Cathryn Sophia dominates Kentucky Oaks

Louisville, KY

Cathryn Sophia cleared the field and rolled home in the 2016 Kentucky Oaks Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

The 9-2 second choice in the wagering left no question of who was the best filly in the race.

Trained by John Servis and ridden to victory by jockey Javier Castellano, the 3-year-old filly cruised up 5-wide and kicked clear down the lane, improving her record to 6-5-0-1.

Cathryn Sophia returned $11.40 and ran the 1 1/8 mile race in a good final time of 1:50.

Land Over Sea covered a lot of ground to complete the exacta and Lewis Bay hung around to complete the trifecta.

Favorite Rachel's Valentina tired to sixth after getting what looked like a solid trip.

The Kentucky Oaks, worth $1 million in overall purse, attracted a larger than expected field after an illness knocked out top-filly Songbird from contention. 

Cathryn Sophia's victory has now set up an anticipated matchup against Songbird down the road.

Creator surprises in the Arkansas Derby

Hot Springs, AR

Creator and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. swept past the field to take the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park Saturday evening.

The 3-year-old split through traffic and busted out of the pack to take the lead for good down the stretch.

Creator was well back throughout the 1 1/8 mile race, but kicked clear late, showing no problem passing tiring horses through the lane.

Pacesetter Gettysburg and Cupid helped setup the race for the closers, with quick fractions of :22, :46, and 1:10 for the distance.

Suddenbreakingnews also came from back of the pack to finish a clear second, with Whitmore rounding out the trifecta in third.

Race favorite Cupid never officially made the lead and was no factor at the end of the race finishing in 10th place.

Creator returned $25.20 to win and completed the race in a final time of 1:50.

All of the top three finishers made up substantial ground, and are expected to continue on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

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.