HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Richard Dutrow gave the fans at Gulfstream Park a double sneak peek into Saturday’s $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1).

After receiving permission from the stewards, Dutrow sent undefeated Trickmeister and multiple-stakes winner Redeemed to the track between the seventh and eighth races for their final half-mile tune-ups for the Donn.

Trickmeister, who collected his sixth victory without a loss in the Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream on Dec. 17, was the first to work. The 5-year-old son of Proud Citizen breezed four furlongs over a “good” track in 49 1/5 seconds under a motionless exercise rider Giovanni Rogelio. New York-based Ramon Dominguez will be aboard Trickmeister for the first time Saturday.

Shortly after his stablemate crossed the finish line, Redeemed stepped onto the track under jockey Edgar Prado. The 4-year-old son of Include, who closed out his 2011 campaign with victories in the Oklahoma Derby and Discovery Handicap (G3), turned in a similar work to Trickmeister’s, breezing four furlongs in 49 1/5 seconds.

Trickmeister and Redeemed will not be coupled in the betting for the Donn, which drew a field of 11 entries, including 2011 Preakness winner Shackleford and 2011 Belmont Stakes victor Ruler On Ice.

Quote of the Day:  “It was just a little maintenance workout to get a feel for the track. He handled the track beautifully. He was really comfortable. Hopefully, he’ll show up Saturday,” said jockey Edgar Prado after guiding Redeemed through a four-furlong workout between the seventh and eighth races.

Who’s Hot:  No one or everyone, depending on how you look at an 11-race card on which 11 different jockeys rode winners saddled by 11 different trainers.

10-cent Rainbow 6 Paid: $237,765.48

50-cent Pick 5 Paid: $7,756.95

Super Hi 5 Paid: $9,944.80

ARCADIA, Calif. – In his first start since a gritty second in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic last Nov. 5, defending Santa Anita Handicap champion Game On Dude gave every indication Sunday that he again would be a major player among the nation’s older horses at the age of 5.

With regular rider Chantal Sutherland at the controls for trainer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude ran off with Santa Anita’s 74th running of the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Antonio Handicap while defeating Uh Oh Bango by 5¼ lengths and covering 1 1/8 miles in a brisk 1:46.88.

In scoring his fourth win in as many races over Santa Anita’s dirt surface, the 3-10 favorite was in control throughout. Although not breaking as alertly as usual in the field of five, Game On Dude soon gained a stalking position just behind early leader Skipshot.

He overtook Skipshot on the backside after traversing four furlongs in 45.91 and widened rounding the far turn just as 4-1 second choice Uh Oh Bango, winner of last month’s Grade II San Pasqual Stakes, launched his bid.

But Game On Dude would have nothing to do with that. He simply increased his advantage under Sutherland’s urging while passing six furlongs in 1:09.12 and one mile in 1:33.91. Uh Oh Bango, with Mike Smith aboard, finished 12¼ lengths clear of the third horse, Victory Pete, handled by Martin Garcia. The winner paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Uh Oh Bango returned $3 and $2.20. Victory Pete paid $3 to show.

Former Dodgers and Yankees manager Joe Torre, who owns Game On Dude in partnership with Ernie Moody, the Lanni Family Trust and Bernie Schiappa, greeted Sutherland and the Awesome Again gelding in the winner’s circle. It was the first time Torre had an opportunity to personally watch the winner of over $1.9 million in 2011.

“He’s such a good horse,” Sutherland exclaimed. “He was strong today and we had a lot left. He wasn’t even sweating when he came back. It was like a workout for him. I had to look at the TV to see if anybody was around because I couldn’t hear anybody. When I looked at the TV and saw it was clear sailing, I was so happy.

“What’s amazing about this horse is that when I went up to Joe Talamo’s horse (Skipshot), he was so aggressive and wanted to pass him. Once he passed him, he relaxed. I knew he needed to keep doing his business, and he was very responsive to me.”

“He ran hard,” Baffert said. “He’d been training really well. We knew he was up for a big race, but I thought my horses yesterday would run great, and they laid eggs.

“Talamo was out there going really fast, I thought. You’ve got to watch out for certain jockeys picking up speed. But she (Sutherland) put the horse in a spot and that’s what you have to do to win.”

Baffert was noncommittal on what might be next for Game On Dude, whose career earnings rose to $2,254,658 from a 6-4-1 record in 15 starts. His options are to remain at Santa Anita and defend his title in the Big ’Cap prior to Santa Anita’s hosting of the Breeders’ Cup in early November or going to Dubai for the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 31 and running over a less desirable synthetic surface.

“We’ll talk to the owners,” Baffert said, “but a lot has to do with what kind of weight we get and all that stuff. Last year, we got in real light (115 pounds in the Santa Anita Handicap). We’re just trying to enjoy this right now.

“He’s nominated to Dubai, but the thing about Dubai is that it’s getting more and more difficult for American horses to win there because of the new track layout and the synthetic. You don’t know what to expect. We can think about it. It’s an option, so we’re gong to leave all options open for now.”

Torre deferred on the Santa Anita Handicap option. “When I was managing,” he said. “I always relied on my coaches when I had to make decisions on the baseball field. The main thing is, we want to do what’s right for the horse, and the one who knows best about that is Bob Baffert.”

Torre added that he thoroughly enjoyed Sunday’s experience. “This is exciting,” he said. “Last time, at the Breeders’ Cup, my daughter had a performance, so that obviously took precedence. It’s been a great day.”    

After dark days on Monday through Wednesday, Santa Anita racing resumes on Thursday with an eight-race program beginning at 1 p.m.

Benoit Photo
Part-owner Joe Torre leads Game On Dude and Jockey Chantel Sutherland into the winner’s circle after his San Antonio win.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Flying Zee Stable’s Street Game rallied strongly along the inside to just get up over a fast-closing Plead on the far outside in Gulfstream Park’s featured seventh race on Sunday afternoon. In the one-mile allowance/optional claiming event on turf, Street Game settled behind the majority of the field early, before uncorking his rally along the inside. The 4-year-old colt by Street Cry was able to narrowly defeat Plead who also put in a very strong rally to fall just a nose short.

Sunday’s race was the first of 2012 for the Philip Serpe-trained Street Game who won the Hill Prince (G3) last summer at Belmont Park. As the 2.40-1 second choice in the field of seven colts and geldings, Street Game – who was ridden by Ryan Curatolo – returned $6.80.

Who’s Hot: Jockey John Velazquez captured three races on the Sunday card at Gulfstream Park. Velazquez kicked off his solid day with a victory aboard Unbridled Heat in the day’s third race. One race later, Velazquez guided heavy favorite Ender Knievel to an easy win against a solid field of 3-year-old maidens. In Race 6, Velazquez again teamed with trainer Todd Pletcher to take the 1 1/16-mile maiden event for 3-year-old fillies with 4-5 choice Wait Til Dawn.

Quote of the Day:  “The plan was to relax him, sit right behind the leaders, and make my run. It all worked according to plan today. It’s great to be back at Gulfstream and great to be able to ride a winner.” Jockey Ryan Curatolo, rider of Street Game.

Work of the Day: Lori and George Hall’s 2011 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Ruler On Ice breezed an easy half-mile in 50 3/5 Sunday morning at Palm Meadows for trainer Kelly Breen as he gets his final tune-up for next Saturday’s highly-anticipated renewal of the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) at GulfstreamPark.

Another probable Donn starter on the Palm Meadows work tab was Twin Creek Racing Stable’s 5-year-old Mission Impazible timed five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 for trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Unbridled’s Song finished second last out in the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25.

At Gulfstream Sunday morning, Preston Stable’s 6-year-old Flat Out breezed a half-mile in 49 3/5 for trainer Scooter Dickey.

Rainbow 6 Carryover: $185,080.01

Super Hi 5 Carryover: $8,513.00

Coglianese Photos
Street Game

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Louie Roussel III and Ronnie Lamarque’s Friendly Banter, reserved off the pace until the stretch run, took command at the furlong pole and then drew off for a three-length tally in Sunday’s $49,000 feature, an allowance and $17,500 optional claiming event contested at one mile and 70 yards.

Trained by Louie Roussel and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, the recently altered son of Distorted Humor returned mutuels of $5.60, $4.80 and $4.20, toured the distance in 1:43.98 and increased his career earnings to $82,136 with his second win in eight lifetime starts.

Love Partnership Interests’ Texas Citizen made the pace with early fractions of 25.35 and 49.52, could not stay with the winner in the final furlong but gamely held the place, paying $13.20 and $15.20 while finishing a length to the good of Our Blue Streaks Stable’s Only Boy, who returned $12.20 in the show position..

Racing resumes Thursday at Fair Grounds with a nine-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.

VINTON, La. – Brittlyn Stable Inc.’s 7-year-old Star Guitar rallied from last in a field of 10 on Saturday night to capture his fourth consecutive $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs.

Under jockey Corey Lanerie, Star Guitar was taken to the back of the field in the 1 1/16-mile test for older Louisiana-breds before launching a sustained rally going into the far turn. When he reached the top of the homestretch, Star Guitar had leaders Classic Cascade and Populist Politics in his sights and he quickly went by to score a 3-1/4 length win. Classic Cascade, a 60-1 longshot, stayed for second. Populist Politics wound up another length behind in third.

Star Guitar covered the distance of the Championship over a muddy track in a time of 1:45.61.

The win by Star Guitar, who is conditioned by Albert Stall, Jr., marked the 22nd of his 29-race career. The winner’s paycheck of $120,000 raised his bankroll up to $1,635,862.

Star Guitar is a bay runner by Quiet American, out of the Malagra mare Minit Towinit. He was bred in Louisiana by Brittlyn Stable, Inc., M. Benoit & E. Benoit.

Sent to the post as a heavy favorite of the wagering public, Star Guitar returned $3.20 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Classic Cascade paid $26.40 to place and $9.40 to show. Populist Politics was worth $2.60 to show.

In other action on Louisiana Premier Night it was Russell Welch’s Warrior Maid who took the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff with jockey Eddie Martin, Jr. in the saddle for trainer Eric Heitzmann.

This year’s Louisiana Premier Night Starlet was taken by Coteau Grove Farms LLC’s Little Ms Protocol with jockey Diego Saenz up. Little Ms Protocol is trained by Patrick Devereux, Jr.

The $125,000 Louisiana Premier Night Prince was annexed by Cajun Charlie, who was guided to victory by jockey Tracy Hebert. Cajun Charlie is conditioned by Brian House.

Thomas Galvin’s Su Casa G Casa scored a win in the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Sprint with jockey Miguel Mena in the saddle for trainer W. Bret Calhoun. Mena won four consecutive stakes races on the Louisiana Premier Night program and Calhoun saddled a pair.

Speedacious won her second consecutive Louisiana Premier Night Matron with jockey Mena in the saddle for trainer W. Bret Calhoun. Speedacious is owned by Carl R. Moore Management LLC.

This year’s Louisiana Premier Night Ladies Starter was won by Robert E. Orth and Wesley Hawley’s Nana Knows with jockey Mena at the helm. Nana Knows is trained by Wesley Hawley.

Get in Da House was victorious in the $70,000 Louisiana Premier Night Gentlemen Starter with jockey Mena. Get in Da House is owned by Robert E. Orth and trained Wesley Hawley.

The $55,000 Louisiana Premier Night Bon Temps Starter was won by Sweet Little Sleet with jockey C. J. McMahon in the saddle for trainer Carl Deville. Sweet Little Sleet is owned by The Five Horsemen LLC.

McMahon rode two stakes winners on the night. His second came with Redhotrush in the nightcap, the $55,000 Louisiana Premier Night Ragin Cajun Starter. Redhotrush is owned by Sure Profit Racing, LLC and is trained by John Troy Hardy. The win marked Hardy’s first victory as a trainer

Racing resumes at Delta Downs on Wednesday with a 10-race program that begins at 5:45 p.m.

Delta Downs photo
Star Guitar

ARCADIA, Calif. – With trouble unfolding behind him, 43-1 shot I’ll Have Another went on to stunning upset in the Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, surprising his trainer and owner as much as the bettors.

The longest shot in the field of eight 3-year-olds won by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita, with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s two colts finishing out of the money.

“Oh my God that was nice,” trainer Doug O’Neill said in the winner’s circle, squeezing owner Paul Reddam.

“He’s always trained fantastic, but we never saw this coming,” O’Neill said.

I’ll Have Another ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.84 under Mario Gutierrez and paid $88.60, $35.80 and $12. Empire Way, a son of 2003 Kentucky Derby runner-up Empire Maker, returned $11.80 and $6.20.

Mario Gutierrez was aboard I’ll Have Another for the first time after exercising him in the morning just once.

“I love this kid,” O’Neill said.

I’ll Have Another came in off a five-month layoff and was running two turns for the first time. The colt had sore shins after losing in the slop in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga in September, leading to the layoff.

“He hasn’t missed a beat since then,” O’Neill said.

I’ll Have Another is named for Reddam’s response to his wife’s nightly query of “Do you want any more cookies?” as he lies on the couch. He paid $35,000 for the colt.

“I was probably the only one who wanted to run here,” Reddam said. “We didn’t know how good he was off his 2-year-old form.”

O’Neill added, “Paul likes putting up the money and taking chances.”

Reddam demurred when asked about taking a shot at the May 5 Kentucky Derby. He’s had four previous Derby runners, including two trained by O’Neill.

“We want to take a lot of time until his next race,” he said. “Everyone wants to be in Kentucky, but so many things happen between this race and Kentucky.”

Liaison, the 3-2 favorite trained by Baffert, got squeezed in the stretch, clipping heels with Groovin’ Solo and causing his rider Rafael Bejarano to fall passing the eighth pole. Bejarano was sore, but not injured. Baffert’s other entry, 7-2 shot SkyKingdom, finished sixth.

“This was a weird run race,” Baffert said. “(Liaison) was up there but he was a little fresh. He got rank with him and then he was trying to get him to relax and get back, but he just emptied out.”

After a stewards’ inquiry, Groovin’ Solo, ridden by Victor Espinoza, was disqualified from third to last for getting in the way of Liaison and Rousing Sermon was moved up to third. He paid $3.40 to show.

“I thought the inside horse (Isn’t He Clever) moved out,” Espinoza said. “I tried to help as much as I can. When another guy asks for help I move out as much as I can.”

Isn’t He Clever and Corey Nakatani finished fifth after drifting out in midstretch.

Bejarano said he had room between horses when making his move, then saw Groovin’ Solo lugging in, so he yelled to let Espinoza he was there.

“He tried to correct his horse, but at the same time when he corrected his horse, he was just coming in too much,” Bejarano said. “The horse on the inside (Isn’t He Clever) didn’t even give me a chance to check his horse because he was coming out too. He just kept going and was coming out little by little, but he didn’t even try to check his horse. That’s why it felt so tight and I clipped heels.”

Liaison’s three-race winning streak ended. He was coming off a win in the CashCall Futurity at HollywoodPark in December, a race in which SkyKingdom (another son of Empire Maker) finished fourth and Empire Way fifth.

In the $200,000 Strub Stakes, 7-1 shot Ultimate Eagle romped to a 7 1/4-length victory in his first start on dirt, with jockey Martin Pedroza stroking his horse’s mane as they crossed the finish line. The 4-year-old colt ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.08 and paid $17, $8.40 and $6.40.

“Without a doubt this is the best horse (he’s ever ridden),” Pedroza said. “He’s like a freak. Believe me, this horse is just learning how to run.”

Baffert’s duo of Jaycito and Prayer for Relief _ both owned by Ahmed Zayat _ finished 2-3, with 4-5 favorite Tapizar fourth. Jaycito returned $10 and $8.20, while Prayer for Relief paid $4.20 to show.

In the $150,000 Arcadia Stakes, Mr. Commons came from off the pace to beat Willyconker by a length under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

Smith angled Mr. Commons down toward the rail in midstretch, found a hole between horses and took the lead under Smith’s urging to beat older horses for the first time. The 4-year-old colt ran one mile on the turf in 1:33.41 and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 2-5 favorite for trainer John Shirreffs.

“He loves to be in the pocket, so I took the chance,” Smith said. “I have so much confidence he’ll go wherever I point him, and he did. He went through another tight hole again and did it with a lot of courage.”

Ireland-bred Willyconker returned $4.80 and $3.40, while Massone was another half-length back in third and paid $6.40 to show. There was a stewards’ inquiry into the stretch run, but there were no changes to the order of finish.

Racing resumes at Santa Anita on Sunday with an eight-race card that gets underway 11 a.m.  There is a two-day Pick Six carryover of $353,248 and it’s expected the total pool could reach $1.5 million.

Benoit Photo
Ultimate Eagle and Martin Pedroza run away from the rest in the Strub.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Pin Oak Stable’s Alternation finally earned the Oaklawn stakes victory that eluded him last year when he authoritatively captured Saturday’s $100,000 Essex Handicap. Among the leading contenders on the Arkansas Derby trail in 2011 with two impressive allowance wins, it wasn’t until he won the Peter Pan Stakes (G2) at Belmont in May that he began to show his true potential.

Starting his 2012 campaign as the 6-to-5 favorite based largely on his 3-year-old form, Alternation broke a tad slow, but jockey Louis Quinonez never panicked and settled the well-bred colt into fourth position as It Happened Again and Racing Bran raced head-and-head through a fast half-mile in 46 1/5. The winner began his advance entering the final turn and once in the stretch, began to shake clear for a 3 ½ length victory over the Fifth Season Stakes-winner Color Me Blue. Twice The Appeal maintained his early position to finish third. Ballyjamesduff, It Happened Again, A Student and Racing Bran completed the order of finish. Final time for the1 1/16-mile race was 1:44 4/5 over a fast track.

“This was the kind of performance that makes you start dreaming a bit,” said winning trainer Donnie Von Hemel. “It’s a great start to the year for him, and I’d think we’d love to participate in the Oaklawn Handicap with him.”

Alternation, a home-bred son of Distorted Humor out of Pin Oak stakes winner Alternate, won for the fourth time in eight career starts and has now earned $386,500. He returned $4.20, $3.20 and $2.40.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a special 1:00 p.m. first post to accommodate the Super Bowl.

Quotes:

Winning trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel, Alternation – “This was the kind of performance that makes you start dreaming a bit. It’s a great start to the year for him, and I’d think we’d love to participate in the Oaklawn Handicap with him. The next race here is the Razorback, and there’s also a race in Houston around that time at a mile-and-an-eighth, so we will see how that works out. I think a mile-and-an-eighth is going to be right on it for him (distance-wise). I think he could run a mile-and-a-quarter. They don’t do it that often, but he’s the kind of horse that would probably do very well running at a mile-and-a-half. Of course his dam was a long-distance horse on the turf, so who knows, maybe that opens up some possibilities for him down the line.”

“He always graded well as a yearling and a 2-year-old in training and you could just see the first time he started as a 2-year-old going short that he had all the talent that would come out as he got more ground. And he’s done that. We’ve had a few hiccups along the way. They’ve been well documented. At the time they were frustrating, but things have a way of working out for the best. Say he doesn’t do his Rebel deal and he ends up in Louisville. That’s a lot of pressure on a horse and at the time, you can tell this was a horse that didn’t need that kind of pressure.”

Winning Jockey Louis Quinonez, Alternation – “This is my favorite horse. I was dreaming of winning the Arkansas Derby with him last year, but it was to be. It’s great to have him back. He’s been training super and (trainer) Donnie (Von Hemel) has done such a great job with him. I just let him run away from the gate and he started picking up horses on his own. I could feel the other horse (Color Me Blue) coming, but he just took off again.”

Trainer Brian Williamson, runner-up Color Me Blue –“He ran great. I thought we had him there for a second, but then he kicked on out. We had a perfect trip, but he did too unfortunately. But there’s no shame in running second in this race.”

Jockey Israel Ocampo, runner-up Color Me Blue – “They were pretty quick early on and I could kind of just sit back and wait for the horses. He ran his own race, but we were chasing the speed. It was a perfect trip, we just got outrun. You’ll hear from us later.”

Jockey Christian Santiago Reyes, third-place finisher Twice the Appeal – “They went very fast early. I wish I had been able to sit back a little more.”

Coady Photography/Oaklawn
Alternation

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Eddie Kenneally and jockey Julien Leparoux used the same word to describe Battle Hardened’s winning effort Saturday in the 32nd running of the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes: professional.

Despite entering the race as a maiden, the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Giant’s Causeway-Jen’s Fashion looked the part of, well, a battle-hardened veteran, surging to the lead near the eighth pole and withstanding a belated run from Pasco Stakes winner Prospective by a length-and-a-quarter.

Gulfstream Park Derby winner Reveron finished a nose back of Prospective in third, with 69-1 shot Ravelo’s Boy another nose back in fourth in the 11-horse field. Battle Hardened’s time for the mile-and-a-sixteenth was 1:44.58.

The winner – who had two seconds in three previous starts, both in two-turn races – was the third betting choice among a crowd of 5,344 in the wide-open race, paying $11.

“He was very professional today,” said Leparoux, who was riding Battle Hardened for the first time. “He broke good and put me in the right spot right away. In a big field, I knew we’d be in traffic. When he settled near the inside, he relaxed the way I wanted him to.

“I was inside, inside and then on the second turn, I was able to get out and this horse has a long stride and he kept going,” said Leparoux. “Eddie told me to warm him up good and it went well. I knew he was a maiden, of course, but Eddie told me his last race at Gulfstream was kind of like a win because he had a bad post and some bad luck. He ran big today.”

Kenneally, who trains Battle Hardened for owners Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, had cross-entered the colt in a maiden race at Gulfstream and did not decide until Friday to take a shot at the Sam F. Davis.

“This was a really good bunch of quality horses, but no stars, and that was one reason we decided to take a shot today,” said Kenneally, who won the 2010 Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes with Santiva when he was a maiden. “He’s been training brilliantly and we were happy with how he was coming into the race, so we decided to come here and get some of the big money.

“He showed a little more professionalism today. He relaxed nicely in the thick of things. He was in a group of horses in tight and he had plenty of reasons to back out of there if he wanted to, but he showed a little bit of gameness and a little bit of toughness like you want to see going forward to the bigger races down the road.

We’ll definitely take a real good look at the Tampa Bay Derby (March 10) and it’s very likely,” Kenneally added. “We knew when his races started to go longer he was going to be a better horse. Two-turn races are what he wants to do and he is very good at it.”

Battle Hardened was bred by Lakeside Farm LLC and purchased by the owners as a July yearling for $170,000. His winner’s share of the purse was $120,000.

Mark Casse, who trained Florida Oaks winner Dixie Strike on Saturday and was second with Exclusive Love in the Endeavour Stakes, had mixed feelings about Prospective’s effort.

“You know, he ran really funny,” Casse said. “I thought turning for home he was through, but (jockey) Luis (Contreras) said as soon as (Battle Hardened) came outside him, he took off again. So if we can get him to try harder, he’ll be really good. We might make a few little changes and hopefully come back and try him again (in the Tampa Bay Derby).”

The Sam F. Davis was the centerpiece of Tampa Bay Downs’ Festival Preview Day Presented by Lambholm South. In the other graded stakes, the Grade III, $150,000 Endeavour Stakes for  fillies and mares at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf, Martin S. Schwartz’s 5-year-old mare Zagora justified her 9-10 odds, rolling to a two-and-a-quarter length victory from Exclusive Love under winning rider Javier Castellano. Keertana rallied for third in the eight-horse field.

Zagora, a French-bred daughter of Green Tune-Zaneton who is trained by Chad Brown, had last raced Sept. 18 at Woodbine in a Grade II stakes. That followed her victory last July in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga, and she was back to that level Saturday, winning in a speedy 1:40.92 for the distance.

“It’s the first time I’ve been up on her since last year but it was like getting back with an old friend,” Castellano said. “We really had a perfect trip. I got her to the inside and she relaxed. When we were getting near the stretch, I asked her and she put in a strong run and that was that.”

Assistant trainer Jose Hernandez, who accompanied Zagora on the van trip from Palm Meadows on Saturday morning, was ecstatic about her performance.

“She was doing so well and training really good at Palm Meadows (Training Center),” Hernandez said. “Chad didn’t tell me anything, only ‘Good luck’ about a half-hour before the race. It is something amazing to be around a mare like this. Javier had a great hold on her and got great position, the fractions were good and she showed her class.”

All-sources handle was approximately $8.2 million, the second-highest total for a Festival Preview Day card.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a first-race post time of 12:25 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits poker action in the Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at the Downs Golf Practice Facility.

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Jay Em Ess Stable’s Bold Front, unhurried early, commenced a rally outside the leaders entering the lane, launched a strong second surge in the late stages and was up to be best by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s $46,000 main event for maiden sophomores.

Trained by Paul McGee and ridden by Robby Albarado, the winner returned mutuels of $9.60, $4.40 and $3.40, toured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.67 in the race transferred to the sloppy main track and increased his career earnings to $39,213 with his first win in four lifetime starts.

Last Mango Racing Stable and Chris Ewing’s Fleurdefortyfour made the pace with splits of 24.53 and 48.44, could not withstand the winner in the late stages but gamely held the place, paying $6.60 and $3.80 while finishing a neck to the good of Robert Evans’ Attendant, who returned $7 to show.

Racing resumes Sunday at Fair Grounds with a nine-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Alpha took a big step along the road to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, drawing clear to an emphatic 3 ¼-length victory as the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers for 3-year-olds.

Leaving from the outside in the field of six, the Bernardini colt was floated wide on the first turn but then settled in about two lengths behind pacesetter How Do I Win as he led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.71 and a half in 48.04. Moving up three-wide on the far turn, Alpha took command at the top of the stretch when asked and was never threatened as he cruised under the wire for his second straight stakes win of 2012.

His winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.23.

“You always want to save ground, and after I went wide through the first turn my main goal was to try and get him to relax,” said winning jockey Ramon Dominguez, who teamed with Alpha to win the Big A’s Count Fleet on Jan. 7. “I was a little more familiar with the horse [today] and I kind of knew what to expect, but I thought he moved forward from his last race. Although that race was good to begin with, I was very happy with his race today. I thought he improved. He finished up nice, and the last eighth he was really doing it on his own and galloped out good. Just the way you want to see.”

The Withers victory was worth $120,000 and boosted Alpha’s all-important career graded stakes earnings to $180,000, including $60,000 from his runner-up finish to Union Rags in the Grade 1 Champagne last fall at BelmontPark. The win also opened up a number of options for the Godolphin Stable color-bearer, including Aqueduct’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham on March 3 and the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World New York City Casino Wood Memorial on April 7.

“The plans will be to talk to Simon Crisford from Godolphin to see which way to go,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He’s here in New York right now, but he could relocate, or he could run back in the Gotham in a month. We’ll just have to talk about it. At least we got $120,000 in graded earnings [today] going forward to the first Saturday in May. That’s important.”

Alpha returned $2.70 for a $2 win bet as he extended his record to 3-1-0 from five starts. In his only off-the-board performance, he was 11th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after acting up in the gate, something which McLaughlin’s team has been working on for weeks.

“He was great in the gate,” said McLaughlin. “We’ve been schooling him a lot. It worked out today. Obviously it’s nice to be outside, but at some point he’s going to have to be inside, so we’ll see how our schooling is working.

“I think he improved some [from the Count Fleet] because of how wide he was both trips, and he was better in the gate,” he added. “He gets a better grade for this race – if it was a ‘B’ last time, he gets an ‘A’ this time.”

Speightscity, the longest shot on the board at 44-1, got up for second, 1¾ lengths ahead of Tiger Walk. Completing the order of finish were How Do I Win, King Kid, and Hakama. Swag Daddy was scratched.

NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Alpha and jockey Ramon Dominguez win the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack.