April 13, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
What Else is New?
Thorpedo Anna made things interesting in Saturday afternoon’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) when she looked unhurried leaving the gate.
That, however, was the extent of the intrigue, as the reigning Horse of the Year smoothly separated from five challengers for the commanding 4 ¼-length score.
With the decisive tally, Thorpedo Anna extended her unbeaten streak to four. In doing so, the 4-year-old filly pushed her lifetime line to 10-2-0 and earnings total north of $4.8 million across 12 starts.
As the heavy 1-5 favorite, Thorpedo Anna paid $2.40.
Successful Move
Making her first career start on North American soil, Choisya (GB) looked right at home in a confident trip around the Keeneland turf for a half-length triumph of the $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1T).
In the second Grade 1 event on the Lexington, Kentucky oval’s Saturday card, Choisya put on a jolly good show from post two.
Working alongside rider Luis Saez, the 5-year-old mare exercised great patience, hovering around the front-end of the eight-horse pack, and later sliding ahead of 3-1 favorite Excellent Truth (IRE) for the landmark victory.
Closing at 6-1, Choisya paid a cool $15.66.
Bear with Me
Chasing his fourth straight, and record extending seventh Count Fleet (G3) title, trainer Steve Asmussen sent out clear 2-5 favorite Booth to get the job done.
The 4-year-old colt held up his end of the bargain, but crossing the finish line first in the $500,000 affair at Oaklawn Park proved more challenging than the odds implied.
Operating out of post three, Booth held the lead, albeit by slim margins, throughout the six-furlong sprint. The speedster ultimately had enough in the tank to complete the mission, edging out 22-1 dart throw Ryvit by just shy of a length.
Booth’s sixth win from 10 career starts, and second straight graded triumph (Grade 3 Whitmore), paid a modest $2.80.
Wizard of Gos
Gosger continued his marvelous start to 2025 with a dashing display in Saturday’s $400,000 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland.
Sent off at 4-1 behind 8-5 choice Praetor and 2-1 Bullar, Gosger instead found himself entrenched in a battle with aptly named 25-1 longshot Bracket Buster.
Trailing the determined dark horse for most of the 1 1/16-mile contest, Gosger waited until the final stages before pouncing ahead for the clean 2-length tally.
Now off to a perfect 2-for-2 start to the season, Gosger’s first graded stakes conquest paid a solid $10.60.
Best for Last
Keeneland’s scintillating stakes weekend saved its most memorable moment for Sunday afternoon.
Led by a spirited battle between clubhouse leaders Future is Now (2-1) and Pandora’s Gift (IRE) (also 2-1), the $350,000 Giant’s Causeway (G3T) was must-see TV.
A 5 ½-furlong sprint, the action-packed tilt saw its two favorites race neck-and-neck until the very end. Their intense battle ultimately resulted in a photo finish that went the way of Future Is Now by a narrow nose.
The triumphant five-year-old mare secured her third career graded title (Grade 2 Intercontinental and Franklin), and eighth win from 15 starts (8-1-1).
Future Is Now paid $6.96.
