UPI horse racing roundup

Victories by the veteran Able Friend in Hong Kong and budding star American Pharoah in Arkansas highlighted a diverse weekend of racing action.

American Pharoah's win -- off a long layoff and over a wet track -- gives trainer Bob Baffert two top Kentucky Derby contenders.

Able Friend's win despite traffic problems at Sha Tin gives trainer John Moore more ammunition to convince his owner to put the horse on a plane to seek a world title.

And there's much more where that action came from. So away we go.

The Road to the Roses

American Pharoah, last year's 2-year-old champ, got his Kentucky Derby campaign off to a late but successful start, romping home a 6 1/4-lengths winner in Saturday's $750,000, Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park. Madefromlucky was second and Bold Conquest finished third but American Pharoah clearly was head and shoulders above this competition. The Pioneerof the Nile colt finished 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track under Victor Espinoza in 1:45.78. American Pharoah broke his maiden on the second try -- in the Grade I Del Mar Futurity. He came back to win the Grade I FrontRunner at Santa Anita in September but had been unraced since. Trainer Bob Baffert said Espinoza reported American Pharoah lost or displaced his right front shoe at the start. "But once he got into the first turn and into his groove, he was galloping. His right front show wasn't on right and when he can run like that all the way around like that, it shows you how good he is," Baffert said. The 50 points for the win will be enough to get the colt into the Kentucky Derby. Baffert also has top contender Dortmund, who appears headed for the Santa Anita Derby, so he said "there is a good chance" American Pharoah will be back in Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby.

Classic

Race Day rallied by pacesetting Midnight Hawk in the stretch run to win Saturday's $250,000, Grade III Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park by a neck over that rival. It was another 7 lengths back to Golden Ticket in third. Carve, Tapiture and Ride On Curlin completed the order of finish. Race Day, a 4-year-old Tapit colt, is emerging as a good one after a nice winter in Florida. With John Velazquez up for trainer Todd Pletcher, he finished Saturday's 1 1/16 miles on a good, sealed track in 1:44.88. "I loved the way he was running into the first turn," Velazquez said. "When he came down the lane, he put up a good fight." Jim Barnes, assistant to Midnight Hawk's trainer, Bob Baffert, said, "He ran huge and he ran straight, which makes up really happy because in a lot of his past races, he has been very erratic."

Distaff

Reigning champion Untapable had a little rust or didn't like her first try on a wet track or a combination of the above. Whatever the cause, she couldn't quite get the job done in the lane in Saturday's $300,000, Grade II Azeri at Oaklawn Park. After tracking the pace set by Gold Medal Dancer, Untapable ranged right up alongside that rival, got almost to even terms and then settled for second, 1/2 length back. Mufajaah was third. Sugar Shock was a late scratch. Gold Medal Dancer ran 1 1/16 miles on a good, sealed track in 1:45.92 with Luis Quinonez aboard. Whereas Untapable was making her comeback from victory in last fall's Breeders' Cup Distaff, Gold Medal Dancer had not won since taking an allowance event at Keeneland last fall. "We had a chance to go out and control the pace and Luis did a great job," said winning trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. "She went out and controlled the pace. She fought off the champion and she showed a lot of heart." He said it's "sure a possibility" Gold Medal Dancer will return in the Grade I Apple Blossom. Untapable's trainer, Steve Asmussen, said, "As long as she comes out of it okay, we'll be happy with this effort."

Out west, Warren's Veneda rallied from last in Saturday's $400,000, Grade I Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita, took the lead outside rivals turning for home and drew off to romp by 7 1/4 lengths. Dame Dorothy beat the other four with Thegirlinthatsong finishing third. Warren's Veneda, a 5-year-old Affirmative mare, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:48.73 with Tyler Baze riding. She has won all three starts this year, including the Grade II Santa Maria over the same course last month. Winning trainer Craig Lewis said, "I've got some good moments, but this was definitely a good one. I was pretty confident that she was going to win but I didn't think that she would be that dominating, because I thought the two Eastern fillies looked awful good on paper." He said he is thinking about running Warren's Veneda in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic on April 18. "We're going to have to take on some pretty tough boys but she could be up to the task," he added.

Filly & Mare Turf

Hoop of Colour closed from just outside the three-point line to win Sunday's $200,000, Grade II Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita by 3/4 length. Three Hearts got first run to the lead but could not hold off the winner, finishing 3/4 length back and 1 length ahead of Winning Rhythm. The favorite, Diversy Harbor, finished sixth in a dull effort. Hoop of Colour, a 4-year-old filly by Distorted Humor, ran 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:49.08 with Drayden Van Dyke in the irons. Alice Clapham, assistant to winning trainer Graham Motion, said, "Drayden won on her first time here and she's been training great since then, and this race kind of came up so we thought we'd just take a shot, and it worked out well. Asked about the next race for Hoop of Colour, Clapham said, "I'm sure Graham will talk to the owners and sort that out. We might run her back here in that mile and quarter turf race (the $150,000, Grade III Santa Barbara Handicap on April 18), or she might go to Keeneland."

Filly & Mare Sprint

Mamdooha, who had been away from the races for a full year, won a three-horse sprint to the wire in Saturday's $100,000 Correction Handicap, defeating Expression by a head and Aireofdistinction by another head. The odds-on favorite, Isabelle, chased a fast early pace and finished fifth. Mamdooha, a Shadwell Sables homebred filly by Dahaa, ran 6 furlongs on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:12.67 with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. The 4-year-old now has won five straight races, the last four of them stakes. "Unbelievable. She's a fighter of a racehorse. She knows where the wire is," said Art Magnuson, assistant to winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "She's done nothing wrong; they did a great job in Florida to get her ready. Coming off the year-long layoff we would've been happy with a piece of anything so we're absolutely pleased and now as an older filly going forward we feel that we can compete."

Noble and a Beauty took charge in the lane in Sunday's $100,000 Cicada Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, winning off by 8 lengths over Eloquent Tribute. Overprepared finished third. Noble and a Beauty, a Noble Causeway filly, got 6 furlongs on a good track in 1:13.74 with Jose Ortiz riding.

International:

Hong Kong

Able Friend turned impending disaster into impressive triumph in the final 200 meters of Sunday's Group 1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup and now is all but demanding to be tested against the best on foreign soil. With Joao Moreiea up, the 5-year-old son of Shamardal found himself trapped on the rail as the 200-meter pole came and went before a gap finally opened and he could find room. "I was just about to call my cardio specialist," said trainer John Moore. No need as Able Friend quickly dispatched the quality runners in front of him, drawing off to win by 2 1/4 lengths, adding to his recent wins in the Group 1 Stewards' Cup, the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile. He ran the final 200 meters in 22.08 seconds, finishing in 1:21.10. Last year's winner, Gold-Fun, finished third. "He's just an outstanding horse, isn't he?" enthused Moreira. "The way he won today, he proved once again that he is one of the best around here and can be considered one of the best in the world at 1,400 meters and 1,600 meters." Owner Cornel Li said he is looking forward to the remaining Group races at Sha Tin this spring but Moore had his eye fixed slightly farther in the future. "It's fantastic to have a horse that could be a world champion miler," the trainer said. "I know he has to travel to prove himself but what he has done so far is unbelievable. We have to compete overseas to prove his worth and, as Cornel said, two runs at a mile and then we'll see where we go." Moore was unsuccessful in efforts to persuade Li to take Able Friend to Dubai later this month.

Luger overcame a wide trip and rallied from just behind the pace to take the spoils in Sunday's HK Group 1 BMW Hong Kong Derby at 2,000 meters with Zac Purton getting the leg up from trainer John Size. Luger, an Australian-bred Choisir gelding got there 3/4 length to the good of Got Fly with Romantic Touch third as those two came from well back. "Three wide without cover is not the ideal position to be in," Purton said. "But I just kept telling myself in the back of my head that I was on the best horse in the race and not to worry too much about it -- just try to keep him in his rhythm and keep him balanced and keep him happy." Size said he always has figured the lightly raced horse as a Group 1 contender and feels vindicated in that opinion. But, he added, "I haven't got any plan at all. We will see how he pulls up and probably give him an easy couple of weeks and see how he gets on."

England

On Saturday at Lingfield Park, Godolphin landed two more qualifications for the All-Weather Championship finals on Good Friday. Tryster, with Adam Kirby up, worked his way from the back of the pack to win the Group 3 coral.co.uk Winter Derby, scoring by 3/4 length over Grendisar. Grandeur was a head farther back in third. Tryster is guaranteed a spot in the Easter Classic at the same 10-furlong distance and is ranked the favorite for that event by the sponsor. "Tryster has thrived and he is an exciting horse going forward," said winning trainer Charlie Appleby. "We will all regroup, see where we go from here and, obviously, he could potentially run in the Easter Classic here on Good Friday." Appleby said he sees "no reason why he wouldn't equate this form to turf."

Another Godolphin runner, Pretend, took Saturday's sprint feature and qualified for the Unibet All-Weather Sprint on Good Friday. Pretend came from next-last of nine to win by 1 1/4 length over Alben Star, who won last year's Good Friday sprint. "It was a great performance and hopefully he has signed himself in to come back on Good Friday," Appleby said. "We were trying to race him over a mile earlier in his career but, thankfully, the trainer woke up and we dropped him back to sprinting."

Elsewhere:

Santa Anita

Go West Marie had to overcome some traffic issues in Saturday's $100,000 Irish O'Brien Stakes for state-bred distaffers but when Gary Stevens found her room on the outside, she rallied to win by 1/2 length over Qiaona. Velvet Mesquite finished third, a nose farther back. Go West Marie, a 4-year-old Western Fame filly, completed 6 1/2 furlongs down the hillside course in 1:12.90.

Gulfstream Park

Australian-bred Power Alert stalked the pace in Saturday's $75,000 Silks Run Stakes, took the lead in the lane and held off Amelia's Wild Ride by 1/2 length under the wire. Mongolian Saturday finished third. Power Alert, a 5-year-old gelding by Alert, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 55.80 seconds with Julien Leparoux in the irons.

Taylor S went to the lead in Saturday's $75,000 Any Limit Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and wasn't caught, drawing off at the end of 6 furlongs to win by 3 1/2 lengths. Dogwood Trail was best of the rest, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Coco's Wildcat. Taylor S, a Medaglia d'Oro filly, got home in 1:09.75 with Corey Lanerie up.

Delta Downs

Run Hide My Girl outfinished the odds-on favorite, Parc Monseau, winning by 3/4 length over that rival in Friday night's $75,000 Gold Coast Stakes for fillies and mares. Run Hide My Girl, a 4-year-old filly by Run Away and Hide out of the Dynaformer mare Dynameesch, finished 1 mile on a fast track in 1:38.86 with C.J. McMahon in the irons.

Bellarmine tracked the pace in Saturday's $75,000 Borgata Stakes, challenged into the lane and eased clear to win by 2 lengths over School Spirit -- a natural cold exacta for Louisvillians. Ide Be Cool was third. Bellarmine, a 5-year-old son of Magna Graduate, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:39.10 with Gerard Melancon aboard.

Golden Gate Fields

Living the Life came from last of seven to win Saturday's $50,000 Camilla Urso Stakes for fillies and mares by a comfortable 2 1/4 lengths over pacesetting Marks Mine. Tabled With Gold finished third. Living the Life, a 5-year-old, Irish-bred mare by Footstepsinthesand, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:09.21 with Flavien Pratt aboard.

Sunland Park

Proceed tracked the pace in Saturday's $85,000 New Mexico State University Handicap for state breds, then proceeded to mow down his rivals before scoring a 1/2-length victory. Hush's Storm finished second and That's Who was third. Proceed, a 4-year-old Desert God colt, ran 1 mile and 70 yards under Alfredo Juarez Jr. in 1:41.47.