ICYMI: Expensive Stakes Highlight a Loaded Weekend Menu

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Pardon Me

Thanks to a heroic last-minute closeout by 13-1 challenger Senor Buscador, the 6-year-old’s connections walked away from Saturday’s $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) a whole lot richer.

Making his first start outside of the U.S. and third with rider Junior Alvarado, Senor Buscador looked lost in the crowd before making a decisive move in the homestretch to squeeze by Ushba Tesoro (JPN) for the score.

By far the most prestigious achievement on the colt’s resume, the Saudi Cup counts for $10 million of Senor Buscador’s $11.4 million in total earnings.

Linda’s Gift for Three!

Add another one to the tally for 4-year-old Linda’s Gift, who secured a third consecutive win with a dominant showing in Saturday’s $101,500 Santa Ana Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita.

Closing at 8-5, the talented mare did exactly what she was supposed to do, leaving seven other competitors in the dust to collect a 3 ¾-length victory. The Santa Ana marks Linda’s Gift’s second career graded title, and third of the stakes variety.

Now 5-2-2 through 13 starts, the Richard Mandella trainee has landed in the money in nearly 70 percent of her starts (69.2%).

Saturday’s big win paid $4.60.

Still Got it

Timberlake brought his winning ways back to Oaklawn Park in this past Saturday’s $1.25 million Rebel Stakes (G2).

After a tough fourth in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Timberlake and rider Cristian Torres were back in sync in their first contest since then, taking the Rebel by a clean 2-lengths.

The second graded score of the 3-year-old’s young career also netted him 50 big qualifying points for this summer’s running of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Closing at 4-5, Timberlake returned a modest $3.60 for the win.

Fifth Time’s the Charm

A high-powered performance from Octane (5-1) in Saturday’s $600,000 Razorback (G3) at Oaklawn Park earned the 4-year-old his first ever graded score.

The gelding made the most of his fifth attempt at the graded level, holding off 2-1 favorite Magic Tap in the late goings to steer clear by three-quarters of a length. Saturday’s effort was a marked improvement over Octane’s three previous graded runs, which resulted in two sixths and a fifth.

The improvement came at an opportune time for Octane and co., who benefitted from the Razorback’s large purse to break $1 million career earnings.

Career win number eight for the Florida-bred paid $13.

Sunday Breeze

Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes at Aqueduct was about as stress-free as it could have been for Pandagate (7-5), who cruised to a 5 ½-length victory in his stakes debut.

Under the command of jockey Dylan Davis, the 3-year-old ridgling remained patient through the three-quarter turn before making a move outside never to look back. The professional display was all the more impressive considering the Gander was just Pandagate’s third career start.

The New York-bred certainly appears to be trending in the right direction as he embarks on his first full professional campaign.

Pandagate’s Gander conquest paid $4.80.