Japan
Oka Sho thriller
Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) claimed a thrilling G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) at Hanshin, arriving just in time to edge out Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}).
Jockey Yuga Kawada delivered a late surge on the Mizuki Takayanagi-trained filly, who had only a nose to spare in a very tight finish over Water Navillera, who was ridden by Yutaka Take.
Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) finished third in a blanket finish.
It was a first stakes win for the Shadai Farm-homebred Stars On Earth, who had been placed in a pair of Group 3 races earlier this year.
United States
Zandon makes moves in Blue Grass
After placings in his first two Road to the Kentucky Derby race runs, Zandon (USA) (Upstart {USA}) made a big splash with a 2.5l victory in the G1 Toyota Blue Grass S. to earn 100 points and go into the Kentucky Derby second on the leaderboard.
Race favourite Smile Happy (USA) (Runhappy {USA}) finished second in the 1800-metre race with Emmanuel (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}) rounding out the top three. Zandon is the first Grade 1 winner for Upstart (USA), who also has Kathleen O (USA) as a top contender in the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
“I’m working on (catching my breath), working on it. What a great race. What a fantastic performance,” said owner Jeff Drown.
Zandon is out of a half-sister to stakes winners Cariba (USA) (Cairo Prince {USA}) and that one’s full sister Cairo Memories (USA) with stakes winners under each of his first five dams. Cairo Memories was another winner for the family on the day with a victory in the G3 Providencia S. presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance only minutes before Zandon’s victory.
Taiba makes late move to win Santa Anita Derby
Zedan Racing Stables has a Kentucky Derby contender on its hands for the second-straight year after Taiba (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) raced to a 2.25l win in the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby for 100 Road to the Kentucky Derby points.
Transferred to trainer Tim Yakteen earlier this month when Bob Baffert started his suspension, it was only the second run for Taiba, who broke his maiden by 7.5l last month. Yakteen is also the trainer of runner-up Messier (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}), who finished 10l ahead of Happy Jack (USA) (Oxbow {USA}).
“You could have poured me out of a shot glass earlier, but these two horses represented me unbelievably in this race and I’m just absolutely thrilled, floored with the effort that Taiba put forth,” the trainer said. “That was a sensational race, he’s just a super horse.
A US$1.7 million (AU$2.2 million) 2-year-old purchase last year, Taiba is the first foal out of the nine-time stakes winner Needmore Flattery (USA) (Flatter {USA}). That mare is one of three stakes winners and four stakes performers out of Kiosk (USA) (Left Banker {USA}).
Just One Time on time in Madison
Going off as the favourite in a deep field of female sprinters, Just One Time (USA) (Not This Time {USA}) closed from near last to earn her first career Grade 1 in the G1 Madison S. by 0.75l at Keeneland.
It was the third-straight stakes victory and fourth consecutive victory overall for the Not This Time (USA) daughter, who has only suffered one loss in her seven race career. She finished 0.75l ahead of Bells the One (USA) (Majesticperfection {USA}) with last year’s Madison winner Kimari (USA) (Munnings {USA}) 3l back in third.
"I wasn’t happy with her when I first got her – how she was doing, how she looked – but she’s starting to really polish off and gave us the confidence to ship to Gulfstream (where she won her first Graded stakes)," trainer Brad Cox said. “Then we had this race on the calendar ever since.”
Just One Time is the second Grade 1 winner for Not This Time and the second stakes winner for her dam alongside More Than Ready’s (USA) Black Stetson (USA). Not This Time is the sire of 18 stakes winners from his first two crops and has Epicenter (USA) and Simplification (USA) pointing toward the G1 Kentucky Derby next month.
Speaker’s Corner newest Grade 1 winner for Street Sense
Former shuttle stallion Street Sense (USA) registered his 12th Grade 1 winner on Saturday when Speaker’s Corner (USA) won the G1 Carter H. at Aqueduct by 4.5l for Godolphin.
It was the sixth win in nine starts – and third-straight Graded stakes win – for the Godolphin homebred, whose first two Graded wins came at Gulfstream. Reinvestment Risk (USA) (Upstart {USA}) was a clear second with Mind Control (USA) (Stay Thirsty {USA}) 2.5l behind him in third.
Speaker’s Corner is the second Grade 1 winner for the Street Sense x Bernardini (USA) daughter cross that also produced two-time Grade 1 winner and new Darley America stallion Maxfield (USA) and Grade 3 winner Shared Sense (USA) as well.
Speaker’s Corner is a grandson of G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Round Pond (USA) (Awesome Again {Can}), who is the dam of Grade 1 winner Long River (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}) and Grade 3-placed Lake Lucerne (USA) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Mo Donegal secures Derby berth in Wood Memorial
It was a fight to the finish but in the end, Mo Donegal (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) reeled in Early Voting (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) by 0.25l to win the G2 Wood Memorial S. Presented by Resorts World Casino and earn a spot in the G1 Kentucky Derby.
Early Voting made the winner work every step of the way down the stretch with 2l on the winner with 200 metres to run before giving in just before the line. The pair finished 1.5l ahead of Skippylongstocking (USA) (Exaggerator {USA}).
"You need a good trip in the Derby and with his running style, he's going to have to work his way through some traffic,” trainer Todd Pletcher said about his chances in the May 7 Kentucky Derby. “But I think he's got some good experience and he showed today he can overcome a bit of a trip and zigzag when he needs to. Most importantly, it looks like he has the stamina to see out the trip.”
Mo Donegal was the second stakes winner in just 15 minutes for former Coolmore shuttle stallion Uncle Mo (USA), who also sired G2 Shakertown S. winner Golden Pal (USA) with Adare Manor (USA) finishing just 0.25l behind the winner in the G2 Santa Anita Oaks between the two races.
Golden Pal takes first step toward Australia
Golden Pal (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) took his first step toward a campaign connections have hinted will culminate in Australia when the two-time Breeders’ Cup winner won the G2 Shakertown S. at Keeneland by an easy 4.75l.
Going off as the heavy favourite, he didn’t show any rust when taking the lead early and never letting others glimpse it with Johnny Unleashed (USA) (Colonel John {USA}) second by 0.75l to Gear Jockey (USA) (Twirling Candy {USA}). Next up for the colt is a return trip to Royal Ascot to contest the G1 King’s Stand, two years after he finished a close second in the G2 Norfolk S. as a juvenile.
“This is the fastest of the fast,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “He’s just blessed with speed and agility. He moves like a cat; he’s so quick. For a big, sturdy horse like he is – he’s just a once-in-a-lifetime horse.”
Golden Pal is out of the 11-time stakes-winning Lady Shipman (USA) (Midshipman {USA}), who is also a full sister to the multiple stakes-placed Just Talkin (USA). Golden Pal is the only runner for his dam with each of his first four dams producing at least one stakes winner.
