Saturday, Santa Anita
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GII, $200,000, SAX, 2-4, 3yo,
1 1/16m, 1:40.84, ft.
I'LL HAVE ANOTHER (c, 3, Flower Alley--Arch's Gal Edith, by Arch) posted a huge 43-1 upset while collecting his first stakes victory. The colt did absolutely nothing wrong in his first two starts. He wired a 5 1/2-furlong maiden at first asking at Hollywood last July, then ran Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway) to 1 3/4 lengths when second in the GII Best Pal S. at Del Mar Aug. 7. Shipped out for the GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga, he caught a sloppy track and finished up the track, reportedly exiting the race with a minor injury. Bettors weren't in a forgiving mood, however, and he was sent off the longest shot on the board by a long ways. Put into the race early by Mario Gutierrez, he attended honest early fractions, was still going strong on the far turn and powered away convincingly to win by four or five lengths. Empire Way (Empire Maker) was second best, with Rousing Sermon (Lucky Pulpit) a promoted third. Groovin' Solo (Bob and John) crossed the line in third, but stewards ruled he came in on favored Liaison (Indian Charlie) in mid-stretch, causing that horse to unseat rider Rafael Bejarano. Liaison appeared unharmed; Bejarano quickly rolled to the inside and escaped serious injury. Bejarano did not take off his mounts. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0.
O-J Paul Reddam; B-Harvey Clarke (Ky); T-Doug O'Neill.

Saturday, Aqueduct
WITHERS S.-GIII, $200,000, AQU, 2-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44 1/5, ft.
1--@ALPHA, 120, c, 3, by Bernardini
             1st Dam: Munnaya (SW-Eng), by Nijinsky II
             2nd Dam: Hiaam, by Alydar
             3rd Dam: Kamar, by Key to the Mint
O-Godolphin Racing LLC; B-Darley (KY); T-Kiaran P McLaughlin; J-Ramon A Dominguez; $120,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 5-3-1-0, $300,000. *1/2 to Lavender Sky (Mt. Livermore), MGSP, $195,852; Mystic Melody (Seattle Slew), SW & MGSP-Fr; 3/4 to Numaany (A.P. Indy), SP-UAE, $221,452. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Speightscity, 118, r, 3, Speightstown--My American Girl, by Quiet American. ($65,000 yrl '10 KEESEP; $49,000 RNA 2yo '11 FTMMAY). O-Team Stallion Racing Corp & McConnell Racing Stable; B-WinStar Farm LLC, Polo Green Stable, Piacentino Farms LP & Shannon Potter (KY); T-Gary C Contessa; $40,000.


3--Tiger Walk, 118, c, 3, Tale of the Cat--Majestic Trail, by Kris S. O-Sagamore Farm; B-River Bend Farm Inc (KY); T-Ignacio Correas IV; $20,000.


Margins: 3 1/4, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 0.35, 44.00, 6.50.
Also Ran: How Do I Win, King Kid, Hakama. Scratched: Swag Daddy.   
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the video replay.   
   Much has been expected of Alpha right from the get-go, and, despite a blip on the radar in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November, looks to be improving and continued that progression in the Withers, earning an important $120,000.
   It was the final Saturday of the Saratoga meet, and Alpha was sent off as part of an entry at 6-1. Under a busy Alan Garcia ride from the opening bell, the bay came calling for the lead in upper stretch and pulled readily clear to score by a half-dozen lengths. Among the vanquished was Hierro (Hard Spun), who would later become a "TDN Rising Star" with a Churchill maiden win in November.
   Connections wasted no time in testing the colt for class in the GI Champagne S. He was sent off the 2-1 second choice behind the more seasoned Union Rags (Dixie Union), and Alpha found a bit of trouble at the start, but rallied nicely to complete the exacta, albeit 5 1/4 lengths adrift of the winner. He'd done enough to merit a trip to Churchill Downs, but he effectively lost any chance in the gate, becoming very unruly, and gave way after six furlongs to finish 11th. The colt was equipped with Lasix for the first time when he was sent off the prohibitive 4-5 chalk in the Count Fleet S. Jan. 7, and he made no mistakes, overcoming a bobble at the break before cruising home to defeat Stephanoatsee (A.P. Indy) by 2 1/2 solid lengths.
   The toteboard read 1-4 at post time here, and Alpha was away without incident, as How Do I Win (Corinthian) showed the way early on from Hakama (First Samurai), who pushed the favorite out wide into the clubhouse turn. But Ramon Dominguez did not panic and allowed his mount to lope along from midfield as a sensible gallop materialized ahead of him. Given his cue on the turn, Alpha began to reel in his rivals approaching the stretch, opened up passing the eighth pole and was never in serious danger late. Speightscity, a distant fifth in the Count Fleet, improved to complete the exacta.
   "I was a little concerned, of course [being wide in the first turn]," Dominguez explained afterwards. "You always want to save ground, and after I went wide through the first turn my main goal was to try and get him to relax. I felt like to do that, I had to get him behind the horse that was directly in front of me. He switched off and relaxed to the point that I really had no idea whether I had any horse or not. I was going through the motions. Past the half-mile, when I tried to put a little pressure to start making my run, he jumped on the bridle and was pretty handy from there. I was a little more familiar with the horse [today] and I kind of knew what to expect, but I thought he moved forward from his last race. Although that race was good to begin with, I was very happy with his race today. He finished up nice, and the last eighth he was really doing it on his own and galloped out good. Just the way you want to see."

Saturday, Tampa Bay
SAM F. DAVIS-GIII, $250,000, TAM, 2-4, 3yo,
1 1/16m, 1:44.58, ft.
BATTLE HARDENED (c, 3, Giant's Causeway--Jen's Fashion, by Northern Fashion) entered this as a maiden and left as an interesting newcomer on the Triple Crown trail. The Coolmore colorbearer, second in his two-turn bow at Chuchill Nov. 26 and second again in a nine-furlong Gulfstream event on New Year's Eve, was offered a 9-2 chance by Tampa's faithful. Sitting in a tracking position under Julien Leparoux as State of Play (War Front) cut out solid fractions, Battle Hardened awaited running room in and amongst horses on the far turn, kicked in four wide in upper stretch and, after taking control at the furlong grounds, safely held a three-horse challenge by roughly 1 1/2 lengths. The rallying Prospective (Malibu Moon) got the photo for place, with Reveron (Songandaprayer) in third and longshot Ravelo's Boy (Lawyer Ron) fourth. Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-0. 
O-Michael Tabor & Mrs John Magnier; B-Lakeside Farm LLC; T-Eddie Kenneally.

Saturday, Santa Anita
ARCADIA S.-GII, $150,000, SAX, 2-4, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:33 2/5, fm.
1--MR. COMMONS, 123, c, 4, by Artie Schiller
        1st Dam: Joustabout (SW & GSP), by Apalachee
        2nd Dam: Fleetside Review, by Quadratic
        3rd Dam: Fleetside, by Fleet Nasrullah
($70,000 yrl '09 FTKJUL). O-St George Farm Racing LLC; B-St George Farm LLC (KY); T-John A Shirreffs; J-Mike E Smith; $90,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 11-5-2-1, $563,660. *1/2 to Jungle Fighter (Wild Rush), MSW & GSP, $355,971. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Willyconker (Ire), 118, g, 5, Pyrus--Arme Fatale (Ire), by Trempolino. O-Kenney & Vielle Gardner; B-Islanmore Stud (IRE); T-Doug F O'Neill; $30,000.
3--Massone, 118, h, 6, Menifee--Stoneleigh's Hope, by Damascus. ($40,000 yrl '07 FTKJUL). O-Frankfurt Stable; B-Lockhart Spears Estate & Arthur Hancock (KY); T-Tim Yakteen; $18,000.
Margins: 1, HF, 4HF. Odds: 0.40, 10.60, 45.00.
Also Ran: Calimonco, Dewey's Special, Pathfork, M One Rifle. Scratched: El Gato Malo.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs, the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree or the video replay.
   Mr. Commons was briefly on the Triple Crown trail last winter, finishing a decent third in the GI Santa Anita Derby. He was excluded from the GI Kentucky Derby on graded-stakes earnings, but made the trip East for the GI Preakness S. and didn't completely embarrass himself, checking in eighth, just under 10 lengths behind Shackleford (Forestry). Returned to California and given a couple of months to recover, Mr. Commons was an impressive winner of the July 20 Oceanside S. at Del Mar, then, instead of facing his peers in the GII Del Mar Derby, tried older rivals in the Aug. 27 GII Del Mar Mile H. and hit the front late before getting nosed out by the classy Caracortado (Cat Dreams). He made his next appearance in the GII Oak Tree Mile Oct. 8, settling for a tough 3/4-length defeat at the hands of Jeranimo (Congaree) and followed with a solid fifth in the GI BC Mile at Churchill Nov. 5. He stepped back for one final crack against his own age group in the GII Sir Beaufort S. Dec. 26 and took full advantage with a 3 1/4-length tally. Drawn widest in this field of eight, Mr. Commons was away uneventfully and took up a spot near the tail of the field as Dewey's Special (Skimming) took them along at a moderate gallop. The heavy favorite improved by one spot approaching the half-mile marker and was still traveling well as the field came into the stretch. Put to a Mike Smith drive, Mr. Commons crossed in front of Massone, causing that one's rider to steady ever so slightly, split M One Rifle (One Man Army) and second choice Pathfork (Distorted Humor) under a full head of steam and held on late for a comfortable victory. Mr. Commons is a candidate for the GI F. E. Kilroe Mile on the Santa Anita H. undercard Mar. 3.

FLORIDA OAKS, $105,000, TAM, 2-4, 3yo, f,
1 1/16mT, 1:43 1/5, fm.
1--DIXIE STRIKE, 116, f, 3, by Dixie Union
        1st Dam: Noble Strike (SW, $235,456), by Smart Strike
        2nd Dam: Green Noble, by Green Dancer
        3rd Dam: Hattab Voladora, by Dewan
(C$45,000 yrl '10 ONTSEP). O-John C Oxley; B-Arosa Farms (ON); T-Mark E Casse; J-Jose Lezcano; $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $278,064. *1/2 to Sebastian's Song (Cherokee Run), SP, $164,143; and Inglorious (Hennessy), MSW & MGSP, $1,307,032.

2--More Than Love, 122, f, 3, More Than Ready--I'm in Love, by Zafonic. ($130,000 yrl '10 KEESEP). O-Newtown Anner Stud; B-Loft Hall Stud, Galleria Bloodstock & Samac (KY); T-John P Terranova II; $20,000.
3--Regalo Mia, 116, f, 3, Sligo Bay (Ire)--Shake It Up, by Red Bullet. O-Steven W Ciccarone; B-Juvenal Diaz (FL); T-Michelle Nihei; $15,000.
Margins: NO, NK, HF. Odds: 0.80, 2.60, 7.80.
Also Ran: Northern Passion, Sisterhood, Customer Base, Spielzeit, Shezmyten.
   Dixie Strike came from out of the clouds to break her maiden at second asking on the Woodbine Poly last October, and annexed the Ontario Lassie S. by 5 1/2 lengths two starts later Dec. 3. She was part of an odds-on entry with Northern Passion (First Samurai), winner of last year's GIII Natalma S. and seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last time. More Than Love, last seen when she scored in Hollywood's GIII Miesque S. in November, took command with little resistance, while Dixie Strike took a good hold off the pace and three deep through six furlongs in 1:15.06. The entry-mates circled up in tandem at the head of the lane, while More Than Love dug in and Regalo Mia dove to the rail. Dixie Strike got up by a nose in the shadow of the wire, but there was little separating the top four finishers. "I love Tampa. I love Tampa Bay Downs, and my wife [Debby] loves it too. And I love her," said John Oxley, owner of Dixie Strike and Northern Passion. "We were worried because they were laying back pretty far and the pace was slow. I had my fingers crossed because I think she is such a gorgeous filly and so well bred. She ran up to her potential today. Our other filly, I think she had a little traffic trouble when she was moving into the far turn and I thought she might win. But we'll take the win." Trainer Mark Casse added, "They are both Canadian-breds, so they both have a big future in Canada. I think Dixie Strike could be a GI Kentucky Oaks filly. We're going to have to map out a plan to get there. They won't see each other for a while, unless it's on a van." Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
   

ALTERNATION (c, 4, Distorted Humor--Alternate, by Seattle Slew) garnered the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction for an allowance tally here last February, and he justified that honor when he annexed the GII Peter Pan S. at Belmont May 14. He hadn't won since, but fell just a head short in the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park last time Oct. 16. Taking up a stalking spot in fourth behind a half in :46.94, the even-money shot circled up and struck the front at the head of the lane. Color Me Blue (Flatter) challenged the leader and looked at one point like he might go by, but Alternation repelled that bid and went on to score by three lengths in 1:44.95. Lifetime Record: GSW, 10-5-1-1. 
O-Pin Oak Stb. B-Pin Oak Stud LLC (Ky). T-Donnie K Von Hemel.

1st-SAX, $57,050, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:09, ft.
IMMACULATE (c, 3, Distorted Humor--Folklore {Ch. Two Year Old Filly & MGISW, $945,500}, by Tiznow), a $450,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, showed speed and tired to finish a well-beaten ninth at first asking at Santa Anita Jan. 16. Chasing in second through scorching early fractions of :21.53 and :43.62, the 8-1 chance surged in deep stretch to hit the front and held off 4-5 favorite Mile High Magic (Roman Ruler) to graduate by a half length. The talented Folklore carried Bob and Beverly Lewis's green and yellow silks to a championship season in 2005, capped by a tally in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Belmont Park. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $33,950. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
O-Southern Equine Stable LLC. B-The Robert & Beverly Lewis Trust (KY). T-Eric J Guillot.

9th-GPX, $42,500, Alw, NW1$X, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:20 4/5, gd.
EMCEE (c, 4, Unbridled's Song--Surf Club, by Ocean Crest) was an unknown commodity until late last summer, but made the most of his racetrack debut Sept. 14 at Belmont Park, drawing off to post a 4 1/2-length victory despite brushing the gate at the start. That effort earned the homebred a lofty 94 Beyer Speed Figure, but he was allowed to go off the 8-5 second choice behind GI Malibu S. third Associate (Wando). Away without incident this time, Emcee was sent through to argue the pace from the fence, with his market rival committed to a three-path journey. The two were on even terms to the stretch, but Emcee kicked away and hammered his foe by a strong six lengths. The winner is a half to Baffled (Distorted Humor), GSP-Eng; and Spring Party (Smart Strike), SW, $201,577. Darley acquired Surf Club, a half-sister to GISW Awesome Humor (Distorted Humor), with this foal in utero for $950,000 at Keeneland November in 2007. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $55,500. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
O-Darley Stable. B-Darley (KY). T-Kiaran P McLaughlin.

7th-GPX, $40,500, Msw, 3yo, f, 5f (off turf), :57 1/5, wf.
   NEW MONEY (f, 3, Unbridled's Song--True Argument, by Yes It's True) finished a close third in her debut over a yielding turf course at Calder Nov. 4, then repeated that position while 8 3/4 lengths behind the winner over a sloppy track at the Miami oval last time Nov. 21. Overlooked at 7-1 in this off-the-turfer, she was sent to the lead, clicked off fractions of :22.15 and :44.66, and streaked under the wire an 11 1/4-length winner. Delightful Song (Half Ours) was second. Sales history: $17,000 yrl '10 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-2, $30,705. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
   O-John E Shaw & Jimmy L Morrow. B-JMJ Racing Stables LLC & Unbridled's Song Syndicate (KY). T-John E Shaw.

8th-FGX, $38,000, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:09 1/5, ft.
   +BOURBON COURAGE (c, 3, Lion Heart--Shine Forth, by Carson City), a $15,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase, was overlooked at 15-1 to win at first asking. Hustled early from his inside post, he vied for early command through an opening quarter in :21.85, and took off in the stretch while racing a bit greenly to graduate by 4 1/4 lengths over Drago's Best (Seeking the Best {Ire}). Revere (Awesome Again--Praise, by Mr. Prospector) was a distant third. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $22,512. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the video replay.
   O-Bourbon Lane Stable & Wayne Lynn. B-Oscar & Eloise Penn (KY). T-Kellyn Gorder.

Friday, Meydan, United Arab Emirates
AL SHINDAGHA SPRINT (SPONSORED BY GULF NEWS)-G3, $200,000, Meydan, 2-3, 3yo/up, 1200m (AWT), 1:11.22, stn.
1--HITCHENS (IRE), 126, g, 7, by Acclamation (GB)
        1st Dam: Royal Fizz (Ire), by Royal Academy
        2nd Dam: Crown Crest (GB), by Mill Reef
        3rd Dam: Crown Treasure, by Graustark
(€28,000 RNA yrl '06 GOFORB; €66,000 2yo '07 GORMAY; 190,000gns RNA HIT '07 TATHIT; 40,000gns HIT '08 TATHIT). O-Laurence O'Kane & Paul Murphy; B-Curragh Bloodstock Agency Ltd; T-David Barron; J-Silvestre de Sousa; $120,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ire, SW & G1SP-Eng, 41-8-4-5, $901,248. *1/2 to Grand Marque (Ire) (Grand Lodge), SP-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Krypton Factor (GB), 126, g, 4, Kyllachy (GB)--Cool Question (GB), by Polar Falcon. (20,000gns yrl '09 TATOCT; 100,000gns HIT '10 TATHIT). O/T-Fawzi Abdulla Nass; B-Lady Fairhaven; $40,000.
3--Alo Pura (GB), 121, m, 8, Anabaa--Rubies from Burma, by Forty Niner. (210,000gns yrl '05 TATOCT). O-Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-TW Bloodstock Ltd; T-Dhruba Selvaratnam; $20,000.
Margins: SHD, 1 3/4, 3/4.
Also Ran: Captain Obvious (Aus), Rerouted, Seachantach, Jimmy Styles (GB), Angel's Pursuit (Ire), Sir Reginald (GB), Dohasa (Ire), Mujaazef (GB), Critical Moment, Hajoum (Ire). Scratched: Addictive Dream (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the video replay.
   Hitchens annexed the May 21 G3 Greenlands S. at The Curragh and tried his hand at the highest level in all four subsequent starts last term. He ran 11th in the June 18 G1 Golden Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot and registered a career high when third in Newmarket's G1 July Cup three weeks later, but was off the board in the Sept. 3 G1 Haydock Sprint Cup and the Oct. 16 GI Nearctic S. at Woodbine. The bay opened this campaign with a runner-up finish in a course-and-distance conditions heat two weeks ago, and doubled his stakes tally with a gutsy score here. Hitchens was handily placed throughout this one-turn test. Coming under stern urging at the top of the stretch, he kept on resolutely in the latter stages to deny the rallying pacesetter Krypton Factor in a bobbing finish.

Friday, Meydan, United Arab Emirates
UAE 1000 GUINEAS (SPONSORED BY GULF NEWS)-Listed, $250,000, Meydan, 2-3, 3yo, f, 1600m (AWT), 1:38.84, stn.
1--GAMILATI (GB), 121, f, 3, by Bernardini
1st Dam: Illustrious Miss (GSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $119,427), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Our Wildirish Rose, by Irish Tower
3rd Dam: Rose Pink, by Round Table
O-Godolphin; B-Darley; T-Mahmood Al Zarooni; J-Frankie Dettori; €150,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Eng, 6-3-2-0, $238,723. *1/2 to Late Romance (Storm Cat), SP-Fr.
2--Pimpernel (Ire), 121, f, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)--Anna Pallida (GB), by Sadler's Wells. (38,000gns wnlg '10 TATDEC; 135,000gns 2yo '11 TATAPR). O-Godolphin; B-Peter Harris; T-Mahmood Al Zarooni; $50,000.
3--Alsindi (Ire), 121, f, 3, Acclamation (GB)--Needles and Pins (Ire), by Fasliyev. (70,000gns yrl '10 TATOCT). O-Saeed Manana; B-D G Hardisty Bloodstock; T-Ali Rashid Al Raihe; $25,000.
Margins: 5HF, 2 1/4, 5HF.
Also Ran: Moon Spun (SAf), Colorful Notion (Ire), Mary Fildes (Ire). Scratched: Bonne Idee (Fr).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the video replay.
   Gamilati improved upon two maiden seconds to garner a first stakes prize in the July 8 G2 Cherry Hinton S. at Newmarket, but faded out of contention when last of 11 in York's G2 Lowther S. to close her juvenile campaign Aug. 18. She was successful going seven furlongs trying Tapeta for the first time in the UAE 1000 Guineas Trial here on sophomore bow Jan. 6 and bettered that effort with an impressive performance in this Classic. Gamilati was anchored in rear from the outset. Easing into contention soon after turning for home, she swooped for control passing the eighth pole and lengthened clear of toiling rivals thereafter to easily best stablemate Pimpernel by daylight.

15.35, Meydan, $100,000, Cond., NH/SH3yo, 1400mT, 1:25.64, gd.
FACTORY TIME (IRE) (c, 3, Baltic King {GB}--Mark One {GB}, by Mark of Esteem {Ire}) finished off the board in last term's G2 Mill Reef S. and G1 Dewhurst S., and lined up for this Classic Trial off a conditions eighth here Jan. 12. Asserting for the lead after an even break, the bay sophomore kept on strongly in the straight to gamely prevail by 1 1/2 lengths from Kenny Powers (GB) (Vital Equine {Ire}). Sales history: 20,000gns yrl '10 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: SP-Eng, 11-3-1-1, $219,242. Click for the Racing Post chart or the video replay.
O-Jaber Abdullah; B-Tally-Ho Stud; T-Ali Rashid Al Raihe.