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With last chance-Kentucky trips on the cards at Aqueduct, Keeneland and Santa Anita there was some great racing.
At Aqueduct Mischevious Alex scored a third successive win drawing away from the field in the Gr 1 Carter, winning by 5 ½ lengths over Mind Control over 1400m. This was part of a treble for jockey Irad Ortiz.
Ortiz was on Search Results in the Gazelle and the Flatter filly now goes top of the leaderboard for the Kentucky Oaks with 150 points. The outsider of the 8 horse field was Maracuja who was 2 ¾ lengths away second having started at 18/1. Army Wife was third on 14/1.
The Wood Memorial was quite an upset when Bourbonic, a son of Bernadini, became the longest-priced winner of the race having started on 72/1. Trained by Todd Pletcher who also saddled the second Dynamic One who was on 15/1, the trainer admitted that he did not have any tickets on those two. Bourbonic came from the rear under Kendrick Carmouche who got the ride late in the peace after his original ride was injured and finished a head in front of the stablemate. Crowded Train was third.
Moving now to Keeneland, where we are happy to report the horses did NOT run on Lasix, the Appalachian over the turf 1600m saw Jouster start favourite and oblige for Pletcher-Saez. Gift List was second and Plum Ali third.
The Shakerton Gr 2 was over 1100m on the turf and saw the Wesley Ward-trained Bond For Nowhere win the race for the second time in four tries. Imprimis was only a nose away second after having to be re-loaded at the start following a break-through the barriers. Third went to Critical Way. Joel Rosario was on the winner, part of a 5-timer.
He was also on Malthaat in the Ashland, as the 10 day mourning for Sheik Hamdan finished the evening before. Todd Pletcher trained in what was proving the be a good day at the office for the trainer. Pass The Champagne was only a head away in second and Will's Secret was third.
The Madison went to Ward's Kimari with Joel Rosario again in the irons. Kimari had two second at Royal Ascot in 2019 and 2020 but Ward isn't so sure they will be back there this year. Estilo Talentoso was ¾ length behind in second and started on 50/1 with Bell's The One third.
The Blue Grass was won by Godolphin's lovely Tapit colt Essential Quality who carries his sire's grey coat. Luis Saez was on the Brad Cox pupil with Luis Saez riding part of his 4-timer.
He's now got 140 Kentucky Derby points and heads the leaderboard. Highly Motivated ran very well for second with only a neck separating them and then it was 5 ½ lengths back to Rambauer in third.
At Santa Anita the Oaks had 5 starters and went to the Richard Mandella-trained Soothsay, a daughter of Distorted Humor. She had gone from winning on debut to this race which was a big step up in class but she handled it well. While she got the 100 point which would get her in to the field for the Kentucky Oaks, Mandella is going to wait and see how she comes out of this race first. Beautiful Gift was second and Moraz third.
The Santa Anita Derby saw Rock Your World, a son of Candy Ride, lead the whole way to take out the race for John Sadler and Umberto Rispoli. They were 4 ¼ lengths clear of Medina Spirit with Dream Shake a further 2 ¼ back in third.
The Royal Heroine over the 1600m turf saw Charmaine's Mia score her third consecutive win with Dogtag a ½ length away second.
