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Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The bouncing ball that points to the leaders of the 3-year-old division took another small hop in weekend horse racing, as Saudi Crown slogged through Tropical Storm Ophelia to win the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing. Ophelia not only rained on the year's biggest parade at Parx, but also prompted cancelation of Saturday's racing programs at Aqueduct, Delaware Park and Pimlico. Charles Town threw in the soggy towel after three races.
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Churchill Downs enjoyed clear weather for its Saturday "Downs at Dark" program, which yielded some prospects for the remainder of the year. And Sunday's Oklahoma Derby produced yet another upset in that division.
In England and Ireland, the change of seasons has flat racing fans looking forward to next season, and a trio of races for the 2-year-olds provided plenty of food for thought. We also have action from Australia, Japan and Germany.
That's a lot of travel, so let's take the first step with ...
The 3-year-olds / Classic / Marathon
The championship race in the 3-year-old division looks likely to go down to the Breeders' Cup Classic -- or even beyond. Saudi Crown joined the top rank of contenders with a front-running victory over a storm-saturated Parx Racing strip Saturday in the $1 million Grade I Pennsylvania Derby.
He turned aside a late challenge from Dreamlike with the others far back and ran 1 1/8 sloppy miles in 1:50.62 with Florent Geroux up.
The quality of the performance will be questioned because of the track condition and the perceived quality of the opposition.
Still, Saudi Crown, an Always Dreaming colt, has run against some of the best and would be undefeated but for a pair of noses in the Grade III Dwyer and Grade II Jim Dandy. Those losses were to Forte and Fort Bragg, who are top-rank in the division.
Arcangelo's Travers victory still stands out but, otherwise, Saudi Crown now fits the picture. Trainer Brad Cox certainly felt the performance boosted him into the elite level with an eye on the Breeders' Cup Classic and then the global scene.
"I think so," Cox said. "He has been there. He needed a breakthrough performance, and I think he is one of the top 3-year-olds in the country. ... I will tell you this, with his Saudi-based ownership group -- great guys to work with and for -- I think the Saudi Cup is one race that is definitely on the target, as well."
At Churchill Downs, where the track was fast and the weather clear, Slip Mahoney slipped by Big Data inside the sixteenth pole to win Saturday's $300,000 Bourbon Trail Stakes for 3-year-olds by a neck, with Oscar Eclipse another 3 1/4 lengths back in third.
Slip Mahoney, an Arrogate gelding out of the A.P. Indy mare Got Lucky, ran 1 3/16 miles in 1:56.66 with Gerardo Corrales riding for trainer Cox.
It was his third win in a career that includes runner-up showings in the Grade III Gotham and, in his most recent, the St. Louis Derby.
How Did He Do That seemed an appropriate question after the colt of that name, at odds of 44-1, won a three-way photo at the end of Sunday's $400,000 Grade III Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.
The Good Magic colt pressed the pacesetting long shot into the stretch, and then held on by a nose over late-running Red Route One and another nose from Tumbarumba. The favorite, Hit Show, rallied behind Red Route Run, but stalled out to a sixth-place finish.
How Did He Do That, with Stewart Elliott aboard, ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.34 with trainer Steve Asmussen landing both ends of the $524.40 exacta.
How Did He Do That has made his living in similar races and came into the Oklahoma Derby off a third in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. Red Route One has fought bigger battles including a fourth-place finish in the Preakness.
Early on Saturday's program at Parx, Next looked like the logical choice in the $200,000 Grade II Greenwood Cup, a 1 1/2-mile marathon around three turns. He validated that logic in spades, leading all the way and saying goodbye on the final bend.
At the wire, he was well wrapped up by jockey Luan Machado while 25 lengths to the good of runner-up My Imagination.
Distaff
Ceiling Crusher rode the rail on the lead in Saturday's $1 million Grade I Cotillion Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Parx Racing and held on at the end by 3/4 length, putting an end to Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous' three-race winning streak. Occult was third.
West Coast invader Ceiling Crusher, a California-bred daughter of Mr. Big, ran 1 1/16 miles on a sloppy track in 1:45.69 with Edwin Maldonado up for trainer Doug O'Neill, winning for the sixth time in five starts.
Ceiling Crusher started out facing Cal-bred rivals, but moved out of that shelter in her previous start to win the Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar. The Cotillion was her first start outside California, her first beyond a mile and her first on an off track.
While the victory certainly put her among the best in her division, it also might be the peak of her season.
"She is not nominated [to the Breeders' Cup]," O'Neill said. "It will be up to the [owners], if they want to write a big check. This was our Breeders' Cup. We looked at this on the calendar months ago and the fact that is coming true. ... This was our Breeders' Cup today."
Honor D Lady stalked the pace in Sunday's $200,000 Grade III Remington Park Oaks, got to the lead three-wide and drove home first by 2 1/2 lengths over pacesetter Ancient Peace.
The odds-on favorite, Merlazza, contested the pace but was eased in the stretch and later walked off the track. Honor D Lady, an Honor Code filly trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.00 with Tyler Connor riding.
She has missed a first-three finish only once in eight starts -- that a 10th in Grade III Saratoga Oaks.
At Churchill Downs, Saturday's $175,000 Seneca Stakes for 3-year-old fillies featured several also-ran refugees from the likes of the Grade I Alabama the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks.
It was the Grade III Saratoga Derby Invitational that provided the springboard for the winner, Xigera, who pressed the pace made by She's Lookin Lucky, swept to the lead at the top of the stretch and got away to win by 6 1/4 lengths. She's Lookin Lucky and Taxed filled the trifecta.
Despite all the back class, recent maiden winner Poblano went off favorite and finished fifth. Xigera, a Nyquist filly out of the Black Tie Affair mare Argent Affair, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.92 for jockey Julien Leparoux. She earned a 101 Beyer Speed figure for the effort so look for her on a bigger stage.
Yuki led practically gate to wire in Saturday's $125,000 Dark Mirage Stakes at Los Alamitos and held on at the end to win by 1 1/4 lengths from Smoothlikebuttah.
Trouville edged the favorite, Ganadora, for third. Yuki, a 4-year-old Chilean-bred filly, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:37.88 with Hector Berrios up for trainer Amador Sanchez.
Sprint / Dirt Mile
Damon's Mound moved to the lead on the turn in Saturday's $400,000 Grade II Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds at Parx Racing and held on gamely through the stretch despite drifting out a bit, winning by 1 1/4 lengths from Nautical Star. It was another 3 1/2 lengths to Gordian Knot in third.
Damon's Mound, a Girvin colt trained by Michelle Lovell, ran 6 furlongs in 1:10.24 under Junior Alvarado while competing on a wet track in his third straight race. The Florida-bred now has four wins from nine starts with the victories including last year's Grade II Saratoga Special at the Spa.
Nimitz Class found and extra gear in the final sixteenth of Saturday's $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile and the odds-on favorite, Gunite, did not. At the wire, it was Nimitz Class by 1 3/4 lengths over the multiple graded stakes winner with the pacesetter, Mish, hanging on for show money.
Nimitz Class, a 4-year-old Munnings colt, ran 1 mile in the slop in 1:38.34, scoring his 11th victory in his 20th start. Gunite, a Gun Runner colt, was coming off a victory in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga and, despite significant international success at sprints, has never won going longer than 7 furlongs.
Everso Mischievous pressed the pace in Saturday's $300,000 Harrods Creek Stakes for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs, accelerated from the top of the stretch and rolled home on top by 3 1/4 lengths over Bourbon Bash. Loyal Company was up for third.
Everso Mischievous, an Into Mischief colt trained by Brad Cox for Qatar Racing, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.14. Cristian Torres rode. Everso Mischievous now has three wins and two close seconds from five starts.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Lady Radler split rivals at the top of the stretch in Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Dogwood Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs and quickly settled things en route to a 2 3/4-length victory over Metaphysical.
The favorite, Yesternight, started last of nine and finished third, another 1 3/4 lengths back.
Lady Radler, a Kantharos filly let go at odds of 23-1, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.71 with Jesus Castenon up for trainer Mike Campbell. It was her fifth win, and by far the biggest, from 10 starts.
Turf Sprint
Parx Racing officials gamely kept Saturday's $250,000 Grade III Turf Monster Stakes on the grass despite the worst Tropical Storm Ophelia could do.
Nobody Listens took full advantage of the yielding conditions, leading all the way to a 3-length victory over Smooth B with the favorite, Roses for Debra, 2 lengths back in third.
Nobody Listens, a 5-year-old Conveyance gelding, packed up his last-start victory in the Parx Dash over the same distance but on a firm course. He now has four straight wins.
Around the world, around the clock
France
With six days and counting to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, doesn't it seem odd to have only one contender from Japan and a single supplemental entry from Coolmore?
And even odder, if the weather guessers are right, substantial rain is at bay and the course should be in decent shape.
It's Frankie Dettori's last Arc, and he's looking to add one more to his record six victories, two of those with Enable in 2017 and 2018. It should be some race. Check in later in the week for a closer look.
Australia
After a tough loss behind Mr Brightside two weeks earlier, Alligator Blood returned to the winner's enclosure after Saturday's Group 1 Live Life Foundation Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
The All Too Hard gelding shadowed the pace, took it up 300 meters out and held on by 1 length over Tuvalu. The effort looked to be a perfect setup for another run at the Cox Plate, where Alligator Blood reported fifth in 2022.
"He's not going to go out without a bang, is he?" winning trainer Gai Waterhouse asked rhetorically. "He'll be like Frankie Dettori." She said the final stepping stone to the Oct. 22 Cox Plate will be set soon.
Militarize, with "Magic Man" Joao Moreira up for Chris Waller and an ownership syndicate fronted by the China Horse Club, posted a mild upset win in Saturday's Group 1 Kia Golden Rose Stakes for 3-year-olds at Rosehill. Encap and the favorite, Godolphin runner Cylinder, just missed in second and third, respectively.
Moreira has been one of the world's most exciting riders for years, but connections might have preferred a little less of a thrill in this as Militarize looked well beaten inside the 50-meter mark only to blitz by three leaders in the final stride to get the win.
"I wasn't that confident I would be able to win as we approached the last 300 meters," Moreira said. "The last bit when I was able to get him into the clear where he just dashed home like a star -- good horses make jockeys' lives so much easier."
Germany
India raced in mid-division through the bulk of Sunday's Group 1 Pris von Europa at Cologne, advanced to take the lead some 100 meters out and ran on to win by 1 1/4 lengths with Irish invader Trevaunance second and Godolphin's England-based Siskany third.
India, a 5-year-old Adlerflug mare, won five of seven starts last year and now is 2-for-4 this term.
Ireland / England
It's tough to beat Aidan' O'Brien and the Coolmore operation in big races on their home turf, but that's what trainer Paddy Twomey and jockey Billy Lee did Saturday at the Curragh. And they did it twice.
Lee Got Deepone out to a quick lead in the Group 2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes for 2-year-olds and Study of Man colt kept running to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
Three O'Brien trainees filled the next three positions, including the favorite, Navy Seal, with Frankie Dettori up, who was fourth.
Deepone won his first two starts, but had disappointed in the two most recent. O'Brien, meanwhile, left his A-team member Diego Velazquez, back at the yard.
That would be good enough for most, but not for Twomey and Lee on this day. While the Beresford was the more prestigious of the 2-year-old features on the card, the Goffs Million was not only the richest but also the most valuable juvenile event on the European calendar.
The €1 million purse attracted 23 starters and, as they approached the 2-furlongs marker, it looked like anyone's race with horses spread out from rail to rail. Then, One Look burst loose down the middle and drew off to win by 6 lengths with the even-money favorite and O'Brien trainee Cherry Blossom left to finish second.
More impressive yet, the Gleneagles filly was having her first start.
Back across the Irish Channel at Newbury, Array, carrying the Juddmonte colors, had to battle for the lead into the final furlong of the 6-furlongs, Group 2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, and then had to fend off a trio of challengers closing on his outside to win by 1/2 length.
Array, a homebred colt, won well enough under Oisin Murphy that trainer Andrew Balding said the No Nay Never colt will be considered a 2,000 Guineas candidate.
Japan
Rousham Park swooped up outside pacesetting favorite Titleholder in the final 100 meters of Sunday's Grade 2 Sankei Sho All Comers at Nakayama and got by to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Titleholder barely held second over three other fast-closing rivals.
Rousham Park, a 4-year-old Harbinger colt, ran 2,200 meters on good to firm turf in 2:12.0 with Christophe Lemair in the irons. It was his third straight win and fifth from his last seven starts.
Titleholder, a 5-year-old son of Duramente, did well in his first start since being pulled up lame in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) on April 30. He simply ran out of steam climbing the hill up to the finish after laying down a respectable pace through most of the race.
The three-time Grade 1 winner now will be primed for the big races during the remainder of the season.
On Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse, Satono Gianz unleashed a furious turn of foot in the final 50 meters for jockey Yuga Kawada and got through between horses to win the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai, a Japanese St. Leger trial.
The Satono Diamond colt scored his fourth win from his last five starts. It was his first race since the only loss in that string, an 11th in the Grade 1 Tokyo Yushun or Japanese Derby on May 28.
