FARHH OUT
Having had a chip removed from his fetlock after finishing runner-up in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September, Godolphin’s Farhh (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) returned to a Frankel-free world to blitz his rivals at Newbury yesterday and earn a belated first Group 1 success in the G1 Lockinge S. Sent off the 10-3 second choice as all the money was for Ballydoyle’s Declaration of War (War Front), the bay was rank early behind the pace-setters but when let loose by Silvestre de Sousa passing the quarter pole sprinted clear for a four-length success from the 80-1 outsider Sovereign Debt (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). "He won really well, which surprised me as Saeed has had to tiptoe very quietly with him," Racing Manager Simon Crisford commented. "This is fantastic, particularly after the problems we’ve had in the past few weeks and a major boost to the stable."

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
JLT LOCKINGE S.-G1, £180,000, Newbury, 5-18, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:35.43, gd/fm.
1--FARHH (GB), 126, h, 5, by Pivotal (GB)
1st Dam: Gonbarda (Ger) (MG1SW-Ger & SW-Ity, $526,628), by Lando (Ger)
2nd Dam: Gonfalon (GB), by Slip Anchor (GB)
3rd Dam: Grimpola (Ger), by Windwurf (Ger)
O-Godolphin; B-Darley; T-Saeed bin Suroor; J-Silvestre de Sousa; £110,159. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 9-4-4-1, £590,922. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Sovereign Debt (Ire), 126, c, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)--Kelsey Rose (GB), by Most Welcome (GB). (105,000gns yrl ‘10 TATOCT). O-Lawrie Inman; B-Yeomanstown Stud; T-Michael Bell; £41,764.
3--Aljamaaheer (Ire), 126, c, 4, Dubawi (Ire)--Kelly Nicole (Ire), by Rainbow Quest. (100,000gns wnlg ‘09 TATDEC). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B- Corrin Stud & Sean O’Keeffe; T-Roger Varian; £20,901.
Margins: 4, NK, 4HF. Odds: 10-3, 80-1, 16-1.
Also Ran: Chil the Kite (GB), Declaration of War, Fencing, Penitent (GB), Amaron (GB), Reply (Ire), Trumpet Major (Ire), Libranno (GB), Cityscape (GB). Scratched: Beauty Parlour (GB).
Click for the Racing Post result, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, courtesy Racing UK.
   Farhh only got as far as the starting stalls in his first encounter with Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting in September 2010, injuring himself in the gates ahead of the seven-furlong conditions race that first signposted the future Juddmonte giant’s considerable prowess. While his nemesis struck gold on several occasions, Godolphin’s bay stayed under the radar and he boasted just two handicap successes to his tally at the time of Sir Henry Cecil’s peerless campaigner’s streak to glory in this race 12 months ago. A luckless third in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot in June was the first showcasing of Farhh’s raw talent, and that was quickly followed by a second in the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown before he met with Frankel again in the G1 Sussex S. at the start of August. Six lengths adrift there, he was a further length behind as that rival sauntered to a career-best in York’s G1 Juddmonte International later that month before going down by a head to Moonlight Cloud (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in what amounted to a match in the Prix du Moulin in September. Nurtured back from his injury after that race, he was expected to be ring-rusty here, but there were no signs of that as he turned on the pace despite having over-raced initially as Declaration of War’s rabbit Reply (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Penitent (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) fought for the lead. Dominating from the quarter pole as his chief market rivals floundered around him, he hit the line strongly to provide Saeed bin Suroor with a fifth renewal of a race that helped cement his reputation during the operation’s earlier days. "We were slightly concerned about the trip today, but he did it so well maybe we will think about the G1 Queen Anne S. rather than the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. [at Royal Ascot June 18 and 19 respectively]," Crisford said. "We’ll keep both options open and see what Sheikh Mohammed wants to do. He deserved it, having kept on finishing second to the best horse of all time last year." Sovereign Debt’s trainer Michael Bell was delighted with the effort of the surprise package of the race, who was not performing out of turn judged on what he had shown on the gallops. "His work at home has always shown he is more a 120 horse than a 110, so I wasn’t surprised to see him run well," he told PA Sport. "He is a very exciting horse to have. He’s in the Queen Anne at Ascot, which I am sure the owner will be keen to have a look at." Joseph Allen’s lightly-raced colorbearer Declaration of War arrived at Newbury with serious confidence behind him judged by the betting move for him at 5-4, but could find little in the way of acceleration when asked by Joseph O’Brien before the final quarter, and trailed in a disappointing fifth.

SKYRING (c, 4, English Channel--Violet Lady, by Seattle Slew) last found the winner’s circle going a mile over this track in the J.W. Murphy S. last May. Most recently, he’s finished fifth in Oaklawn’s Essex H. over the dirt Feb. 2 and fourth behind Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry) in Keeneland’s GI Makers’ 46 Mile Apr. 12. Let go at odds of 24-1, the Calument colorbearer lead through fractions of :24.45 and :48.32 and was able to repel Wilcox Inn (Harlan’s Holiday) by about a half-length to finish in 1:47.87. Caulmet Farm’s Optimizer (English Channel) was third. Lifetime Record: 20-4-3-2. O-Calumet Farm. B-Bluegrass Hall LLC (KY). T-D. Wayne Lukas.

GLORIOUS VIEW (f, 4, Pleasant Tap--Cayuga’s Waters, by Langfuhr) broke her maiden in her ninth start over the Aqueduct inner Feb. 15 and has since taken an allowance there Mar. 10 and romped to a six-length optional claiming allowance Apr. 11. The 8-5 chalk took the lead from the start and set opening fractions of :22.14 and :45.04. Fantasy of Flight (Tiznow) challenged at the top of the lane and the two rivals duked it out down the stretch, but Glorious View gamely dug in to maintain a narrow advantage and inch to a 3/4-length win in 1:15.96. Withgreatpleasure (Hold That Tiger) was third. Lifetime Record: 12-4-4-1. O-Laue Ranch. B-Brant Laue (KY). T-Bill Mott.

Saturday, Pimlico Racecourse
GALLORETTE H.-GIII, $150,000, PIM, 5-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:40 3/5, fm.
1--@PIANIST, 116, f, 4, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Red Piano, by Red Ransom
2nd Dam: Spinet, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Special Key, by Key to the Mint
($100,000 yrl '10 KEESEP). O-Hidden Brook Farm & Dan Zucker; B-Grapestock LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Mike E Smith. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-1-1, $300,950. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2--Hard Not to Like, 118, f, 4, Hard Spun--Like a Gem, by Tactical Cat. O-Hillsbrook Farms; B-Garland E Williamson (ON); T-Michael R Matz. $30,000.
3--Appealing Cat, 116, f, 4, Successful Appeal--Dynamic Cat, by Dynaformer. O-Augustin Stable; B-George Strawbridge Jr (PA); T-H Graham Motion. $15,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.70, 9.10, 8.50.
Also Ran: Samitar (GB), Charged Cotton, Embarr, Silver Screamer, Old Tune (Brz).
Scratched: Daydreamin Gracie, Idle Talk. Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.
   Pianist broke her maiden at second asking in July at Belmont and cleared her first allowance condition at Saratoga the next month before returning to Elmont for a first black-type win in the Sept. 20 Given S. Disappointing at odds-on when fourth in the GIII Valley View S. Oct. 19 at Keeneland and in the Nov. 21 Stardusk S. at Aqueduct, connections regrouped, the the sky seemed the limit when the chestnut returned with a visually impressive allowance victory at Gulfstream Feb. 7. But she stubbed her toe again in her latest, when fifth to next-out GISW Centre Court (Smart Strike) in the GII Honey Fox S. in Hallandale Mar. 16. With Mike Smith having his first ride for Chad Brown, Pianist broke on song and argued the pace inside of Silver Screamer (Cozzene) past the winning post for the first time before leading outright around the clubhouse turn. Though she had to go reasonably hard up front, covering the half in :46.65 and six panels in 1:10.54, she was able to find extra in the stretch and was never seriously menaced en route to her first graded-stakes success.

SAGE VALLEY (c, 4, Discreet Cat--Ashwood C C, by Cryptocleareance) rolls to her fourth consecutive win here, adding to victories in Belmont optional claimers in September and October and the Mr. Nasty S. at Aqueduct Nov. 9. Off the bench here, the 2-1 co-favorite rated toward the back of the field early and steadily gained ground to the outside of the field to sit three wide in third entering the lane. As Hardened Wildcat (Hard Spun) made a run along the rail, Sage Valley pulled away to finish three lengths ahead of that rival. Laurie’s Rocket (Bluegrass Cat) was third. Lifetime Record: 8-5-0-3. O-Michael Dubb. B-Buck Pond Farm Inc (KY). T-Rudy Rodriguez.

Saturday, Pimlico
ALLAIRE DUPONT DISTAFF S.-GIII, $148,500, PIM, 5-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:46 2/5, ft.
1--SUMMER APPLAUSE, 124, f, 4, by Harlan’s Holiday
1st Dam: Summer Exhibition, by Royal Academy
2nd Dam: Dewan's Flag, by Dewan
3rd Dam: Against All Flags, by Hoist the Flag
($82,000 RNA yrl '10 FTKJUL). O-Gillian Campbell, Greenwood Lodge Farm Inc, Dan Clark & Greg Skoda; B-Greenwood Lodge Farm Inc (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-John R Velazquez. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-2-0, $587,406. *1/2 to Big Easy (Gulch), MSP, $217,134. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.



2--Sea Island, 118, f, 4, Pulpit--Resort, by Pleasant Colony. O/B-Phipps Stable (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III. $30,000.
3--Brushed by a Star, 118, m, 5, Eddington--Brush Hour, by Broad Brush. ($10,000 yrl '09 KEESEP; $400,000 HRA ‘12 FTKNOV). O-Unlimited Equine LLC; B-Desmond Ryan, Barry & Ken Donworth (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $15,000.

Margins: 2, 3, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 4.60, 2.20.
Also Ran: Daydreamin Gracie, Moon Philly. Scratched: Access to Charlie, Withgreatpleasure.
   Winner of the 2012 GIII Rachel Alexandra S., Summer Applause was touched off late by Believe You Can (Proud Citizen) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks before finishing a strong fourth to that rival in the GI Kentucky Oaks. Put away for the year thereafter, the bay filly resumed in the inaugural Sam Houston Ladies’ Classic Jan. 26, but endured all sort of trouble, as Miguel Mena lost his irons at one point and she trailed in last in a toss-out sort of effort. That marked her final appearance for the Bret Calhoun barn, and she made a successful debut for this noted outfit, stretching clear to win the GII Top Flight H. by a convincing 2 3/4 lengths Mar. 2. Returned to Grade I company for her latest, the Apr. 12 Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn, she raced close to an easy pace set by On Fire Baby (Smoke Glacken), but could not sustain her bid and split the field in fourth. Facing decidedly softer here, Summer Applause took up a stalking position from second as Daydreamin Gracie (Domestic Dispute) slowed them to a walk on the front end. There was no change in the plot down the backstretch, but Moon Philly (Malibu Moon) split foes and led from between on the turn. That was short-lived, however, as Summer Applause tackled that one at midstretch and drove clear to an easy victory. "There wasn’t much speed in the race," winning rider John Velazquez commented. "I wanted to stay reasonably close to the lead. I asked her for run in the last quarter of a mile and she responded well." Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.

GIFTING (f, 3, Street Cry {Ire}--Teeming, by Storm Cat) had a bit of trouble at the start of her debut and finished fourth at Santa Anita Apr. 21. The 6-5 favorite stalked the pace off the rail through the early stages. She challenged from the three path entering the bend, took the lead and inched clear to finish a length ahead of Ridingwiththedevil (Candy Ride {Arg}) in 1:16.93. The blue-blooded homebred’s second dam is graded stakes-winner Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister) who produced multiple Grade I winner and Champion 3-Year-Old filly Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and GI Belmont S. winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold). Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0. O/B-Hill d Dale Equine Holdings & Edward McGhee (KY). T-Bob Baffert.

Triple Group 1 winner Ortensia (Aus) (Testa Rossa {Aus}) has been retired. Successful in the G1 Winterbottom S., G1 Al Quoz Sprint and G1 Nunthorpe S. , the Paul Messara trainee had finished unplaced in Saturday's Listed Ortensia S. at Scone and the conditioner tweeted, "Today we say goodbye to Ortenisa. A great mare for our stable. Eleven starts for us, three Group 1s in three countries, one Group 2 and a Listed race. Ortensia has a new job now as a mum." She retires with a total of 13 wins from 37 starts and £1,419,881 in prize money.

CHICK LANG S., $100,000, PIM, 5-18, 3yo, 6f, 1:10 3/5, ft.
1--#ZEE BROS, 116, c, 3, by Brother Derek
1st Dam: Nyanza, by Montbrook
2nd Dam: Sweet Remedy, by Dr. Carter
3rd Dam: Sweet Saree, by Torsion
($270,000 2yo ‘12 OBSAPR). O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Eico Stable (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Martin Garcia. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $106,814. *First black-type winner for sophomore sire (by Benchmark).

2--Bobcat Jim, 118, c, 3, Sharp Humor--Glimmer, by Deputy Minister. ($165,000 yrl '11 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo ‘12 FTMMAY). O-Dream Walkin Farms, Inc. $20,000.


3--Brave Dave, 122, c, 3, Put It Back--Sing That Song, by Songandaprayer. O-David Melin & Laurie Plesa. $10,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 2.70, 10.00, 9.80.
   Zee Bros, who graduated at Santa Anita second time out, tired to sixth after setting the pace in the Apr. 27 GIII Derby Trial last time out. The bay colt broke well and was soon at the front of affairs. He had company through an opening quarter in :22.65, but shrugged off those rivals and had a clear advantage after a half in :45.16 and was unchallenged to the wire. "We’ve always been really high on this horse," said winning trainer Bob Baffert. "His Derby Trial, he went real fast, the track was off and tiring. He got a lot out of it and we expected him to run a big race today. When they are doing awesome, you have to run them." Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.

ROLLICKING S., $75,000, PIM, 5-18, 2yo, 5f,
1:00 1/5, ft.
1--#DEBT CEILING, 122, c, 2, by Discreet Cat
1st Dam: Top Marks (SW, $109,131), by Marquetry
2nd Dam: Top Princess, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Always a Princess, by Never Bend
($8,500 wlng '11 KEENOV; $27,000 yrl '12 KEESEP). O-Tim E O'Donohue; B-Brandywine Farm (KY); T-John J Robb; J-Eric Camacho. $45,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $66,660. *1/2 to Dean’s List (Holy Bull), MSP, $177,277.

2--Silvertonguedtommy, 122, g, 2, Street Boss--Golden Say, by Golden Missile. ($10,000 yrl '12 KEESEP). O-PTK LLC. $15,000.

3--New Zone, 114, f, 2, Wilko--Profit Zone, by Meadowlake. ($1,200 yrl '12 FTKOCT). O-Taylor, Kenneth et al. $7,500.
Margins: 2HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 5.10, 5.00, 26.50.
Also Ran: Sweet Emma Rose, Take Time to Pay, John Bailey. Scratched: No Nay Never, Knit One Purr Two.
   Debt Ceiling bested New Zone by 4 1/2 lengths in an early Laurel maiden Mar. 30, and appeared to have bounced out of that effort well, firing several bullets at that venue in the interim. He was unhurried early here, however, as Silvertounguedtommy set the pace with heavily favored Wesley Ward trainee Sweet Emma Rose (City Zip) in hot pursuit. Debt Ceiling still had plenty to do at the head of the lane as Silvertonguedtommy began to get away from them, but the dark bay unleashed a powerful run down the center of the course to blow away his competition. "We’ll go back to Laurel after this," trainer John Robb said. "We were just pointing to this race. There aren’t a lot of spots for him right now. His first race, he was not really ready and we didn’t expect him to run as well as he did. But he was ready for this one." Owner Tim O’Donohue added, "I picked him out at Keeneland and I really liked his eye. It was like the eye of a tiger and he was very professional. He was the total package and his family-- the runners are very precocious." Click for the
brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.

Friday, Pimlico
BLACK-EYED SUSAN S.-GII, $500,000, PIM, 5-17, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:52 3/5, ft.
1--FIFTYSHADESOFHAY, 122, f, 3, by Pulpit
1st Dam: Quiet Kim (GISP, $213,969), by Real Quiet
2nd Dam: Miss Alydeed, by Alydeed
3rd Dam: Filet, by Full Pocket
($175,000 yrl '11 KEESEP). O-Karl Watson, Michael
Pegram & Paul Weitman; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY);
T-Bob Baffert; J-Joel Rosario. $300,000. Lifetime
Record: MGSW & MGISP, 9-3-2-2, $492,490. Werk
Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.


2--Marathon Lady, 117, f, 3, Graeme Hall--Abuela
Esther (Uru), by Crater (Arg). ($45,000 2yo ‘12
OBSAPR). O-Alex & JoAnn Lieblong; B-Stud El Aguila
(FL); T-Steve Hobby. $100,000.
3--Toasting, 116, f, 3, Congrats--Ponderway, by Prized.
($47,000 yrl '11 FTKOCT; $175,000 2yo ‘12
OBSMAR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds; B-L & D
Farms Inc (FL); T-Thomas Albertrani. $50,000.

Margins: NK, 4HF, 7 1/4. Odds: 2.30, 12.20, 19.10.
Also Ran: Maracuya, Petit Trianon, Emollient, Lady Banks.
Scratches: Manuka Honey, Walkwithapurpose.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
   Fans of Orb were surely pleased to see his pilot Joel Rosario find the winner’s circle aboard Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Fiftyshadesofhay (Pulpit) in Friday’s GII Black-Eyed Susan S., but they will probably be hoping for a slightly less eventful trip in today’s Preakness. Fiftyshadesofhay was adding blinkers for trainer Bob Baffert, but she showed a new dimension, settling kindly in sixth of seven while an eager Maracuya (Big Brown) put up honest splits. The 2-1 shot began to inch closer as the field bunched entering the far turn, but three-deep longshot Marathon Lady (Graeme Hall) looked like she would be tough as she swept up to challenge for command. That runner was in front at the top of the lane with Toasting (Congrats) and Maracuya chasing in vain. Perhaps reacting to Rosario’s right-handers, Fiftyshadesofhay angled in directly behind Toasting and Maracuya, but Rosario quickly yanked her back to the outside and she reeled in Marathon lady to score by a neck. Toasting and Maracuya managed to hold on for third and fourth, respectively, while 4-5 favorite Emollient (Empire Maker) never looked comfortable and settled for a disappointing sixth. "Right when I went past the three-eighths pole before turning for home, she kind of got away from me a little bit," explained Rosario. "I was kind of worried about it, but she was able to get it back together and she kept going."
   Fiftyshadesofhay took four races to break her maiden, earning her diploma going 8 1/2 panels over the Betfair Hollywood Park Cushion Track in November. Eighth in Santa Anita’s turfy Blue Norther S. Jan. 1, the bay looked like a new horse when she dueled through hot splits before drawing off by 5 3/4 lengths in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. over a wet/fast track in Arcadia Jan. 26. Second and third behind champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the GI Las Virgenes S. and GI Santa Anita Oaks Mar. 2 and Apr. 6, respectively, Fiftyshadesofhay was shipped to Churchill to prepare for the GI Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago, but her connections instead opted for this spot and it paid off.
   "I wasn’t sure turning for home because I told Rosario that she usually runs 1-2-3, but ride her the way you feel you should ride her," said Baffert, who took the 1999 running of this race with Pegram’s Hall of Famer Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) and the 2004 renewal with Yearly Report (General Meeting). "Rosario sort of did his own thing today, but it was the right thing."
   Pegram, Watson, Weitman and Baffert were responsible for 2010 Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike), and Pegram and Baffert partnered to take the 1998 Preakness with Fiftyshadesofhay’s dam sire Real Quiet (Quiet American). Fiftyshadesofhay hails from the extended family of 2006 Preakness runner-up Sweetnorthernsaint (Sweetsouthernsaint).
   Steve Hobby, trainer of the runner-up, said, "She ran huge. She ran her tail off. She had a great trip. I don’t know what we could have done any different." Emollient’s rider Mike Smith summed up his mount’s performance: "She stumbled out of the gate really bad, and she caught her leg. It was pretty much over for us after that."

Friday, Pimlico
PIMLICO SPECIAL S.-GIII, $300,000, PIM, 5-17, 3yo/up, 1 3/16m, 1:58 2/5, ft.
1--LAST GUNFIGHTER, 124, c, 4, by First Samurai
1st Dam: Saratoga Cat, by Sir Cat
2nd Dam: Saratoga Sparkle, by Saratoga Six
3rd Dam: Sprinkle Dollars, by Buckpasser
O/B-John D Gunther (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Javier Castellano. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-2-2, $475,405. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.

2--Eighttofasttocatch, 124, g, 7, Not for Love--Too Fast to Catch, by Nice Catch. ($47,000 yrl '07 FTMOCT). O-Sylvia E Heft; B-Dark Hollow Farm & Herringswell Stable (MD); T-Timothy L Keefe. $60,000.


3--Richard's Kid, 118, h, 8, Lemon Drop Kid--Tough Broad, by Broad Brush. O-D Kenney, Triple B Farms(Boghossian), Westside Rentalscom et al; B-Fitzhugh LLC (MD); T-Doug F O'Neill. $30,000.

Margins: 4 1/4, 9 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.60, 2.60, 4.10.
Also Ran: Indian Dance, Concealed Identity, Brimstone Island. Scratched: Avenida Paseo.
Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.
   Last Gunfighter has been unstoppable since joining the Chad Brown barn, and proved he could take his show on the road with a sixth-straight win and first outside of New York. Winless, but never off the board in his first four tries for Helen Pitts early last year, the John Gunther homebred donned cap and gown going a mile at Belmont off the bench for his new outfit last October. He cleared his first allowance condition at the Big A the following month, and proved too much for four foes to handle in the sloppy-track Raymond Earl S. Dec. 9. The dark bay continued winning ways at four with a narrow victory in the Jan. 19 Evening Attire S., and had no problem with the stretch out to nine furlongs when overcoming some traffic trouble to take Aqueduct’s Mar. 23 GIII Excelsior S.
   The odds-on choice traveled well in a joint second as expected pacesetter Eighttofasttocatch loped along uncontested through splits of :24.56, :49.91 and 1:14.18. The frontrunner looked like he might be getting away from Last Gunfighter along the turn for home, and Javier Castellano latter was very energetic in the saddle to encourage his mount for all he had. Last Gunfighter responded with bounding strides, and he ultimately prevailed in the final eight of a mile to win comfortably. Maryland-bred Richard’s Kid, who hadn’t raced at Pimlico since 2009, was a distant third.

MISS PREAKNESS S., $100,000, PIM, 5-17, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:12 2/5, ft.
1--#I'M MOM'S FAVORITE, 116, f, 3, by Indian Charlie
1st Dam: Charming Toutsie, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Tout Charmant, by Slewvescent
3rd Dam: Charm a Gendarme, by Batonnier
($95,000 RNA yrl '11 KEEJAN; $75,000 RNA yrl '11
KEESEP; $150,000 2yo ‘12 FTMMAY). O-CJZ Racing
Stable; B-T F VanMeter DVM, Reiley McDonald & J B
McKathan (KY); T-Anthony W Dutrow; J-Sheldon
Russell. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-1,
$138,940.

2--Flattering Bea, 122, f, 3, Flatter--Wild Bea, by Wild
Rush. O-James W Arrison. $20,000.
3--Lighthouse Bay, 122, f, 3, Speightstown--Pay Lady,
by Seeking the Gold. O-Richlyn Farm Inc. $10,000.
Margins: NO, 1 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.90, 52.50, 5.30.
    CJZ Racing Stable is no stranger to the Pimlico winner's circle, as principle Charles Zacney was part of the ownership group that campaigned Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) to a most dramatic victory in the 2005 GI Preakness S. Zacney and those who bet I'm Mom's Favorite into even-money favoritism had to hold their collective breath, as she found the wire just ahead of hard-charging longshot Flattering Bea for a first black-type victory. I’m Mom’s Favorite graduated second out over the Aqueduct inner track Feb. 1 and finished a solid third in the Cicada S. at that venue next out Mar. 16. Most recently, the bay took an optional claimer over this track and trip by seven lengths Apr. 13. Crowded back at the start here, she was last but one through the opening stages. Entering the bend, she took aim on the tired front-runners and looked on her way to victory, only to have to sweat out a photo after Flattering Bea flew home from the backfield. I’m Mom’s Favorite is out of a half-sibling to GI Matriarch and Del Mar Oaks winner Tout Charmant (Slewvescent). Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.

MORE THAN SWEET (f, 3, More Than Ready--Sweet Eloise {SP, $104,843}, by Sky Classic) opened her career in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over the Keeneland Polytrack Apr. 19, but lunged at the start, costing herself several lengths and positions. Despite a wide journey, she made up a lot of ground in the stretch to finish a creditable fourth. Backed as the 6-5 chalk here, the Pin Oak homebred sat an inside trip just behind the early pacesetters, was stymied for a run cornering into the stretch, but got through at the fence inside the final sixteenth of a mile to break her maiden in her turf and two-turn debuts by a half-length. Nellie Cashman (Mineshaft) completed the exacta. The winner is a half to Don Dulce (Maria’s Mon), SW, $237,475; Sweet Relish (Smoke Glacken), SW & GSP, $196,630; Wherethewestbegins (Gone West), GSP, $179,769; and Salty Fries (In Excess {Ire}), SW, $139,406. Her second dam is GI Top Flight H. and Shuvee H. heroine Ms. Eloise (Nasty and Bold). Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $31,400. Click for the brisnet.com chart or VIDEO.

O-Pin Oak Stable. B-Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY). T-H Graham Motion.

SWETTENHAM STUD FILLIES’ TRIAL S.-Listed, £37,000, Newbury, 5-17, 3yo, f, 10f 6ydsT, 2:11.74, gd/fm.
1--WINSILI (GB), 124, f, 3, by Dansili (GB)     
1st Dam: Winter Sunrise (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Winter Solstice (GB), by Unfuwain
3rd Dam: Hunt the Sun (GB), by Rainbow Quest
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms; T-John Gosden; J-William Buick; £20,983. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, £28,398.
2--Cruck Realta (GB), 124, f, 3, Sixties Icon (GB)--Wansdyke Lass (GB), by Josr Algarhoud (Ire). O-Anne & Steve Fisher; B-Wansdyke Farms Ltd; T-Mick Channon; £7,955.
3--The Lark (GB), 124, f, 3, Pivotal (GB)--Gull Wing (Ire), by In the Wings (GB). O/B-Lady Bamford; T-Michael Bell; £3,981.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, HF. Odds: 2-1, 6-1, 9-4.
Also Ran: Concise (GB), Asgardella (Ire), Valtina (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart. VIDEO, courtesy Racing UK.
   Winsili started off in the manner with a 3 1/2-length success over seven furlongs at Newmarket in August, and after a second to the subsequent Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas winner Lovely Pass (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) in a mile conditions event at Ascot the following month, was supplemented for the G1 Fillies’ Mile. That plan went awry due to a late setback, but the bay gave some indication as to why that decision had been made with a smooth return in a first-time hood here. Settled in second tracking Valtina (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) throughout the opening stages, the homebred moved up to challenge approaching the three pole and was quickly traveling better of the duo. Sent into the lead over a furlong later, she soon had the measure of her rivals with a powerful display of finishing speed. "I would think she would go for the G2 Ribblesdale S. [at Royal Ascot June 20]," Khalid Abdullah’s Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. "She injured herself on the day we supplemented her for the Fillies’ Mile and it took a while to get that right. She’s had a cold winter, so I would think she will still be progressive. She’s got a bit of toe and she’s done it nicely enough."

Eric Kronfeld, the breeder of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta who passed away peacefully in the presence of his family this past Wednesday, will be remembered in a memorial service scheduled for this Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m. at the Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 W. 76th St., New York. In addition to Zenyatta, Kronfeld also bred her three-time Grade I-winning half-sister Balance (Thunder Gulch) from the mare Vertigineux (Kris S.). Kronfeld campaigned GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) and Zenyatta's half-sister Eblouissante (Bernardini), unbeaten in two career starts to date.

SUNGATE SAGA ROLLS ON
The British Horseracing Authority yesterday announced that it is to investigate a number of trainers regarding the administration of the drug known as Sungate. After Newmarket trainer Gerard Butler announced last month that he had used the substance, which contains anabolic steroids, on veterinary advice to treat the joints of some of his horses, Britain’s governing body have been at work in uncovering the extent of the problem. A statement from the BHA read, “Sungate is a product developed by an Italian company, produced and licensed for equine use in Italy. Its use in the UK is legal, but only when imported under the Special Import Certificate scheme administered by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The product is intended to assist in the treatment and management of joint disease in horses. Sungate contains stanozolol, an anabolic steroid and consequently a prohibited substance under the Rules of Racing. The BHA became aware of the use of the product on horses in training following a visit to Gerard Butler’s yard in February 2013 as part of its testing in training sampling programme. Subsequently, it became apparent that a veterinary practice, which had legally imported Sungate into the UK, had recommended its initial administration to horses in the care of Gerard Butler. The BHA has met with representatives of the veterinary practice in question. As a result of that meeting, the BHA believes that Gerard Butler was not the only trainer to whom the administration of Sungate was recommended. Veterinary surgeons are not bound by the Rules of Racing, but are subject to their own rules of professional conduct. Therefore, in order to establish the extent of the use of the product, BHA investigating officers will be interviewing trainers who are known to use the same veterinary practice. Under the Rules of Racing, licensed trainers are strictly liable for the administration of any prohibited substances administered to horses under their care and control.”