UPI Horse Racing Roundup

Creator came from the clouds to win Saturday's Arkansas Derby and a place in the Kentucky Derby starting gate while Effinex raced with the pace over the same track to win the Oaklawn Handicap in the highlights of weekend racing.

Among the distaffers, Miss Temple City and Tepin stepped up at Keeneland while Untapable tapped out at Oaklawn. And in a shocker, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Songbird, undefeated in seven starts, will miss the Kentucky Oaks because of a fever that has interfered with her training.

On the international scene, there was a big upset among the 3-year-olds in Japan and a very formful victory in South Africa.

Away we go.

The Road to the Roses

Creator was dead last as the field headed into the stretch turn in Saturday's $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. But with Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons, the grey Tapit colt wove through traffic, emerged from a bit of a sticky wicket early in the stretch and kicked away to win by 1 1/4 lengths, guaranteeing a spot in the Kentucky Derby field. Suddenbreakingnews was second, Whitmore was third and Dazzling Gem fourth as all four came from off the pace set by Gettysburg, who finished fifth.

The favorite, Cupid, chased Gettysburg into the lane, then faded badly and beat only two rivals. Creator ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:50.14 while winning for just the second time. It took Creator six tries to find the winner's circle and, in his previous start, he finished third in the Grade II Rebel, behind Cupid and Whitmore.

"Ricardo has a ton of confidence in the horse and I'm glad to see him rewarded for how much he believed in the horse," said winning trainer Steve Asmussen, who also praised his crew at Oaklawn. "His race in the Rebel was good and we felt like he came out of it good. He had a little break and came out for the Arkansas Derby training great. I am very proud of the outcome today. With him doing better at longer distances, it's easy to dream about the Derby."

Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, which owns Creator, said he sent the colt to Asmussen because he has done a good job with Tapit offspring, who can be high strung.

"I love his style. I love the way he's been brought along," Walden said. "I think based on today's performance that he would have a very good chance" in Louisville.

Creator, who had been No. 31 on the list of candidates for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field, jumped up to the No. 6 spot. Sudddenbreakingnews, Whitmore and Cupid all have enough points to get into the Kentucky Derby field, too, and their connections also sounded positive about that prospect.

"We belong in the Kentucky Derby," said Ron Moquett, who trains Whitmore, noting his colt was involved in some scary traffic Saturday.

Donnie K. Von Hemel, trainer of Suddenbreakingnews, said his horse took a while to get running. "Sure looks like more ground is better for us," he said of the 1 1/4-miles Kentucky Derby.

And Martin Garcia, who rode Cupid, said, "Next time." Dazzling Gem would need to have five horses ahead of him on the list defect from the field to make the Run for the Roses.

Collected pressed the pace in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Lexington Stakes, then quickly shot to the lead and drew off, winning by 4 lengths over front-running long shot One More Round. Synchrony finished third and the favorite, Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Swipe, ran evenly to get home sixth. Collected, a City Zip colt out of the Johannesburg mare Helena Bay, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.33 with Javier Castellano up.

Collected won for the fourth time in six starts with the victories including the Grade III Sham at Santa Anita and the Sunland Park Festival of Racing -- an event which replaced the Sunland Derby, canceled because of an outbreak of equine herpes virus at the New Mexico track. Had he won the Sunland Derby, Collected would have plenty of points to start in the Kentucky Derby. The replacement race did not qualify and the 10 points for the Lexington win leaves Collected with 21 points -- needing at least six defections to make the big race. Peter Fluor, a partner in Speedway Stables, which owns Collected, said the Preakness is a potential target.

"I think that would be the most logical step, given the distance," he said of the 1 3/16-miles middle jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico on May 21. "We'll see how he comes out but that would be a thrill for us."

Flavien Pratt, who rode Swipe, said he was "making noise on the backside and after that he wasn't the same horse."

And, by the way: Keeping up with preparations for the Derby couldn't be easier. Check out Horse Racing Radio Network at horseracingradio.net. {b: Kentucky Oaks}

Songbird would have been the overwhelming favorite in the Kentucky Oaks after winning seven straight races without defeat -- and, really, without being tested. But Hollendorfer said Sunday the Medaglia d'Oro filly has missed training because of a low-grade fever and he does not want to risk her future by taking a chance. "Stuff happens in this game," Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms told The Blood-Horse. "All I want to do is make sure she's 100 percent and we have the same Songbird when she gets back." Songbird was the 3-5 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, taking $32,647 in action. She

Distaff

Forever Unbridled kicked in late in Friday's $600,000, Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park as Untapable, the odds-on favorite, former champion and pacesetter, faded badly from the lead. Forever Unbridled, a 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled's Song, went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths over long shot Streamline. Tara's Tango edged Untapable for show money. Forever Unbridled, with John Velazquez up, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.08.

"She's a wonderful filly," said winning trainer Dallas Stewart. "We've got great hopes for the rest of the year. We just need to keep her sound and healthy ... Her last three races have been over three different race tracks. She won at Aqueduct, she won at Houston, she trained at the Fair Grounds, she ran here, she won here. That takes a special horse."

Velazquez added: "She's a filly that gets better and better with each start. I'm glad I got to ride her today."

Steve Asmussen, who trains Untapable, had no ready explanation for the performance of his 2014 Breeders' Cup and Eclipse Award champion. "Who knows? Just disappointed she lost," Asmussen said.

Classic

Effinex and Melatonin rated to be the class of Saturday's $750,000 Grade I Oaklawn Handicap. And they were. After racing side-by-side and comfortably ahead of their rivals, Effinex took charge on the turn and edged clear through the stretch, winning by 1 length. Melatonin was second by 2 3/4 lengths over Point Piper with Blofeld fourth. Mike Smith had the winning ride in the Oaklawn fixure as Effinex ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.00. Effinex was second to American Pharoah in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, then won the Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in his seasonal finale. He finished third in his last outing, the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, behind Melatonin.

"He was much happier this time," Smith said. "He broke out in hives last time just before the race. I wasn't about to let him go on the lead in that race. This time I let him press the lead a little bit and he went on about his business."

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said by phone from New York, "I am very pleased with what he did today. He stayed closer to the pace than he's used to doing. He really likes that track, and he likes it fast like that. He grabbed it right away, which I was happy to see because I thought he was going to end up losing too much ground coming out of the gate. Mike let him run a little more to cross over and that was a good job on his part."

Jerkens said Effinex will return to his New York barn while he ponders the horse's next start. "There are a lot of races for him," he said.

Eagle chased the pace while saving ground in Saturday's $200,000 Grade III Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland, came off the rail entering the stretch and ran by pacesetting Noble Bird to win by 1 1/4 lengths over that rival. Breaking Lucky was well back in third. Eagle, a 4-year-old Candy Ride colt, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:48.57 under Brian Hernandez Jr.

Decorated Soldier, a recent maiden winner in Florida, hooked up in a dramatic duel with Big Red Rocket in Saturday's $150,000 Northern Spur for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park with Decorated Soldier prevailing by a neck despite a wide trip. Unexplained finished third. Decorated Soldier, a Proud Citizen colt, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:37.87 with John Velazquez up for trainer Todd Pletcher. The colt broke his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs in his first start as a 3-year-old, winning by 7 1/2 lenghts while going 6 1/2 furlongs. Big Red Rocket, a Summer Bird colt, ran third and second in two previous outings.

Turf Mile

Tepin took complete charge in the stretch run of Saturday's $350,000 Grade I Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes for fillies and mares at Keeneland, drawing off to a 5-lengths victory. Wekeela beat the others, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Illuminant. Tepin, a 5-year-old Bernstein mare, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in stakes-record time of 1:40.53, posting her fifth straight win and eighth from her last 10 starts. The current win skein includes last fall's Breeders' Cup Mile, which boosted her to the Eclipse Award in the turf distaff division.

"She's amazing," said winning rider Julien Leparoux. "She can do whatever we want. I didn't think there was going to be that much pace today, so I was planning on sitting second." But when there was a scramble out front, "I just sat back there. On the backside, she started to get going. She's amazing. Every time you ask her to do something, she does even better. It's great."

Assistant trainer Norman Casse, noting Tepin shipped back and forth from Churchill Downs for the race, noted Sunday morning the star mare was "a little tired ... It was a long day."

Keeneland hosted its third-largest non-Breeders' Cup crowd of 38,863 -- nearly twice the turnout a week earlier on Blue Grass day, when morning snow flurries and chilly winds discouraged walk-up business.

Miss Temple City tracked the pace in Friday's $300,000 Grade I Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland, got to the lead at the furlong marker and powered home first by 1 1/4 lengths. Pacesetter Heart to Heart held second, another 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the favorite, Tourist.

Miss Temple City, with Drayden Van Dyke up, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:34.09. The Temple City filly, bred by Bobfeld Bloodstock is owned by Sagamore Farm and partners and trained by Graham Motion, scored her first Grade I win and the first victory by a filly or mare in the 29th running of the race. In 10 career starts, the 4-year-old has four wins, three seconds and two thirds. She finished fourth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last year. Motion also entered Miss Temple City in Saturday's Grade I Jenny Wiley against females, including champion Tepin.

"Tepin's already beaten the boys," Motion said. "She's proved she's one of the best milers in the country -- if not the best miler in the country. I really wasn't crazy about running against her."

Miss Temple City got a break in the weights, too, from five to seven pounds from each rival.

Seeking Treasure found the winning path along the rail in a traffic-filled stretch run in Saturday's $75,000 Dahlia Stakes for fillies and mares at Laurel Park. Surging through along the rail, the 6-year-old Run Away and Hide mare outfinished Ginger N Rye by 1/2 length. Nisharora wasn't as lucky with the traffic and, after being blocked from the eighth pole to the sixteenth pole, finally got a path and closed smartly to get show money. Seeking Treasure, with Alex Cintron up, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:33.99.

Catch a Glimpse rallied to a clear lead in the stretch run in Thursday's $125,000, Grade III Appalachian Stakes presented by the Japan Racing Association, for 3-year-old fillies, and survived a late bid by Ava's Kitten to win by 3/4 length. Outsider Art was in full stride in the final sixteenth to take third. Catch a Glimpse, a City Zip filly, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:37.27 with Florent Geroux in the irons.

Norm Casse, assistant to winning trainer Norm Casse, said Catch a Glimpse can be a handful before a race. But, he said, "As far as her maturity as a racehorse, she is progressing very nicely. Florent can let those longshots go, and she'll relax for him. She's becoming a better racehorse."

Depending on how she trains, he added, she could resurface in the Grade III Edgewood at Churchill Downs on Derby week.

Mrs McDougal parked behind a pair of dueling leaders through the first three-quarters of Saturday's $100,000 Plenty of Grace Stakes for fillies and mares at Aqueduct, surged around them to a daylight lead at the top of the stretch and held well to win by 1 length from Strike Charmer. Miss Atomic Bomb finished third, 7 lengths farther back. Mrs McDougal, a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly, finished 1 mile on firm turf in 1:35.65 with Jose Ortiz at the controls.

Cherie DeVaux, assistant to winning trainer Mark Casse, said, "It's nice to have her come back, her first start of the year and she got the ideal setup. She's developed into a really nice filly. Really strong, gotten a lot bigger, and looks fantastic."

Mrs McDougal's 3-year-old season that included three wins including the Grade II Lake George at Saratoga.

Sprint

San Onofre came four-wide into the stretch in Saturday's $100,000, Grade III Los Angeles Stakes at Los Alamitos and outfinished Wild Dude for a 1-length win. Raised a Secret was another 1/2 length back in third. San Onofre, a 6-year-old Surf Cat gelding, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:02.04 for jockey Edwin Maldonado. Lightly raced, San Onofre now has seven wins and four seconds from 14 career starts.

"We put blinkers on him because he didn't pay attention last time and he finished dead last (in the Grade II San Carlos March 12)," said winning trainer Karen Headley. "We wanted him focused. He's getting easier to train."

She said she seldom gives jockey instructions because her trainer father, Bruce Headley, "always told me to keep it simple."

Counterforce rallied wide from the back of the pack to take Friday's $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park by 2 lengths over the favorite, I Will Score. Texas Chrome was third. Counterforce, a Smart Strike Colt, finished 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.68 with Florent Geroux at the controls.

"He's a very talented horse," said winning trainer Steve Asmussen. "We put three races in him a little close together, but obviously he's going to have a nice future. We'll give him a little break of this."

Noholdingback Bear stalked the pace in Sunday's $125,000 (Canadian) Woodstock Stakes for 3-year-olds, took over when asked by jockey Eurico Da Silva and ran on to a 4 1/2-lengths victory. Shogood was second, a nose in front of Hollywood Hideaway. Noholdingback Bear, a Put It Back colt, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:10.22. He won at first asking on the old Woodbine all-weather surface last fall, then ran well in Florida during the winter, finishing second in the Grade III Hutcheson and the Texas Glitter. Da Silva rode the colt in his first win and said he sees much improvement.

"He's much more strong. I worked this horse and he gave me a great feeling," Da Silva said. "(Trainer Mike DePaulo) told me to try to ride a little more patient today and maybe we'd have some pace to run at and it worked out great."

Filly & Mare Sprint

Paulassilverlining stalked the pace in Sunday's $200,000 Grade III Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct, took over with a quarter mile to run and finished first, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of the favorite, Cavorting. Bar of Gold was third. Paulassilverlining, a 4-year-old Ghostzapper filly, ran 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.01 with Jose Ortiz Jr. in the irons. She came into the race after a second-place showing behind Clothes Fall Off in the Correction Stakes at 6 furlongs. She has never finished worse than fourth in 13 career starts.

"She's really coming along," said winning trainer Michelle Nevin. "Paula's run well going six, seven, a mile. She always tries, always shows up. She's really improved over the last couple of months. We're heading the right way."

Lightstream, making only her second career start, found a narrow opening on the inside late in Sunday's $150,000 Grade III Adena Spring Beaumont Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland and outfinished Nickname by 3/4 length. Kinsley Kisses finished third. Lightstream, a Harlan's Holiday filly, ran about 7 furlongs on a fast track in 1:26.27 with Julien Leparoux up. She won at first asking at Gulfstream Park last month.

"I'd rather have her on my team than be running against her," said winning trainer Brian Lynch. "Very gutsy. The pace was cracking early. He (Leparoux) was patient enough with her. Looked like at the three-eighths pole, she wasn't going anywhere but once he got after her ... She's still learning what it's all about, too. She's gonna go outside, she came back inside. She gutted it out down the lane. There was a (Grade) 1 winner in there, multiple winners in there, so it was a nice step forward for her."

Super Saks set a brisk pace in Thursday's $150,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and found enough late to hold off the favorite, Haveyougoneaway, by 1 1/2 lengths. Ghost Locket was close behind in third. Super Saks, a 4-year-old Sky Mesa filly, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.69 under Channing Hill. The stewards denied a claim of foul by the rider of Ghost Locket.

"Well, you always worry about that," winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "I thought it was a little bit tight there for him to try to come up there. I told Channing Hill, I said: 'If you would have let him through, I think I'd got on you a little bit, too.' They're not supposed to let them come up the rail."

Cash Back stalked the pace in Saturday's $150,000 Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park, got first run to the lead and easily outfinished the favorite, Durango, to remain undefeated in four outings. Durango, 2 lengths in arrears, finished a neck in front of Simple Surprise. Cash Back, a Congrats filly, was an equally easy winner of her first three starts, all on the grass. She liked the fast Oaklawn dirt strip just fine, competing 6 furlongs in 1:11.30 with Irad Ortiz Jr. up for trainer Brad Cox.

Treasuring bided her time in Saturday's $125,000 (Canadian) Star Shoot Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine, then was just up in time with a stretch run to win by a nose over the pacesetter, Jennifer Lynnette. Tiz Imaginary finished third. Treasuring, a Smart Strike filly, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:11.43 with Luis Contreras riding.

It was only the second career win for the filly, who previously raced in California for trainer Bob Baffert.

Turf Sprint

Exaggerated went quickly to the fore in Saturday's $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes for fillies and mares at Keeneland and held sway, winning by 1 1/2 lengths over Cactus Kris. Miss Double d'Oro finished third and the favorite, Miss Ella, was fifth. Exaggerated, a 4-year-old daughter of Blame, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on firm going in course-record time of 1:02.81 under Julien Leparoux. He now has five wins from seven starts.

On the international scene:

Japan

Dee Majesty, an outsider at the mutuels and in the starting gate, came running late -- on the outside -- to snatch a handy win in Sunday's Group 1 Satsuki Sho, or Japanese 2,000 Guineas, at Nakayama. The Deep Impact colt, with Masayoshi Ebina up, started from the No. 18 gate and raced well back in the field to the end of the backstretch. He quickly picked up the pace, got by the leaders with a quick turn of foot shortly after hitting the stretch and held off Makahiki by 1 1/4 lengths. The favorite, Satono Diamond, finished third, Air Spinel was fourth and the second-favorite, Leontes, was sixth, promising an interesting season as the final two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown unfold. Dee Majesty finished in a very quick 1:57.9 for 2,000 meters on firm turf.

"We were slow out of the gate so I made up my mind to race him toward the rear as there were strong horses in the front," Ebina said. "I was hoping to close in on the front runners from around the third corner and everything went as planned. He was responding really well turning the last corner and I knew then that he'll be able to take over the field at the top of the slope."

Dee Majesty now is 2-for-2 this season.

Australia

Prized Icon had shown such steady improvement throughout the fall that he found his winter respite postponed while he racked up his second straight win in Saturday's Group 1 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes for 2-year-olds at Royal Randwick, defeating Chimboraa by 1 length. Divine Prophet got home third. Prized Icon, a More Than Ready colt trained by James Cummings, ran 1 mile on good to soft turf in 1:36.85 with Glyn Schofield up. He won the Fernhill Handicap just a week earlier and trainer James Cummings had planned to put him away.

"I thought about it, looked at him and said, 'He looks too well put him on the flat to the beach," the trainer said. Hugh Bowman, who rode Chimboraa, said he was "delighted with my horse's effort. He is still a bit immature mentally. Physically he is there. He is going to be one to follow in the spring."

English posted a mild upset win in Saturday's Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes, scoring by a head over Black Heart Bart with a late run. Kermadec was third and the favorite, Press Statement, got home fifth as English ran 7 furlongs in 1:22.90 under Sam Clipperton. Gai Waterhouse trains the winner, who improved on a third-place finish behind Chautauqua in the T J Smith Stakes in his last outing.

Waterhouse said the 3-year-old filly has matured in her work habits and now should be able to handle a little more distance. Hugh Bowman, aboard Press Statement, said his mount "just didn't finish off like the horse we know he is."

{b:England } Saturday's 3-year-old events at Newbury, often important preps for the Guineas, Derby and Oaks, were washed out. Some of the entries shifted to a hastily arranged alternate card on the Chelmsford all-weather course but others will be sent directly to the Guineas.

South Africa

Inara produced another winning effort in Saturday's Group 1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes at Turffontine, rolling to a 1-length victory over Sensible Lover. Intergalactic was third. Inara, a 4-year-old daughter of Trippi, had not raced since taking the Group 1 Majorca Stakes in January and came to town from the Summerveld training center specifically for Saturday's race. After tracking a slow pace, she took the lead when asked and coasted home. Inara is trained by Mike Bass and Grant Van Niekerk had the winning ride.

"We sent her up to Durban a month ago with this race in mind," Bass said. "We're halfway up, altitude-wise, which makes it a little bit easier."

In other action:

Los Alamitos

Boozer stalked the pace in Saturday's $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-breds, took command in the stretch and prevailed by 1 1/2 lengths over Soi Phet. Avanti Bello was third. Boozer, a 6-year-old Unusual Heat gelding, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:34.73 with Edwin Maldonado in the irons.

Mahoning Valley

Lovable Lyss circled the early leaders in the stretch run to win Saturday's $75,000 Austintown Filly Sprint for 3-year-old distaffers by 1 3/4 lengths. Tia Flor was second, followed by Absatootly. The favorite, Tiffany Case, yet another James Bond-themed name, settled for fourth. Lovable Lyss, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Big Brown, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:12.29 with Jose Valdivia Jr. in the irons.

Riding in the Wind closed like a hurricane in Saturday's $75,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds, outfinishing Buckeye Bullet by 3/4 length. Intacto was third. Riding in the Wind, a Tiz Wonderful colt, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:13.09 with Marco Ccamaque in the irons.

Hastings

Modern led all the way in Sunday's opening-day $50,000 (Canadian) Swift Thoroughbreds Inaugural Stakes and held well, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Hollywood Angel. Shooting Jacket was only a nose farther back in third. Modern, a 6-year-old Tiznow gelding, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.91 with Richard Hamel aboard.

Avadiva also led from the start in the $50,000 (Canadian) Brighouse Belles Stakes for fillies and mares and won by 1/2 length from Quatre Cat. Majestic Presence was third. Avadiva, a 5-year-old mare by Skimming, ran 6 furlongs in 1:11.43 with Skyler White Shield in the irons.