January 19, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Panic at the Disco
It wasn’t the smooth trip they likely envisioned, but rider Florent Geroux and 9-5 favorite Disco Time found their groove in the nick of time to take Saturday’s $250,000 Lecomte (G3) by a head.
Competing against a crowded field of 12 foes in sloppy conditions, the panic meter was flirting with red alert status for Geroux and Disco Time late into the 1 1/16-mile affair.
However, the savvy veteran and the promising youngster dug in for a determined push towards the finish line and were rewarded with the $150,000 top prize.
The dogged Fair Grounds effort, which kept Disco Time perfect through three starts, paid $5.80.
Eponymous Execution
Running Away lived up to her name and lofty billing with a front-leading 2 ¼-length score in Saturday’s $125,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct.
Leaving from post six, the 3-year-old filly wasted no time taking command of the 1 1/8-mile contest. The aggressive approach co-authored by rider Sahin Civaci paid immense dividends, as Running Away cruised ahead for her second consecutive tally.
The Wesley Ward charge earned her first career victory last time out in a maiden event on Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs.
As the 3-2 favorite in the Busanda, Running Away paid $5.10.
Let the Story Develop
Out of the gate, Hit Show looked more like a one-hit wonder than chart-topper, but a good story needs time to develop before we pen a review.
Closing as the 3-2 choice in Saturday afternoon’s $173,250 Louisiana Stakes, the multiple graded stakes winner rebounded from a difficult start to slide ahead of front-running Komorebino Omoide (JPN) for the 1 ½-length decision.
With the win, Hit Show ($4.60) collected the fifth graded title of his stellar career.
Overall, the 5-year-old sports an 8-1-0 line through 16 starts with more than $1.4 million banked.
Knock Knock
What Simply Joking has been able to accomplish across her first two career starts is no laughing matter.
After jumping directly to and succeeding at the stakes ranks in her professional debut on Dec. 21 (Letellier Memorial), the 3-year-old filly turned in another stellar outing this past Saturday in the $150,000 Silverbulletday.
Working alongside rider Jaime Torres, Simply Joking gave the Fair Grounds faithful a reason to stand up with a perfectly executed gate-to-wire score.
The sensational showing also earned the Whitworth Beckman trainee 20 points towards May’s Kentucky Oaks (G1).
As the 8-5 favorite, Simply Joking paid $5.40.
TCB
The theme of favorites taking care of business continued Sunday in the $150,000 Pippin with 7-5 choice Corningstone.
Going off as race nine at Oaklawn Park, the 1 1/16-mile Pippin featured a steady seven-horse lineup, headlined by none other than clubhouse leader Corningstone.
The well-travelled 5-year-old mare (22 starts coming in; 7-6-4 record) collected her fourth career stakes title last time out in December’s Mistletoe, also at Oaklawn.
Securing number five proved facile for Corningstone, who managed to lead all the way through for the one-length clearance over 3-1 rival Indy Label.
The decidedly easy triumph paid $4.80.