Tough it out Doesn't Beat Much in victory

Del Mar, CA

Tough It Out broke his maiden by defeating eight rivals in a weak Cal-bred maiden special weight event Thursday.

The two-year-old gelding showed patience when waiting for room down the lane to unleash his winning move before the wire. Problem is his winning move wasn't all that fast.

The final time for the 1m turf race was a slow 1:36 including very slow splits of :47 and 1:24.

It was a great ride by the red-hot Santiago Gonzalez and the first time gelding was ready on the stretch out after two sprint races.

He returned $12.40 to win and a clear second was the favorite Gio Mio. Everyone else was no match for the top pair.

No one in this event, including Tough It Out, has a strong turf or route pedigree.

This is a race to take note of moving forward. Rating all of these runners below average for this type of level. Including the winner, if he is moved up too much in class when facing winners for the first time.

American Pharoah leaves no doubt in Classic

Lexington, KY

The Triple Crown champion American Pharoah made his final act a winning one in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday.

The champ took control right out of the gate and simply ran them off their feet. Cruising to a smashing 6 1/2 length victory in the Breeders' Cup richest race.

The superstar ran the 1 1/4 mile race in a track-record time of 2:00.07.

American Pharoah paid $3.40 to win and left no doubt as to was best.

Second place finisher Effinex ran a solid race to stay in contact with the favorite for most of the race and third place finisher Honor Code was not threatening. 

The 3-year-old colt is the first horse to win the Triple Crown and the Classic in the same year.

American Pharoah will now start his new career as breeding stallion at a farm in Kentucky.   

Songbird dominates Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Lexington, KY

Songbird made short work of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies field on Saturday.

The California based filly broke on top and never looked back en route to a convincing 5 3/4 length victory. 

Songbird ran the opening 6f in 1:11 on cruise control and finished the 1 1/16 mile race in a strong final time of 1:42.73.

Songbird, the betting favorite, returned $3.20 to win. Defeating Rachel's Valentina easily in second and Dothraki Queen another 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

The win gave trainer Jerry Hollendorfer his second Breeders' Cup lifetime victory.

Songbird has now won all four of her starts by a combined 22 lengths.

Baruta clearly the best in Sen. Ken Maddy

Baruta breezed by her rivals in the Grade III Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes on closing day at Santa Anita.

The Brazilian bred sat third under jockey Rafael Bejarano down the hillside turf course behind fast splits of :21 and :43. Taking the lead when the field crossed over to the main turf stretch from weakening leader Amaranth.

Baruta won the Grade III event by a final margin of 1 3/4 lengths, but was not threatened down the lane.

Second place finisher Velvet Mesquite at odds of 7-1 put in a solid runner-up placing. Sitting second throughout the race and staying on down the lane to complete the exacta. 

Theatre Star came flying down the stretch to finish third, but was to late for anything more. While favored Chati's On Top was off a bit slow and never involved.

Baruta returned $11.60 for the win and ran the 6.5 furlong turf race in a good final time of 1:12.96.

This was Baruta's first career stakes victory, but also her last race of her career. She will be sent to Kentucky to be bred. Ending her career with $313,558 in earnings.

Dortmund dominate in return

Arcadia, CA

Dortmund returned to Santa Anita in dominate fashion taking the Big Bear Stakes on Saturday.

In his first race back since finishing fourth in the Preakness Stakes, the 3-year-old colt made short work of the five horse field.

Dortmund sat right off the leader Soi Phet, setting slow fractions of :23 and :47, and took command without even being asked by regular rider Martin Garcia around the far turn.

Garcia said "he's back" and it showed. His final margin of victory was 1 3/4 lengths, but it was done in a geared down workout mode.

The heavy favorite returned $2.60 to win and ran the 1 mile in a final time of 1:36.42.

Second place finisher Point Piper gave a valiant effort to make it close on paper and Motown Men finished a well back third.

Dortumd has now earned more than $1.6 million and is expected to race next in the Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November.