Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky was the scene of the $300,000 Grade 1 Madison Stakes this past Saturday. 17-1 shot Last Full Measure rallied from off the pace for her first stakes victory.
At the Grade 1, 1/16 mile Jenny Wiley Stakes on Keeneland turf April 13, it was Center Court that emerged victorious at 8-5 odds over 2012 champion in this race Daisy Divine who was sent off at 7-2 odds.
At Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky Saturday, in the $750,000 Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, a full field of 14 were after 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.
In the $1 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park it was Todd Pletcher trained Overanalyze that ran away with the 100 points in easy fashion by 4 1/4 lengths at 7-2 odds.
Opening day Friday at Keeneland was highlighted by the $100,000 Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes. 5-2 favorite, Todd Pletcher trained Jack Milton earned his first graded stakes score and his second victory in his last three starts by a neck over 9-2 second choice Up With the Birds.
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California was a buy place on Saturday. The $150,000 Grade 2 Potrero Grande Stakes was just one of the graded stakes races on the packed card.
The $150,000 Grade 2 Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares kicked off a very busy day at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday.
The $250,000 Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes was contested during a very busy day at Aqueduct on Saturday. Juddmonte Farms' 6-5 favorite Close Hatches recorded her first graded stakes win by 3 1/4 lengths and in turn earned 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks next month.
Keeneland hosted the $500,000 Grade 1 Ashland Stakes for three year old fillies Saturday. It was Emollient who finished a staggering 30 lengths behind Dreaming of Julia in last week's Gulfstream Park Oaks that recorded the victory by a relatively easy nine lengths over the field of 12 others - at 6-1 odds.
Santa Anita Park hosted two Grade 1 races on Saturday - one being the $300,000 Santa Anita Oaks - a qualifying race for next month's Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
