Horse Racing News and Results March 21, 2015

Horse Racing News and Results March 21, 2015

Inside Information Stakes – Grade II – 7 Furlongs – Four-Year-Olds and Up Fillies and Mares – Gulfstream Park

Classic Point (Flatter – Discerning, by Langfuhr) emerged victorious in the Inside Information Stakes over a field of six. A six-year-old chestnut mare, Classic Point seems to finally be hitting her stride, grabbing her third consecutive victory and first Grade II victory after winning last November’s Grade III Go For Wand Handicap. Jockey Paco Lopez held his winning mount behind the leaders for most of the race before allowing her to engage with Sweet Whiskey through the final turn. After putting that foe away, Classic Point then had to hold off a late-surging You Bought Her and succeeded in doing so to win by a neck for trainer James Jerkens. Behind Classic Point and runner-up You Bought Her, Sweet Whiskey, Centrique, Best Behavior, and the favorite Merry Meadow finished out the field.

Royal Delta Stakes – Grade II – 1-1/16 Miles – Four-Year-Olds and Up Fillies and Mares – Gulfstream Park

In a romp of a performance, Sheer Drama (Burning Roma – Riveting Drama, by Notebook) claimed her first graded stakes victory. The five-year-old Florida-bred mare had two starts in stakes company in the year prior to this race, and in each she finished second. Sheer Drama gained the upper hand over rival House Rules, the filly who had bested her last time out in the Rampart Stakes (GIII), and romped to a 6-1/2-length victory after leading for most of the race. Molly Morgan made a late rush to finish third, and Oasis At Midnight, Tiz Windy, Swinger’s Party, and Flores Island completed the order of finish.

Bourbonette Oaks – Grade III – 1 Mile – Three-Year-Old Fillies – Turfway Park

Don’t Leave Me (Lemon Drop Kid – See How She Runs, by Maria’s Mon) has officially earned a spot in the starting gate of the Kentucky Oaks after besting her cohorts in the Bourbonette Oaks. At two, the gray filly had only two victories in a maiden race and an allowance event before attempting stakes competition in Woodbine’s Natalma Stakes (GII) over turf in which she finished in sixth. Now a three-year-old, she may be ready to put it all together. In the Bourbonette, she ran easily before making a wide run and rallying in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over Sweet Success with favorite Sharla Rae finishing third. Harlan’s Destiny, Flat Deposit, Urtheoneeyelove, Walking the Kitten, College Holly, Sweet On Smokey, Back Flip, Right On Kitten, and Uncontrolled completed the finish of the Bourbonette.

Spiral Stakes – Grade III – 1-1/8 Miles – Three-Year-Olds – Turfway Park

Dubai Sky (Candy Ride – House of Danzig, by Chester House), a full brother to Twirling Candy, overcame his break from the twelfth post position to take the Spiral Stakes at Turfway. In doing so, he extended his own win streak to four while also becoming the sixth winner in a row to be prepared for the Spiral at Gulfstream Park as pointed out by fellow LATT team member Reinier Macatangay. The bay colt stalked four-wide throughout the race before taking over in the stretch and drawing off to a decisive 2-1/4-length victory over runner-up Conquest Typhoon. In doing so, Dubai Sky racked up a solid 50 points towards a hopeful start in the Kentucky Derby. Royal Son and Metaboss, the two widely discussed favorites for the Spiral, finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

San Luis Rey Stakes – Grade II – 1-1/2 Miles Turf – Four-Year-Olds and Up – Santa Anita Park

Under expert jockey Gary Stevens, Ashleyluvssugar (Game Plan – Ashley’s Folly, by Urgent Request) pulled off an upset in the San Luis Rey Stakes. The victory was the gelding’s first stakes win after running almost exclusively in allowance optional claiming races. Racing comfortably in fifth several lengths off the leaders, Ashleyluvssugar steadily advanced and made a bold move around the last turn to briefly duel with favored Finnegans Wake before pulling away to win by 2-1/2 lengths with Power Foot hanging on for third.

Sunland Derby – Grade III – 1-1/8 Miles – Three-Year-Olds – Sunland Park

Firing Line (Line of David – Sister Girl Blues, by Hold for Gold) finally procured his first victory in stakes competition and only second lifetime victory in the Sunland Derby. With no Dortmund to deny him for a third time after losing to that colt by a head in both the Los Alamitos Futurity (GI) and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (GIII), the bay colt simply outclassed his cohorts. The heavily favored Firing Line briefly stalked the leader before taking over and running off to a 14-1/4-length dominating win in the solid time of 1:47.39. Where’s the Moon was able to grab the place with Pain and Misery in third.