First Winner

Freely Held, after earning a runner-up finish at odds of 28-1 on debut at Parx, became freshman sire Independence Hall's first winner here. A distant second to long-gone Flying Hawaiian (Maximus Mischief) in that July 21 contest, he broke on top Friday from his outside post in this second attempt at graduation. Rounding the far turn after an opening quarter in :22.54, even-money favorite Black Volt (Cairo Prince) moved up inside to get on even terms with Freely Held. As they hit the top of the stretch, the son of...

Sugaree earned a sweet victory for her freshman sire By My Standards (by Goldencents) as she came home a winner at second asking over the Colonial main track on Saturday. A runner-up facing auction-restricted maidens at Churchill Downs June 29, the filly was well-supported as the 70 cents on the dollar favorite here. The juvenile chased the pace from midpack up the backstretch and had some work to do around the far turn. As the leader began to tire down the lane, Sugaree came with a run to the outside...

2nd-Gulfstream, $45,000, (S), Msw, 8-9, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.45, sy, 4 1/2 lengths. R MORNING BREW (f, 2, Curlin's Honor--Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured), the 5-2 second choice, hustled from the gate and led this field under pressure early from eventual runner up Don't Fool With Me (Khozan). Still narrowly in front off the turn, she put that rival away down the stretch to graduate first time out by 4 1/2 lengths. The first winner for her freshman sire (by Curlin), R Morning Brew is a half to Dancing N Dixie...

6th-Gulfstream, $43,100, Msw, 7-28, 2yo, 5fT, :55.46, fm, 3 1/2 lengths. BRIDLE A BUTTERFLY (g, 2, Country House--Sly Storm {MSW, $235,922}, by Storm Cat), the longest shot on the board at 21-1, became the first winner for his freshman sire (by Lookin At Lucky) Sunday at Gulfstream. After briefly delaying the start at the gate, he took back to mid pack in fourth up the backstretch before making a top-of-the-stretch charge to hit the front and pull clear to the 3 1/2-length win over Itza Boss (Valiant Minister). Sly Storm,...

2nd-Presque Isle Downs, $30,500, Msw, 6-17, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.72, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. WILLOW OAK (f, 2, War of Will--Joyful Cat, by Kitten's Joy) was bet nearly in half from her 8-1 morning line off a promising worktab over the Turfway Tapeta and came away late to become the first winner for her Classic-winning freshman sire (by War Front). Under a hustling ride from Adam Beschizza from gate five, the Dede McGehee homebred was a midpack fifth into the turn, was roused right-handed while progressing leaving the...

7th-Gulfstream, $43,000, (S), Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($20,000), 5-30, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.53, fm, 1 length. QUESTER (c, 3, Into Mischief--Osare {SW, $234,605}, by Medaglia d'Oro), third in his debut going 5 1/2 panels for Todd Pletcher on the main track here in March, came back to score extending to 8 1/2 furlongs Apr. 19. Given a 4-1 chance to make it two straight switching to the care of Heather Smullen, he stalked the early pace, took over in the stretch and inched clear late to score by a length over Dear...

1st-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 5-24, 2yo, 5 1/2f (off turf), 1:05.53, ft, head. SOONTOBEKING (c, 2, King for a Day--Swayed, by Freud) ran third on debut May 10 sprinting five panels on a muddy main track facing state-bred rivals. Moved to the barn of Mitch Friedman as his former trainer George Weaver is under a provisional suspension enforced by HIWU, Soontobeking made all the right moves late in his second try to graduate. First bobbling at the break and then bumping with a rival soon after, the only...

1st-Hipodromo de la Zarzuela, €13,600, Mdn., 2yo, 1200mT, 1:15.16. GOLDEN FURIUS (IRE) (c, 2, Shaman {Ire}--Nefetari {GB}, by Kodiac {GB}), making his debut, broke on top, but was soon relegated to third. Sneaking up the rail with 400 metres left to travel, he kicked away from his foes by the 300-metre mark. He won with his ears pricked by 1 3/4 lengths over Capdepera (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}). Golden Furius is the first winner for his multiple group-winning sire (by Shamardal), who stands for €5,000 this year at Yeomanstown Stud in...

1st-Ellis, $40,000, Msw, 7-15, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:18.23, sy, 7 1/2 lengths. HAM SANDWICH (c, 2, Heart to Heart--Voodoo Lounge, by Pleasant Tap) didn't show much in his Horseshoe Indianapolis debut June 10, never advancing further than eighth in a 7 1/2-furlong turf contest. Over a sloppy main track Saturday in a sales price-restricted race, he was eased from the gate and had only one rival beat through a half in :46.22. Kept inside of horses around the turn, he angled through a gap at the top of the lane...

3rd-Belterra, $23,700, (S), Msw, 6-29, 2yo, f, 5f, :59.70, ft, 3 3/4 lengths. ARTISTIC LANEY (f, 2, Preservationist--Artistic License {SW, $196,488}, by Heart of the Storm), chilly on the board at 9-1 in her afternoon debut, tucked in behind the leading duo of Pretty Patty (Bold Warrior) and Twisted Justice (Biondetti), content to sit off them through fractions of :22.73 and :48.80. Shaken up to take the lead with a four-wide move into the stretch, she was easily the class of the field to the wire, hitting the line 3...

Looking to become the initial winner for his freshman World of Trouble, Equinox Inc. and Bobby McIntyre's Untroubled (World of Trouble) posted a front-running score at Horseshoe Indianapolis Tuesday afternoon, giving the Hill 'n' Dale resident the exacta in the five-furlong event. Sent off at 9-5, the Eduardo Caramori trainee broke quickly and was soon confronted Neuvo Amanecer (Mastery), however, was unfazed by his rival through a quarter in :23.39. In control yet drifting outward turning for home, Untroubled kept up the tempo late, crossing the wire 1 1/4 lengths...

1st-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 5-11, 2yo, f, 5fT, :57.61, fm, 2 3/4 lengths. CYNANE (f, 2, Omaha Beach--Burning Arch, by Arch) became her freshman sire's (by War Front) first winner Thursday with a front-running 2 3/4-length win. Pushed hard from the outside gate by GI Kentucky Derby winning jockey Javier Castellano, the dark bay filly, one of the longer shots on the board at 9-2, took command from outside of a pair of rivals. Sam's Treasure (Munnings) tried to stick with her early but Cynane proved up to the challenge, brushing...