February 23, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Mission Accomplished
Super Chow kickstarted his fourth professional campaign with a come-from-behind victory in Saturday afternoon’s $140,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint.
Forming a line of leading options with 8-5 favorite Comedy Town (post six) and 2-1 second choice Concrete Glory (post five), Super Chow showed impressive resolve to track down the latter and steal the 6-furlong dash at 3-1 from post four.
While the three-time graded stakes victor is no stranger to outperforming top competition, a sixth last out in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector (Dec. 28) desperately needed avenging.
For succeeding in his mission, Super Chow paid $8.40.
Running Free
When there’s nothing to lose, you can just go for it.
That’s exactly what 17-1 dart throw Bernietakescharge did in Saturday’s $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational Stakes at Aqueduct.
Ticketed as the second-to-last choice in the 1-mile dirt affair, the uninhibited New York native led gate-to-wire for the stunning 6 ¼-length score.
The marvelous effort on home soil netted Bernietakescharge her first stakes triumph in what was her sixth attempt at the level (0-2-1 previously).
It was also a memorable showing for the astute horseplayers who sided with the Domenick Schettino charge, who paid a sweet $37.
That’s a 10!
Onyx Ten earned a ‘perfect 10’ for a hard-fought one-length decision in the $100,000 Wide Country Stakes on Saturday afternoon.
Competing at the familiar confines of Laurel Park (site of last six starts), the 3-year-old filly endured somewhat of a fractious start, but rebounded nicely to track down 7-2 leader Safe Trust for her second straight stakes score (Xtra Heat on Jan. 25).
Onyx Ten seems to have found her rhythm following six-race winless drought that began in August following her maiden victory.
The recent stakes surge has also accounted for $120,000 of the $191,065 in purse earnings attached to the Gary Capuano charge’s name.
At 3-1 in the Wide Country, Onyx Ten paid $8.20.
Once, Twice, Three Times a Winner
Make it three straight trips to the winner’s circle for Queen Maxima, who completed the hat-trick Saturday with a smooth 3 ½-length tally in the $100,500 Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita.
After claiming two allowance tilts at the Arcadia, California oval by a total of four lengths, Queen Maxima nearly matched that win margin to lock down her first stakes score.
The outstanding effort elevated the 4-year-old filly to 4-2-0 through seven lifetime starts and pushed her earnings total above $210,000.
Few, if any, were surprised to see the clear 1-5 favorite pace the field of six, but those who did were rewarded with a modest $2.60 payout on a $2 win bet.
Need I Say More?
It’s Coal Battle’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
The 3-year-old colt collected his fourth straight stakes win, and first of the graded variety, with a gritty 1 ¼-length triumph in Sunday evening’s $1.25 million Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Slotted in post one, Coal Battle and rider Juan Vargas employed some shifty maneuvers to burn the field of 12 and claim 50 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points.
Adding another layer to the already sweet story, Coal Battle, despite the recent stretch of dominance, closed as the sixth choice on the board (11-1).
But the Lonnie Briley trainee got the last laugh, paying $25.80.