A pair of 2019 OBS April graduates jumped squarely onto the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), passing two turn tests at Santa Anita and Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.
Ciaglia Racing LLC, River Oak Farm and Dominic Savides’ Venetian Harbor bounced to the lead at the break in the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, turned for home in front and ran away down the stretch to score a 9-1/2 length victory in her stakes debut. Trained by Richard Baltas the 3-year-old daughter of Munnings is now 3-2-1-0 and has earned $163,400 to date. Consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, she went through the ring after turning in an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. watch her under tack video
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables Corp.’s Sole Volante saved ground in the early going of Tampa Bay Downs’ $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, rallied on the turn to reach contention, caught odds-one favorite Independence Hall in the final sixteenth and drew off to win by 2-1/2 lengths. It’s the second stakes victory for the 3-year-old gelding by Karakontie (JPN), sold for $20,000 by New Hope AB LLC after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 4-3-0-1 for trainerPatrick L. Biancone, he has earned $196,310 to date. watch his under tack video