Todd Pletcher trained 2-5 heavy favorite Verrazano let the world know why he is one of the early Kentucky Derby contenders Saturday with a decisive three length score in the $350,000 Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.
The $150,000 Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes was run at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, March 3. 2-1 second choice Rydilluc was mighty impressive in running away from the 11 horse field by 3 1/2 lengths.
Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida hosted an 11 horse field in the $150,000 Grade 3 Swale Stakes on Saturday. Clearly Now at 7-1 odds came out on top over 50-1 long shot Singanothersong.
In one of three Grade 1 races on Santa Anita's impressive Saturday card, 2011 Eclipse Award winner as juvenile filly Beholder was much the best in the field of seven for the $250,000 Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes.
Perhaps the best race of the weekend took place in the $300,000 Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita Park. Argentinean bred 3-2 favorite Suggestive Boy continued his stellar form with a nose win over 5-1 Silentio who finished a very close second.
The main event at Santa Anita on Saturday was the $750,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap for older horses willing to go 1 1/4 miles. 2011 winner of the Big Cap Game On Dude was dominant in leading gate-to-wire and recording an astounding 7 3/4 length win.
In the Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct, 6-5 favorite Summer Applause looked more like the filly we saw last year when she bested the eight horse field by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday, avenging a last place finish in her only other start so far in 2013.
The $200,000 Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap came our way from Aqueduct Racetrack Saturday. Favored at 2-1, Peter Miller trained Comma to the Top won and bettered a third place finish from just a week ago.
In the biggest race of the weekend - the Grade 3 $400,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack - it was Vyjack that made it four straight wins with an impressive 2 1/4 length win.
Santa Anita Park hosted the Grade 2 $200,000 San Carlos Stakes for older horses on Saturday. Sahara Sky posted his second straight Grade 2 win by three quarters of a length at 6-1 odds.
