January 22, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Regal Return
After a head-scratching tenth in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown returned to his regal ways with a dominant display in this past Saturday’s $175,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3).
The 4-year-old colt reigned supreme by 5 ¾ lengths over an outclassed field of five to secure his second career graded victory and fourth overall in seven tries. Saudi Crown won last year’s edition of the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing in Bensalem.
The win that put the Brad Cox disciple within $20,000 of $1 million in career earnings paid $4.20.
Check and Check
Sophomore runner Track Phantom made the most of his graded stakes debut on Saturday afternoon at Fair Grounds, scoring the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) in convincing fashion.
The Joel Rosario mount held even-money favorite Nash at bay throughout the contest, leading gate-to-wire for the highest paying victory of his young career. The Lecomte win made it three in a row for Track Phantom, who ended 2023 with a bang by taking the $100,000 Gun Runner also at Fair Grounds.
It’s been a strong first five starts for the 3-year-old colt, as he’s been able to hit the podium each time out (3-1-1).
The latest and most impressive of his three triumphs paid $4.80.
No Surprises
Rider Luis Saez authored his best Lamar Jackson impression on Saturday at Fair Grounds, leading his mount West Omaha to a decisive victory as the clear favorite.
Closing at 4-5, the duo took a patient approach into the ¾ turn before stepping on the gas and clearing second place finisher Perfect Shot by five lengths to take home top prize in the $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes.
Though not immediately, the 3-year-old filly made light work of the competition for her first ever stakes win. West Omaha is now a cool 2-2-0 through her first four career starts.
The big win paid $3.80
Set Me Free
Desert Dawn is now a multiple graded stakes winner thanks to a strong-willed effort in the $100,000 La Canada (G3) at Santa Anita on Saturday.
The 4-year-old mare with 19 races under her belt hadn’t found herself atop the leaderboard since last April’s Santa Anita Oaks (G2), which so happened to be her first graded stakes triumph.
This kind of breakthrough had been a long time coming for Desert Dawn, who racked up five seconds in the 11 contests that came between wins.
The freeing score improved the Arizona native’s overall line to 3-5-5. It paid $5.80.
Underdog, Who?
Forever Souper delivered a career-best performance on Sunday afternoon at Gulfstream Park to capture the $75,000 Sunshine Turf Stakes.
Leaving the gate at 9-2, the 5-year-old gelding owned the fourth-highest odds in the field of six. Clearly, the underdog title didn’t matter to the Paco Lopez guide, who struck late to slide past fellow Souper, Souper Blessing, for stakes score number one.
6-5 closing line favorite Me and Mr. C, a horse with 37 career starts to his name, ended up in last after taking a poor route from the jump.
The exhilarating Sunshine show from Forever Souper paid $11.60.
