Zenyatta, racing in a race she's already won against horses she's beat over and over again, has matched Personal Ensign's record of 13 wins (by winning the 1 1/16 miles Grade 1 Ladies Secret Stakes, with Lethal Heat and Cocoa Beach coming up for place and show). Wake me when she does something frakkin' interesting. A one-length win after a two-month layoff over horses she's never lost to? Color me naive, but I expected more. Mike Smith says she's never really run, but I'm not sure I believe that. But if it's true, I'm hoping that someone new--maybe Careless Jewel, maybe one of the Arc fillies Stacelita or Dar Re Mi--will come and really test her in the Ladies Classic. (I don't believe Z's connections have any intention of running her in the Classic against males. Would love to be surprised on this, though. Zenyatta in a real race? Now that could get me on her bandwagon again.) The VIDEO is here. Prepare to be unmoved.

The 1 1/8 mile Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes saw Mine that Bird trying to prove his Derby win wasn't a fluke and he deserves to be in the Classic, and the crowd made him second favorite.. The "Win and You're In" race on Saturday at Oak Tree saw a large field of very good horses like Colonel John, Parading, Informed, Richard's Kid, and Tiago. British invader Gitano Hernando beat Colonel John and Richard's Kid. Mine That Bird was sixth. Can we please put the question to rest now? He loved the sloppy track at the Derby and got one hell of a trip. Nice horse, but don't expect to see him do much more than he's done. I can't find a video link for this race; if I find one later, I'll edit this.


Stakes (Dirt):

Grade 2 Jerome Handicap [3] at Belmont Park, Sunday, 1 mile - saw the return of Kensei but he was only second favorite to Girolamo, who missed the break but managed to make that up and track Kensei as they stalked the leader. In the stretch, Girolamo looked fresh as he bested an either very tired or not quite right Kensei, who faded to third. Burley's Gold got up for second.

Oklahoma Derby [3] at Remington Park, Sunday, 1 1/8 miles - Fiddler's Afleet held off a late charge by Massone to win. Big effort by frontrunning Red Lead, who surged back some to stay in for third by a length.



Fillies and Mares Stakes:

Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes [F3U] at Keeneland, Sunday, 1 1/8 miles - no heavy favorite in this 11-horse field in this "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. Proviso and Mushka were running it out in the stretch when Proviso bore out sharply into Mushka's lane, causing her to check and veer out to avoid clipping heels. Proviso went on to finish first by about a length but was disqualified and placed second (and it was a clear interference, Mushka looked to be catching her if she hadn't checked) and Muska was declared winner. That's why there are stewards and inquiries, to make good calls like that. Teamgeist finished third.

Remington Park Oaks [F3] at Remington Park, Sunday, 1 1/16 miles - daughters of two of the hottest sires were favorites here, Payton d'Oro (Medalia d'Oro) and Hightap (Tapit). Payton d'Oro took command when the pace proved too slow to let frontrunning Morsel meander along, and Hightap trailed in fifth (out of six). Hightap tried to make a move on the far turn but didn't have it in her today. Meanwhile Payton d'Oro tried to run away with it but could not shake Multipass and Peach Brew, who finished in a photo in that order, right off Payton d'Oro's hindquarters. Lovely finish from three strong fillies.



Turf:

Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes [3U] at Oak Tree, Sunday, 1 1/4 miles - all eyes were on Presious Passion, to see a repeat of his front running performance. He did take the lead but only by three lengths, then five at the Clubhouse turn, and he looked extremely fresh on the far turn, with ears pricked as the field took off after him. But they couldn't catch him, he kept his lead of two and a half lengths and was never threatened. I love this horse, can't wait to see him in the Breeders' Cup Turf. So much fun to watch him just go for the lead and dare them all to catch him. Medici Code and Spring House took place and show. Watch him go in the VIDEO

Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap [3] at Belmont Park, Saturday, 1 1/8 miles - Take The Points was rank through much of the early going and his move on favorite Courageous Cat much earlier than is his norm, taking the lead then having to fight off Straight Story all down the stretch, which he did for a win by a head. Courageous Cat held on for third. Very nice win. Watch the VIDEO.

Grade 1 First Lady Stakes [F3U] at Keeneland, Saturday, 1 mile - a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, favorite Forever Together didn't close or make her run too late, but only could get up for third, behind Diamondrella and Tizaqueena.

Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile [3U] at Keeneland, Saturday, 1 mile - a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Exciting finish in this, with Court Vision coming from behind to take on front running Karelian, and win by a head bob. Mr. Sidney was third. Battle of Hastings a disappointing fourth.

Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes [F3U] at Oak Tree, Saturday, 1 1/4 miles - a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Stellar field in this race, and that led to a hell of a finish. Magical Fantasy held off a challenging Visit and fast closing Black Mamba to win by a neck. Visit got her nose in front of Black Mamba for second.

Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile [3U] at Oak Tree, Saturday, 1 mile - A "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Cowboy Cal and Monterrey Jazz led this in fast fractions, and Cowboy Cal was still fighting down the stretch, holding off Global Hunter and Whatsthescript for the win.

Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby [3] at Hawthorne, Saturday, 1 1/8 miles - the filly Romacaca had this in her sights but bore out badly in the stretch and clearly was a tired fifth. Proceed Bee took it home for the win, well ahead of Sir Al who won the photo for place by a head over Quite a Handful.

Grade 3 Violet Stakes [F3U] at the Meadowlands, Saturday, 1 1/16 miles - Quiet Harbor came up in a rush to take it from frontrunner Always for Love, who held off favorite All is Vanity by a neck.

Remington Green Stakes [3U] at Remington Park, Sunday, 1 1/16 miles - an already interesting finish was made more so when Ernesto hit the last part of the chute rail and leapt out of it. Fortunately plenty of room for him to spaz before he got to the rail of the main track. Didn't look like he was pushed into it, just got too close, maybe didn't see it since it was ending. An inquiry delayed official results for quite a while, not sure which horses were involved, but it ended up with a packed field: Orientate Express finishing first, Steve's Double in second, and Get Rich Quick third.



Juveniles (dirt):

Grade 1 Champagne Stakes [2] at Belmont Park, Saturday, 1 mile - A "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but more importantly, one of the classic two-year-old stakes over the decades. Dublin was the heavy favorite after his last impressive win, and he trailed the field, blew the far turn, was under furious urging (translation: whipping), and finally left alone when it was clear he had shown up in body but not in spirit. The impressive winner: Homeboykris, emerging from a tightly packed group of four to win by a length. A photo for second showed Discreetly Mine half a length over Aspire. Watch the VIDEO.

Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes [F2] at Keeneland, Friday, 1 1/16 miles - Favorite She Be Wild was in close quarters the entire way as she stalked in third and then split horses to take the lead. She looked like an old-hand five-year-old, not a two-year-old. She looked like she had it but Negligee found racing room and zoomed up to catch and pass She Be Wild for a half-length win. Amen Hallelujah was some two lengths back for third in a photo. This was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, but I find myself less interested in this since personal fav Necessary Evil fractured her left front ankle and is out for season. But there are still some nice fillies, and I imagine that, despite the loss, She Be Wild will find her way to the juvenile.

Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity [2] at Keeneland, Saturday, 1 1/16 miles - huge field of fourteen for this "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Noble Promise held off a strong closing Aikenite for the win; Roman Invasion was third. Favorite Backtalk is not improving: after a fourth place in the Hopeful, he was eighth in this. Now the question for his owners is: was the Hopeful just a bounce and this race doesn't count because their colt doesn't like synthetic or is he not going to win in races over 6 furlongs? Not the questions we thought we'd be asking of this Smarty Jones colt who so impressed when the two-year-old stakes started.

Grade 1 Frizette Stakes [F2] at Belmont Park, Saturday, 1 mile - This is a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Nonna Mia led through very fast fractions and was chased by Devil May Care and favorite Awesome Maria, and both passed her. Devil May Care well in front and holding on for the win by a head, but I have to say the impressive horse was second place Awesome Maria who ate up ground in the final stretches with authority. I was going, "Wow, wow, wow." And I normally don't say that, especially for two-year-old fillies. This is one to watch and I hope she has enough earnings to get to Oaktree, too. Nonna Mia held on for third. Watch the VIDEO and see if you don't go "Wow," too.

Dover Stakes [2] at Delaware Park, Saturday, 1 1/16 miles - tightly packed field all the way around after a start that left the frontrunners going very wide around the turn. Citrus Kid found a hole and shot out of it after the far turn, winning by some five lengths over Toccet's Charm and Quick Ride.

E.L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes [F2] at Remington Park, Saturday, 6 1/2 furlongs - Shotgun Gulch and Stormin' Maggy fought it out down the stretch to end in a photo with Shotgun Gulch just getting it. Right to Rule came in third.



Juveniles (turf):

Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes [2] at Keeneland, Sunday, 1 1/16 miles - a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and expected to be all Interactif's to win or lose. He raced last through first quarters and then made him move in the turn, coming like a bullet and then stretching it out for a length win over Codoy. He's an impressive colt, that's for sure. Family Foundation was third.



Sprints (Dirt):

Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes [3U] at Oak Tree, Sunday, 6 furlongs - a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Favorite Gayego made it look easy, loafing along at the back only to rush up in the stretch to win by a length and some. Crown of Thorns and Delta Storm were second and third.

Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes [F3U] at Keeneland, Saturday, 6 furlongs - favorite Informed Decision did not look like she was going to find racing room but with an impressive turn of foot, rushed down the stretch to catch and pass Carlsbad for a length win. Beautiful, just beautiful. Porte Bonheur was third. This is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes [3U] at Keeneland, Friday, 6 furlongs - In an exciting finish, Fatal Bullet took it by a half length, with Capt. Candyman Can turning in an impressive rush to get up for second by a head over Ez Dreamer. This was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, so Fatal Bullet earned himself a trip to Oaktree.

Flashy Lady Stakes [F3U] at Remington Park, Saturday, 6 furlongs - Classify did not look like she was comfortable in the stretch but she put in a hell of a run to catch Magdalena's Chase for the win. Syriana's Song was third.

Gallant Bob Handicap [3] at Philadelphia Park, Saturday, 6 furlongs - Pashito the Che and Custom for Carlos battled down the stretch alone, with Pashito the Che winning by a head. Carbonite was third.



Sprints (Turf):

Grade 3 Woodford Stakes [3U] at Keeneland, Saturday, 5 1/2 furlongs - very fast fractions for turf, and soft turf at that, with Mr. Nightlinger setting them and trying to hold on in the stretch as the field bore down on him. He could not hold off favorite Silver Timber, who ate up ground and won by a length. Longshot Goldzar got up for third.