Danzig Candy runs away in the San Felipe

Arcadia, CA

Danzig Candy went to the front in the San Felipe Stakes and never looked back Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita Park.

The three-year-old colt went straight to the lead, setting strong opening fractions of :22, :46, 1:11, and just continued going.

Danzig Candy was able to shake loose under jockey Mike Smith and stole the Grade II event by a clear two-lengths. His connections knew the young colt had speed and it was on display. As Candy ran the 1 1/16 mile race in a quick 1:43 final time. 

Favored Mor Spirit tried to cut into the lead, but couldn't make a big dent and finished in second place.

Exaggerator, another well bet Derby prospect, finished 3/4 lengths further back in third. Jockey Kent Desormeaux appeared to make a move too early around the turn and therefore flattened out down the stretch.

Danzig Candy returned $13 to win and is expected to run next in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

Destin sets track record in Tampa Bay derby

Oldsmar, FL

Destin kicked clear late en route to a record setting performance in the Tampa Bay Derby Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby rolls on and trainer Todd Pletcher has two more contenders after his horses finish first and second in the Derby prep race.

Destin, a son of Giant's Causeway, sat in third behind his stablemate Outwork through easy fractions of :24 and :47, before putting away that foe in deep stretch and winning the graded stakes event by a length.

Destin ran the final 1 1/16 mile race in a record time of 1:42, beating a 2010 mark set by Bolt Start in a stakes race. Those easy early fractions is what makes the record setting performance even more impressive.

Second place finisher Outlook, making just his third start of his career, ran too good to lose in the Tampa Bay Derby. Pletcher said he was super impressed with the way he dug in down the stretch against his stablemate.

A distance back in third was Star Hill to round out the trifecta and favored Brody's Cause did not fire, finishing in seventh place.

Destin returned $9.20 to win as the second betting choice in the field. 

The Pletcher trained duo are expected to run one more time before the Kentucky Derby, possibly in the Wood Memorial, the Blue Grass, or the Arkansas Derby.

Shagaf rallies to victory in Gotham Stakes

Ozone Park, NY

Shagaf remains unbeaten after prevailing in the Gotham Stakes Saturday evening at Aqueduct racetrack.

The three-year-old colt overcame a visually speed bias inner track to take the Grade III Stakes by a measured 1 1/4 length victory.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat a reserved fourth throughout the early portion of the race, in a move that trainer Chad Brown said he wanted in order to educate his horse, before swinging out down the stretch and taking over the lead from pacesetter Laoban.

Shagaf went off as the race favorite and returned $4.50 to win. He ran the 1 1/16 mile race in a not so quick final time of 1:45, but completed a solid victory while even learning a few on-track lessons.

Second place finisher Laoban was visually impressive in his runner-up finish. Setting fractions of :23 and 1:11 while still showing great stamina down the stretch. The three-year-old should like running a route of ground with Uncle Mo in the family tree. Although still a maiden his connections believe in him and is someone to take note of moving forward.

Adventist rounded out the trifecta finishing another 3/4 length back in third.

Gotham Stakes winner Shagaf is expected to stay in New York and race next in the Wood Memorial set for April. 

Mohaymen runs away in Fountain of Youth

Hallandale Beach, FL

Mohaymen dominated the Fountain of Youth Stakes Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park.

The three-year-old son of Tapit proved why he was the heavy favorite in the small field by cruising past  all five runners and pulling clear to a convincing 2 1/4 length victory.

The $400K Fountain of Youth Stakes is on the Kentucky Derby trail and Mohaymen made short work of the field. He sat off quick opening fractions of :23, for the 1 1/16 mile distance under jockey Junior Alvarado, before taking the lead down the stretch and was in the clear.

Second choice Zulu finished in second and was four lengths clear of Fellowship in third. The rest of the field was not part of the final picture.

Mohaymen returned $2.80 to win and ran the race in a standard time of 1:42.

The powerful grey colt remains undefeated and while it is early in the prep races he now leads the Kentucky Derby field in points to run in the Derby. 

Zenyatta's son Ziconic thrills in first start

Arcadia, CA

The first start for Ziconic, the three-year-old son of 2010 horse of the year Zenyatta, wasn't a victory on paper, but it certainly was one to everyone involved.

Ziconic broke slow and was more than 15 lengths behind the leaders in the early part of the race. He kicked it into gear, like his mother would, and hit his best stride down the stretch. 

The three-year-old didn't win like his mom, but finished the race in third. He only lost by 1 3/4 lengths in a very promising debut.

Jockey Gary Stevens said he was never cheered for so loudly after finishing third in a race.

The 7 furlong event was clocked in a quick final time of 1:23 and was taken by longshot Fast Munny. However, the star of the race was the third place finisher. 

Ziconic's trainer John Shirreffs, who trained champion Zenyatta, is a man of few words, but had a big smile on his face after the race that said it all.

No announcement has been made for Ziconic's next race, but it should include a trip to the Winner's Circle.