Horse Racing Results – June 23rd/24th

Las Vegas, NV – Another weekend of graded stakes action is in the books – there were some pretty good races with some impressive results. The Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes from Belmont, the Hollywood Oaks and the Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park, the Boiling Springs Stakes from Monmouth, a trio of races from Woodbine – the Singspiel Stakes, the Highlander Stakes and the King Edward Stakes were all contested this weekend.

The biggest race of the weekend too place at Belmont – the Grade 1 $300,000 Mother Goose. Zo Impressive – 5-1 shot in a small field showed that he belongs beating the likes of 8-1 shot Disposablepleasure who finished second in the race. The favorites were disappointing in the race. 8-5 favorite Believe You Can finished third while co-favorite Contested finished last.

Monmouth Park was the scene for the Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes. Todd Pletcher trained Dancing Solo – second choice 7/2 ran away from Zultanite and the impressive Somali Lemonade. All three of the horses that should have showed up in that race did just that although Dancing Solo’s victory can certainly be seen as an upset.

Hollywood Park also hosted the Grade 3 Beverly Hills Handicap on Sunday. Capital Plan (who now heads to the east coast for the remainder of the season) with Joel Rosario and Cambina both caught Quaintly down the stretch. Imperialistic Diva, who raced in traffic in the stretch, finished fourth, followed by Camille C and Slane Castle.

On Saturday the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes was contested at Woodbine. Simmard at even odds predictably dueled with 5-2 second choice Muskatier. It was the 10 year old Roger Attfield trained Muskatier that prevailed in impressive fashion. Cognasheen was a distant third in that race – Simmard and Muskatier were clearly the class in the Singspiel.

In perhaps the biggest upset of the weekend 17-1 shot Smokey Fire made a successful return from racing after two years off by winning the Grade 3 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine! Essence Hit Man who was riding a three race win streak finished second nosing out the very tough Gypsy Ring.

Also at Woodbine Riding the River at 15-1 won the Grade 3 King Edward Stakes outracing Big Band Sound and second favorite Hollinger. Favorite Trend was a disappointing fifth in the King Edward.