Return to ThoroughbredReport.com
Handicap Division – Road to the BC Classic - Dirt Routes for older males
The handicap division continues to feature refugees from last years Triple Crown trail. Following in the hoofprints of HIGH LIMIT, ROCKPORT HARBOR, HARLINGTON and BUZZARDS BAY, BANDINI won his first graded stakes since last year's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) - the mile and one eighth Skip Away Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
PREACHINATTHEBAR won two graded stakes this month, the mile and one eighth Tokyo City Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita and the one mile Texas Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star.
BUZZARDS BAY won his second graded stakes of the year, the mile and one eighth Oaklawn Handicap (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
In other action around the country, WEST VIRGINIA won the 9 furlong Excelsior BC Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct, KID GRINDSTONE won the mile and a sixteenth Fifth Season Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, and THREE HOUR NAP won the 9 furlong National Jockey Club Handicap (G3) at Hawthorne.
WANDERIN BOY won the 9 furlong Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland. It was his second second 111+ BSF of the month.
Handicap Division – Road to the BC Distaff - Dirt Routes for older females
SPUN SUGAR won the mile and a sixteenth Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park by battling STAR PARADE (ARG) early and HAPPY TICKET late to prevail gamely at the wire.
FLEET INDIAN won her second graded stakes race of the year by dropping a tasty 112 BSF on the field to win the mile and one eighth Sixty Sails Handicap (G3) at Hawthorne.
Handicap Division – Road to the BC Sprint – Dirt Sprints for older males
BISHOP COURT HILL sprinted clear, made all of the pace, and held on for neck victory over SIR GREELEY in the seven furlong Carter Handicap (G1) over a sloppy Aqueduct Racetrack.
Odds-on favorite SURF CAT won his second graded stakes of the year by besting a five horse field in the six and one half furlong Potrero Grande BC Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita.
SUN KING, in 11th place, 10 lengths behind the leader after a half mile, closed well over the speed favoring Keeneland track to win going away in the seven furlong Commonwealth BC Stakes (G2).
BORDONARO battled FRIENDLY ISLAND gate to wire to win the six furlong Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park and earned a 115 BSF. It was the fourth consecutive six furlong stakes victory for BORDONARO.
Handicap Division – Road to the BC Sprint – Dirt Sprints for older females
DUBAI ESCAPADE was hustled to a clear lead and was never seriously challenged in winning the seven furlong Vinery Madison Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
MAGNOLIA JACKSON raced close to the pace early, battled between horses down the stretch and was very game to win by a neck in the seven furlong Bed O'Roses BC Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct.
Handicap Division – Road to the BC Mile/Turf – Turf Routes for older males
MIESQUE'S APPROVAL rated early, swung wide entering the stretch and was very game to get up by a nose over Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) hero ARTIE SCHILLER in the one mile Maker's Mark Mile Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
For the second year in a row, T. H. APPROVAL won the mile and three-quarter San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita.
SILENT NAME (JPN) tracked the leaders early, made a good move to take the lead midway on the final turn and stayed strong to the wire to beat a good field in the one mile Arcadia Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita.
CHARMO (FR) was content to wait at the back of the pack, swung wide entering the stretch to pass the leaders and outgamed ARAGORN (IRE) nearing the wire to win by one in the one mile San Francisco BC Mile Handicap (G2) at Golden Gate Fields.
In Grade 3 action, WILLOW O WISP won the mile and a sixteenth Inglewood Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park, SILVER WHISTLE won the mile and one half Pan American Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park, FORT PRADO won the nine furlong John B. Connally BC Turf Handicap (G3) at Sam Houston, FOREVERNESS won the mile and a sixteenth Fort Marcy Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct, PELLEGRINO (BRZ) won the mile and one half Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (G3) at Keeneland and GIGAWATT won the one mile Miami Mile BC Handicap (G3) at Calder Race Course.
Handicap Division – Road to the BC Mile/F&M Turf – Turf Routes for older females
WEND won her second graded stakes of the year by settling mid-pack, swinging four wide entering the stretch before catching the leaders mid-stretch to win the mile and a sixteenth Jenny Wiley Stakes (G2) at Keeneland by a length and a half.
SHARP LISA broke best, set all the pace, and was game to the wire to hold off ETERNAL MELODY (NZ) by a nose in the mile and a quarter Santa Barbara Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita.
HONEY RYDER easily won the mile and a half Orchid Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
NOBLE STELLA (GER) won the mile and a half Bewitch Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in gate-to-wire fashion as did POMMES FRITES in winning the mile and a sixteenth Beaugay Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct.
HEAVENLY RANSON won the one mile Wilshire Handicap (G3) at Hollywood Park.
Handicap Division – Road to Nowhere – Turf Sprints
Doesn't it seem to be that there are quite a few more Turf Sprints than in past years? I'm pretty sure NYRA is running more than ever. Given that, if the Breeders' Cup had an extra $6 million to spend, why not use a million for a Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint?
ATTICUS KRISTY scored a neck victory in the five and one half furlong Shakertown Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
CAMBIOCORSA won the six and one half furlong Las Cienegas Handicap (G3) and PURE AS GOLD won the 6 and one half San Simeon Handicap (G3), both at Santa Anita.
Three-year-olds – Road to the Kentucky Derby
Three-year-olds fillies – Road to the Kentucky Oaks
Florida Oaks winner BUSHFIRE [Photos] scored big with a gate-to-wire victory over a top field of three-year-old fillies in the mile and a sixteenth Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.
DIPLOMAT LADY battled for the lead early, setting strong fractions, before drawing away to victory in the seven furlong Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
READY TO PLEASE received a gift-wrapped win when front running longshot MISS NORMAN decided to bolt to the outside twice in the stretch of the mile and a sixteenth Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
MIRACULOUS MISS rallied from the back of the field to get up for the win the in one mile Comely Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct.
Longshot BETTARUN FAST was a game winner of the six and one half furlong Santa Paula Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.
FOXYSOX (GB) stalked, pounced, and gamely prevailed in the one mile Providencia Stakes (G3) over the Santa Anita turf course.
---
Seven trainers won multiple graded stakes races in April: Todd Pletcher (7), Bob Baffert (5), Bill Mott (3), Doug O'Neill (3), Vladimir Cerin (2), Nick Zito (2), Roger Attfield (2).
Thirteen jockeys won multiple graded stakes races in April: Edgar Prado (5), Garrett Gomez (4), Jon Kenton Court (4), Cornelio Velasquez (4), Alex Solis (3), John Velazquez (2), Patrick Valenzuela (2), Kent Desormeaux (2), Corey Nakatani (2), Norberto Arroyo, Jr. (2), Shawn Bridgmohan (2), Jose Santos (2), Javier Castellano (2).
--- Thoroughbred Report Graded Stakes Awards - April 2006 ---
HORSE OF THE MONTH: PREACHINATTHEBAR
TRAINER OF THE MONTH: Todd Pletcher
JOCKEY OF THE MONTH: Edgar Prado