June 24, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Lock it Down
Batten Down had the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) on lockdown this past Saturday at Thistledown.
Following the direction of veteran rider Junior Alvarado, the 3-year-old colt jumped out to an early lead and never surrendered for a dominant 1 ¾-length gate-to-wire score.
The pair made the most of Batten Down’s graded debut, thwarting any and all attempts by a condensed field of runners. Originally pegged to feature a field of 10, four scratches shortened the Ohio’s field to six.
Even with the aid of a lighter lot, the Bill Mott trainee executed the game plan perfectly to capture his most prestigious trophy to date (5: 2-1-1 lifetime record).
At 3-1, Batten Down paid $8.60 on a $2 win bet.
On a Tear
The New York Mets aren’t the only ones benefiting from the glory of almighty Grimace.
Vahva, a 4-year-old filly out of Kentucky, recorded her fourth graded title since last July with a strong-willed comeback victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Chicago (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The Cherie DeVaux trainee has been nothing short of a marvel across 13 starts on the pro circuit, compiling a stellar 6-3-2 line and some $1.7 million in earnings.
Vahva has been particularly dominant over the last calendar year, having not once missed the podium en route to a 4-1-1 record in six attempts since July 8, 2023 (all four wins at the graded level, including one Grade 1, one Grade 2, and two Grade 3).
The Irad Ortiz Jr. mount’s latest conquest paid an unsurprisingly modest $2.92.
Eye for the Finish Line
Misty Veil had no problem seeing the finish line in a dynamic 8 ½-length Lady Jacqueline score on Saturday at Thistledown.
Seven other challengers proved no match in the $150,000 affair, as Misty Veil, in her 38th career start, showed that she’s just as spry today as she was in her debut on Dec. 26, 2020.
The 6-year-old mare was in need of a win like this after an out-of-character eighth last time out in the Apple Blossom (G1).
With the win, her second of the stakes variety, Misty Veil now sits within $110,000 of the $1 million earnings milestone for her career.
The savvy veteran paid $5.80 for the Lady Jacqueline triumph.
Saturday Breeze
Oversubscribed overwhelmed the competition to run away with the $150,000 Wild Applause on Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct.
Making her first start at the stakes level, the rookie runner from Great Britain had zero trouble adjusting to the increase in difficulty. With the aid of top rider Flavien Prat, Oversubscribed ran a patient race before turning on the jets in the stretch.
The wise strategy paid dividends for the duo, as they were able to steer clear of the next closest challenger, Vino Rouge (9-1) by 3 ¼ lengths.
The landmark occasion that improved Oversubscribed’s lifetime mark to 2-1-0 paid a mild $4.20.
New York’s Finest
New York-bred Kant Hurry Love has made quite the name for herself around her home circuit.
The 5-year-old mare added another item to her Empire State excellence with a smooth three-quarter length win in Sunday afternoon’s Dancin Renee at Aqueduct.
Running from post two, Kant Hurry Love burst out of the gate to the front of the pack. The veteran with a nose for the podium (landed in the money in 19 of her 22 career starts) did not relinquish the lead at any point during the $125,000 affair.
With the strong performance, the David Duggan trainee put an end to a modest five-race winless drought.
At 9-2, Kant Hurry Love paid a respectable $11.20 for the win.