In depth reading for all races here
El Camino Derby
FRANK CONVERSATION followed up his victory in last month’s California Derby with another stakes win at Golden Gate, only this one was far more significant, as he handled 1 1/8 miles and picked up all-important points toward a potential Kentucky Derby berth. Highly Recommended Article, breaks down entire field DRF
Favored Frank Conversation claimed the lead in upper stretch and held off a bid from long shot Tusk to win the Grade 3, $200,000 El Camino Real Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calif. ...“It was a perfect trip,” Jockey Mario Gutierrez said. “It was a lot of horses, so I wouldn’t say we were worried, but we definitely wanted to get the perfect position right away coming out of the gate. It worked really good for us. The horses went to the lead and I was able to just lay down behind the speed like the last time. There were more horses today [than in the California Derby], but it was kind of the same trip. He’ll definitely stretch out because the competition was a little bit harder today, but he definitely kicked on and he never hesitated to keep pushing until the wire.” USA Today
The Quality Road colt became the first horse to complete the El Camino Real Derby-California Derby double since Chocolate Candy in 2009, and Frank Conversation earned his way onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby for trainer Doug O'Neill by picking up the lion’s share of points awarded on a 10-4-2-1 spread to the top four finishers. - America's Best Racing
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Arcadia Stakes
Bolo is back!
Bolo returned to racing following a layoff of more than seven months to win his first graded stakes with a thrilling rally in Saturday's $200,000 Arcadia Stakes at Santa Anita. ESPN
"The horse had a terrific trip," winning trainer Carla Gaines said. "All I told Flavien was to let him break and find his place in the race. I felt he'd be sitting right behind the leaders and he would still have a kick home. That's exactly what happened. Did I think he was going to get there? I'm not sure. I was screaming very loud." Ireland-bred Obviously, one of America's best turf milers dating to 2012, appeared to have things his own way on the lead. "He settled great and he ran really well," said Mike Smith, who was aboard the 8-year-old for the first time. "They went in (one) thirty three to beat us. That's pretty impressive." Charlotte Observer
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Endeavour Stakes
With regular rider Julien Leparoux aboard, Tepin ran in second place early in the 17th running of the Endeavour, tracking the pedestrian pace of Lovely Loyree, who led the field of six older fillies and mares through a quarter-mile in 24.19 seconds and a half-mile in 50.17. The field bunched up heading into the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, but at the furlong pole, jockey Julien Leparoux gave Tepin ($2.60) her cue, and she easily drew off to finish in 1:42.91 on a firm turf course. DRF
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Sam F Davis Stakes
Changes in his equipment, his jockey, and the venue brought out the best in Destin on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, where the gray colt rallied from just off the pace to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Rafting. The race was the key local prep for the biggest race of the meet, the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 12, a race that offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its top four finishers. DRF
Settled into fourth early on by John Velazquez, the Fair Grounds invader Destin tracked locally-based pacesetter Morning Fire through fractions of :23.92, :48.16, and 1:12.95. The heavy favorite Gettysburg, Pletcher's other entry, was unable to make the early lead and relegated to third along the inside. Rounding the turn for home, Destin found himself locked in a three-wide push for the wire with Morning Fire and the promising colt Rafting. Paulick Report
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Barbara Fritchie Stakes
Santa Maria Stakes
Royal Delta Stakes
Maryland Racing Media Stakes
Tampa Bay Stakes Video quality poor (sorry)
The son of Hard Spun, who was making his first start of the year in the Tampa Bay, improved his overall record to eight wins in 23 starts.
Settled toward the rear of the field through the early stages of the race, Reload moved into contention on the far turn. Reload continued to rally strongly while racing out in the center of the turf course, and eventually wore down longtime leader Take the Stand to win by a neck. Darley
Suncoast Stakes
Weep No More raced off the pace toward the inside in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies and was in eighth place after eventual runner-up Valueable Charmer took the field through a quarter-mile in 23.37 seconds and a half-mile in 47.61. Under jockey Victor Lebron, Weep No More ($29.60) advanced on the inside around the final turn, tipped outside for running room in upper stretch, and surged clear by 2 3/4 lengths, finishing the one mile and 40 yards on a fast track in 1:41.69. DRF
Pheonix Gold Cup
Jamaican Memories ran the best race of his career to win the biggest race of his life, the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, the track’s marquee event. But it wasn’t easy. DRF
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