April 8, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Home Away from Home
A handful of baseball games weren’t the only contests postponed this past weekend. Originally set for the last Sunday of March, the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T) was rescheduled to Thursday due to inclement weather.
The delay appeared to have no effect on Johannes (6-5), who pressed all the right buttons en route to his first career graded stakes score. The 4-year-old colt made the most of his return to Santa Anita after a trip to Churchill Downs for the American Turf (G2T), stalking the pack closely before pulling away late for a 1 3/4-length victory.
With the American now imprinted on his resume, all four of Johannes’ lifetime wins have come at Santa Anita (4-0-1 through eight starts overall).
The Kentucky-bred’s latest California cruise paid $4.60.
The Name Game
Bill Mott trained Resilience (9-2) played the name game in a come from behind Wood Memorial (G2) win at Aqueduct on Saturday afternoon.
Under the guide of rider John Velazquez, the 3-year-old colt took a patient approach to navigate a crowded field of 11 other competitors. Lodged in third past the three-quarter mark, Resilience was able to find a seam and break away from the pack to capture the $750,000 contest by 2 ¼ lengths.
It was a strong follow up effort for the Kentucky-bred, who finished fourth in his stakes debut back in February (Grade 2 Remsen).
The breakthrough performance paid an even $11.
Starr of the Show
Sometimes, you just have to hold on, and that’s exactly what Alva Starr (the slight 2-1 choice) did to secure the $600,000 Madison (G1) at Keeneland.
Holding a two-length lead after the stretch call, the 4-year-old filly appeared poised for a runaway victory, but 2-1 challenger Vahva wasn’t prepared to go down without a fight.
While the Cherie DaVaux trainee wasn’t able to pull off the improbable comeback, she did make things interesting by shrinking Alva Starr’s win margin to just a half-length.
The spirited battle will surely be one to remember for Alva Starr’s connections, as it was their first title at the Grade 1 level. The Brett Brinkman protégé is now a clean 5-3-0 through eight starts.
Saturday’s scintillating score paid $6.32.
Ah, there it is
Where’s My Ring should be called Where’s My Trophy after a dominant showing in Saturday’s $200,000 Gazelle (G3) at Aqueduct.
The 3-year-old filly made quick work of eight rivals in a 4 ¼-length rout for her first win at the graded tier. Coming in, Where’s My Ring was winless in three tries at the graded level.
Fresh off the landmark triumph, the Val Brinkerhoff trainee has now landed in the money in 62.5 per cent of her starts (8: 1-3-1).
With the win, Where’s My Ring also earned herself a spot in next month’s Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Saturday’s superstar effort returned $7.10.
Believe the Hype
Sierra Leone (3-2) certainly isn’t shying away from the hype. The budding superstar played up the narrative on Saturday with a 1 ½-length victory in the $1 million Blue Grass (G1).
Competing at Keeneland for the first time, Sierra Leone snatched the prestigious affair right from 3-1 Just a Touch’s hands. The latter seemed to have the inside track on his first career graded victory before the former turned on the jets and pulled away in the late stages.
Sierra Leone is now a near perfect 3-1-0 in four lifetime starts, having won consecutive graded contests. In February, the Tyler Gaffalione mount captured the $400,000 Risen Star by a half-length over Track Phantom.
All things considered, a return of $5.32 for a horse of Sierra Leone’s pedigree is a pretty sweet deal.