Ladies' Classic
Dancing Afleet rallied late in Saturday's $300,000, Grade II Delaware Oaks and caught the Ile St. Molly, for a half-length victory. Tell a Great Story was third and the favorite, Maracuya, finished a fading seventh. Dancing Afleet, a daughter of Afleet Alex, ran 1 1/16 miles on a wet-fast track in 1:44.59 with Joshua Navarro up. She had broken her maiden on the third try and then won an optional claimer three weeks ago over the track. "It was a big step up," winning trainer Tim Ritchey said. "But it was the time to do it. The timing was right and I always thought this horse had the potential to do it." He said he is pointing her now toward the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 21.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Book Review came from well off the pace to capture Saturday's $200,000, Grade II A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park by 2 1/2 lengths over the favorite, Teddy's Promise. Byrama finished a head farther back in third. Book Review, a 4-year-old Giant's Causeway filly, covered the 7 furlongs of all-weather track in 1:22.75 with Rafael Bejarano riding. She has not been worse than second in four starts now since shipping in from New York. "That was her first start on synthetic and that might have been her best footing," said Mike Marlow, assistant to winning trainer Bob Baffert. "I think she really liked it. I'd guess there would be something for her at Del Mar."
2-year-olds
Alpine Luck was on the lead in Saturday's $150,000 Hollywood Juvenile Championship, then held on gamely between rivals in deep stretch to eke out a half-length victory. Ontology was second, a nose in front of Willie B Awesome with Solid Wager just a head farther back in fourth. Alpine Luck, a California-bred colt by Lucky J.H., ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:11.44 with Gary Stevens at the controls. He started his career with a pair of third-place finishes and now has two straight wins for trainer Mike Harrington.
On the turf, Silvertonguedtommy shadowed the favorite, My Corinthian, through most of Saturday's $50,000 Chenery Stakes at Colonial Downs, then put his head in front at the wire. It was 2 1/2 lengths farther back to Manaus in third. Silvertonguedtommy, a Street Boss gelding, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 1:05.88 for jockey Garry Cruise.
2-year-old fillies
She's a Tiger was quickly out front in Saturday's $150,000 Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park and held on to win by a relatively tight 3/4 of a length over E Equalsmcsquared. Pleasant Miss was third. She's a Tiger, a Tale of the Cat filly, got 6 furlongs on the all-weather course in 1:12.04 for jockey Frank Alvarado. She is undefeated in two starts after winning earlier at Pleasanton.
On Rainbow Bridge swept by the leaders in deep stretch to win Sunday's $150,000 (Canadian) Shady Well Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine by 1 1/2 lengths. It was the first stakes winner for apprentice rider Skye Chernetz. Paladin Bay also put in a late run to snatch second and the early leader, Where's the Carat, settled for third. On Rainbow Bridge, a Bold Executive filly, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:04.38. She now is 1-for-2 after a third-place finish in her first race.
On the turf, Thank You Marylou won at first asking in Saturday's $50,000 Tippett Stakes at Colonial Downs, taking complete charge in the lane and drawing off to score by 3 3/4 lengths, ridden out. La Mejor Fiesta was best of the rest with Venice Queen third. Thank You Marylou, a Birdstone filly owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 1:06.04 with Alan Garcia up.
International
England
Lethal Force had things all his own way against a quality field in Saturday's Group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The 4-year-old Dark Angel colt, coming off a win in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, led from the early jumps and scooted home 1 1/2 lengths better than Society Rock. Those two have squared off three straight times, with the latter beating Lethal Force in the Group II Duke of York before finishing second at Ascot. Slade Power was third in Saturday's tilt with Shea Shea fourth. The American representative, Havelock, didn't have a lot, finishing last of 11. Krypton Factor was withdrawn after breaking through the gate prior to the start. Winning rider Adam Kirby said the quick time for the July Cup -- a July-course record 1:09.11 -- disproved comments that he had stolen the Diamond Jubilee by putting things to sleep on the front end. "I didn't steal it at Ascot and this is a hell of a horse," he said. "A machine." Kirby said he gave Lethal Force a smack with his whip 2 furlongs out to keep his concentration and the horse "nearly slipped" because he was surprised at the attention.
Elusive Kate made all the going in Friday's Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, kicked into high gear in the final furlong and held on to win by a neck over Sky Lantern despite drifting left. Giofra finished third, another 2 lengths back. Purr Along completed the order of finish. The stewards took a look at Elusive Kate pushing Sky Lantern out during the final furlong before letting the result stand. The losing camp said Sunday an appeal is under consideration. With William Buick up for trainer John Gosden, Elusive Kate finished the mile on good to firm turf in a slow 1:40.54. Elusive Kate, a 4-year-old, American-bred daughter of Elusive Quality, won for the first time since last July, when she took the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville. She now has four wins, two seconds and two thirds from 11 starts and Gosden said she is likely for a defense of her Rothschild title.
Lucky Kristale got first run to the lead in the late going of Friday's Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Newmarket and held well to upset the favorite, Rizeena, by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths. Lucky Kristale, a daughter of Lucky Story, got 6 furlongs in 1:10.76 under Tom Queally.
France
Flintshire was reserved in last through the early stages of Saturday's Group 1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris for 3-year-olds, kicked into gear with a quarter mile to run when asked by jockey Maxime Guyon and went on to win impressively by 1 1/2 lengths over Manndawi. Ocovango finished third. Battle of Marengo was home in seventh position. Flintshire, a Dansili colt, ran 1 1/2 miles on good turf in 2:28.57. The Juddmonte Farms homebred now has three wins and a second from four races. Trained by Andre Fabre, Flintshire jumps right to the top of the list of contenders for this fall's renewal of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe -- which also is expecting the likes of Al Kazeem and Orfevre. "In principle," Fabre said, Flintshire will return to Longchamp for the Prix Niel and then the Arc. Jockey Christophe Lemaire, who rode the nearly white Manndawi for the Aga Khan and trainer, said his mount may prefer the softer going more likely to prevail in Paris in the early fall.
Ireland
Australian star Sea Siren, making her first start for Aidan O'Brien, shrugged off a weight differential to win Sunday's listed Belgrave Stakes at Fairyhouse. The win came after a dull eighth-place showing in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Jockey Joseph O'Brien, who rode the 5-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock for the first time, said he expects her to be competitive in the major sprints for the remainder of the year.
Singapore
Better Life got away slowly in Sunday's Emirates Singapore Derby but used a smart late run under jockey Alan Munro to get up for the win in the local Group 1 event. Wild Geese finished second and Tropaios was third. Better Life is a daughter of Smarty Jones out of the Sunday Silence mare Quiet Life. She now has three wins and a second from five starts, all at Kranji -- a record marred only by a seventh-place finish in the International Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in May. "What can I say? She's a very, very good mare and I'm very, very happy," said winning trainer Hideyuki Takaoka, who then dropped the surprise that Better Life may be headed for a, well, better life. "I spoke with the owners before the Derby and they have decided to send her to Australia to become a broodmare," he said. "I think they have even chosen the stallion, Sebring. They obviously don't want to overrace her as it's not good for a mare to be too tired with racing if she is to become a mother."
Elsewhere
Woodbine
Surtsey "assurtseyed" her long shot self in the stretch run of Sunday's $150,000 (Canadian) Ontario Damsel Stakes for 3-year-old, Ontario-foaled fillies. With Jermaine Bridgmohan up, the 41-1 chance rallied to the lead at mid-stretch and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Adventure at Sea, leaving the favorite, Dance Again, adrift in third. Surtsey, a daughter of Heatseeker, got the mile on firm turf in 1:33.80, winning for the third time in eight starts. She had accounted for the Fanfreluche Stakes at 6 furlongs on the all-weather track two starts back.
Laughing Falcon set a pressured pace in Saturday's $125,000 (Canadian) Passing Mood Stakes for 3-year-old, Ontario-sired fillies, then edged clear at the end to win by 3/4 of a length. Rootham Triple E's stalked the pace and was up for second while Dancing Bay came from the clouds to complete the triactor. Laughing Falcon, a daughter of Aljabr, finished 7 furlongs on firm turf in 1:21.96 with Matt Moore up.
Arlington Park
Pataky Kid outfinished Muppet Man in Saturday's $65,000 Coach Jimi Lee Stakes for 3-year-olds, winning by 3/4 of a length. The race turned out to be a rematch of last fall's Grade III Arlington Washington Futurity, which found Muppet Man second to Pataky Kid by 3 lengths. Neither had won since that race last Sept 8 in 10 combined starts. Pataky Kid, a Rockport Harbor colt, ran 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:24.88 under Eddie Castro.
Gulfstream Park
Dreaming of Sophia stalked the pace in Saturday's $75,000 Cellars Shiraz Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, quickly went by into the stretch and won off by 6 1/2 lengths over Swingers Party. Love to Score led early and held third. Dreaming of Sophia, a daughter of Lewis Michael, ran 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:45.70 with Fernando Jara up. The race came off the turf with four resulting scratches.
Presque Isle Downs
Lenape Rim chased down the favorite, Lotta Lovin, in the final yards to win Sunday's $75,000 Northern Fling Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred distaffers by a neck. Sixth and Arch, also making a late bid, finished just a head farther back in third. Lenape Rim, a 5-year-old Rimrod mare, got the mile on the all-weather track in 1:37.14 for jockey William Otero.
Roadhog got to the front in the stretch in Sunday's $75,000 Leemat Stakes for state-breds and kicked clear, winning by 4 lengths over Kelly Rock. Great Investment was one for show bettors. Roadhog, a 6-year-old Bowman's Band gelding, ran the mile on the all-weather track in 1:36.57 for jockey Horacio Karamanos.
Monmouth
Slew's Exchange pressed the pace in Sunday's $60,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes for fillies and mares, took over the lead in the stretch and won by 1 3/4 lengths over Diamond d'Oro. The favorite, Sounds of the City, made some noise with a late run but could only manage third. Slew's Exchange, a 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate out of the Seattle Slew mare Cool Slew, ran about 5 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 1:03.50 under Elvis Trujillo.
Sacramento
Sister Kate led from the start in Saturday's $75,000 Governor's Cup for fillies and mares and went on to win by 3 3/4 lengths over the favorite, Villa Villaggio. Ruby Pumps finished third. Sister Kate, a 5-year-old Benchmark mare, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.53 with William Antongeorgi III in the irons.
Emerald Downs
Stopshoppingdebbie, the heavy favorite, dueled around the track with Goin to the Window in Sunday's $50,000 Kent Handicap for 3-year-old fillies before prevailing by a head. Blueberry Smoothie and Strange Luck completed the order of finish. Stopshoppingdebbie, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin, finished 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.13 with Rocco Bowen up. She is undefeated in four starts, all of them at Emerald.
Mike Man's Gold led from the early jumps in Sunday's $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap for 3-year-old colts and geldings and held on at the end to win by a neck over the favorite, Music of My Soul. Worldventurer, who ventured in last month from Texas, finished third. Mike Man's Gold, a Washington-bred Liberty Gold gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.92 with Javier Matias aboard. He now has two straight wins.
Asinobia Downs
A Girl's Gotta Do did what a girl's gotta do in Saturday's $50,000 (Canadian) R.C. Anderson Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Sent right to the lead, the Manitoba-bred Battle Cat filly led all the way, widening the margin late to score by 9 3/4 lengths. With Adolfo Morales up, A Girl's Gotta Do finished the mile on a fast track in 1:43 2/5.
Hastings Racecourse
Ole's Miss rallied from last of five to win Sunday's $50,000 (Canadian) Boulevard Casino Stakes for 2-year-old fillies by 1 1/4 lengths over Architecture. Battling Brook was well back in third. Ole's Miss, an Officer filly, completed 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:18 2/5 with Scott Williams up.
Deviance won a five-way melee in Sunday's $50,000 (Canadian) New Westminster Stakes for 2-year-olds, battling with each of his rivals at one time or another before winning by a neck over Three Way Trade, who rallied from last. Shingen Sky finished third. Deviance, a Bob and John gelding, got 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:18.98 under Aaron Gryder.
Evangeline Downs
Smoke It Right dueled to the lead in Saturday's $50,000 Oak Hall Stakes, then quickly raced clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths over the favorite, Go Tiger Jack. Sweetsouthernmoon rallied from well back to take third. Smoke It Right, a 5-year-old Smoke Glacken gelding, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.68 with Carlos Marquez up, missing the track record by just 0.25 second.
Thistledown
Raise the Reward opened a big lead in Saturday's $50,000 George Lewis Memorial for Ohio-breds and had enough to hang on for the win, 1 3/4 lengths better than the favorite, Startin Something. Uncle Virgil finished third. Raise the Reward, a 7-year-old Parents' Reward gelding, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:52.60 with Jacob Radosevich up.
Beulah Park
Needmore Flattery tracked the pace in Sunday's $50,000 Hoover Stakes for 2-year-old Ohio-breds, then cleared and won off by 3 1/2 lengths over Obsessionsoptimist. First-timer Jac's Fact finished third. Needmore Flattery, a Flatter filly, finished 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:06.57 under Irwin Rosendo.
Deniro's Saint left them in her dust in Sunday's $50,000 Cincinnatian Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, roaring away to win by 18 1/4 lengths. Barnsville Shamrock was second, 4 3/4 lengths ahead of Players Lil Girl. Deniro's Saint, a daughter of Saints n' Sinners, ran the mile on the fast track in 1:43.84 with Luis Gonzalez up.
