Outwork shows grit in Wood Memorial victory

Ozone Park, NY

Trainer Todd Pletcher proves he has yet another Kentucky Derby contender with Outlook taking the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. 

Outlook, 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, earned his first graded stakes victory in heroic fashion, winning by a head over a stubborn longshot Trojan Nation.

The 3-year-old had the perfect trip under jockey John Velazquez, sitting behind pacesetter Matt King Coal through quick opening fractions of :22 and :46 for the distance, before striking the front in a gutsy victory down the stretch.

Outlook finished the 1 1/8 mile race in a final time of 1:52, in what was his longest race of his young career.

Trojan Nation and Adventist showed great turn of foot to finish second and third, after both being far out of it in the early going.

Favored Shagaf was flat and finished fifth.

Outlook returned $6.80 for the win and gives trainer Pletcher another top player for the Kentucky Derby. 

Nyquist shows his class in Florida Derby win

Hallandale Beach, FL

Nyquist quickly put the East vs. West battle to rest after a dazzling victory in the Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. 

The juvenile champion went straight to the front under jockey Mario Gutierrez and simply never looked back, showing his class when turning back east coast top contender Mohaymen around the turn.

Nyquist finished the 1 1/8 mile race in a final time of 1:49, including quick fractions of :23 and 1:11.

Favored Mohaymen tried to tackle the champ around the turn, but was quickly put away and tired to a distant fourth. 

Majesto showed a strong closing kick down the stretch to finish second and length ahead of third place finisher Fellowship.

Nyquist returned $4.40 to win and trainer Doug O'Neill said it's all systems go to Kentucky. 

California Chrome dominates Dubai World Cup

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

The world's richest horse race made North America's all-time richest Thoroughbred.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, dominated the $10 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday.

Breaking from outside post 11, the five-year-old was stuck nearly five-wide throughout the race, but was perfectly placed by jockey Victor Espinoza, as the champion likes to be close and in the clear.

The 2014 Kentucky Derby winner sat in third before powering home to nearly a four-length victory over Mubtaahij and Hoppertunity.

The 6-5 favorite did not disappoint, as ran the 1 1/4 mile race in a record time of 2:01.

With the $6 million winner's share of the purse, California Chrome officially became North America's richest horse, taking the title from 2008 champion Curlin 

The California-bred joined Silver Charm and Animal Kingdom as the only other Kentucky Derby champs to take the Dubai World Cup.

California Chrome is now on a three race winning streak and has won 12 out of 21 career starts for trainer Art Sherman.

Majority owner Perry Martin said they expect to be the world's richest thoroughbred by the end of the year.

Zenyatta's son Ziconic making second start

Arcadia, CA

Ziconic, the three-year-old son of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, is scheduled to make his second career start Friday, March 25 at Santa Anita Park. 

He is entered to run in Race 4, a 1 1/16 mile maiden race, at The Great Race Place with regular workout rider Mike Smith.    

The first start for Ziconic, 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.

Ziconic's trainer John Shirreffs, who also trained champion Zenyatta, was very pleased with the effort.

The odds are not posted yet for Friday's race, but all eyes and wagers will be on the young colt.

Post time for the race is approximately 2:30 p.m. PT.  

Bob Baffert gets another victory in the Rebel

Hot Springs, AR

Cupid took the Rebel Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion at Oaklawn Park Saturday afternoon to give trainer Bob Baffert his record sixth victory in the event.

The three-year-old forged his way to the lead through opening fractions of :22, :46, 1:12, and showed a lot of stamina holding on to a 1 1/4 length victory over a closing Whitmore.

Baffert has now won the Rebel six out of the last seven years, starting with Lookin at Lucky back in 2010.

Cupid was making his stakes debut and really showed some guts according to his trainer when fighting back in the lane.

The son of Tapit returned $7.80 to win and ran the 1 1/16 mile distance in an average time of 1:43.

Whitmore, finished in second place, was making up ground, but Cupid wasn't going to let him pass.

Creator closed well too and finished another 1 3/4 lengths back in third.

Favored Suddenbreakingnews finished in fifth, but really did not have an enjoyable trip breaking from post 14. Look for him to be more valuably in his next start.

Cupid earned $540K for his victory in the Grade II Rebel and now has two career wins in four starts.