Big day for Hong Kong horse racing; 2-year-old fillies shine in Japan, California
There was a big day for Hong Kong horse racing. Liberty Island won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies in Japan and Faiza won Grade I Starlet in California.
There were nearly 45,000 fans at the Longines Hong Kong International Races on Sunday. The marquee race was the Group 1 Longine's Hongkong Mile. Golden Sixty came second to California Spangle for the third time. Romantic Warrior won the group 1 Hong kong Cup. Wellington won a sprint race. He won two Group-1 races last season. He was recently crowned Longinos World's Best Jockey. His trainer Richard Gibson was ecstatic to see him win. It was his first win since the second half of last year. Ryan Moore, who rode him, said he's been the best sprinter in Hong Kong for a long time and is now the most talented.
Liberty Island won Sunday's Group 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies by 2 1/2 lengths. The Duramente filly came wide into the stretch and won going away. Liberty Island had two previous starts, finishing first in a newcomers race and second in the Grade III Artemis Stakes.
Faiza won Saturday's $300,000 Grade I Starlet for 2-year-old fillies. It was trainer Bob Baffert's ninth win in the race and sixth in a row. Sunday's Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred 2/3 filly went to the odds-on favorite Cast Member. Cast Member came from next-last in well-bunched field and edged away late to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Count de Monet upset Tyler's Tribe in Friday's $150,000 Advent Stakes. Tyler was undefeated in his first five starts at Prairie Meadows before bled in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Lovely Ride won the Mistletoe Stake for fillies and mares by 3 1/2 lengths. Flash of Mischief won Ring the Bell Staking by 7 3/4 lengths on Cristian Torres.
R Adios Jersey won the $100,000 FTBOA City of Ocala FSS for fillies and mares. Octane won $ 100,00 FT BOA Marion County F SS for colts and geldings.
Betsy Blue won Saturday's Garland of Roses Stakes for fillies and mares by 1 1/4 lengths over Beguine. Jose Lezcano rode for trainer Linda Rice.
Louisiana Champions Day featured six stakes events for state-breds. The Classic, run for $150,000, was not a good day for most of the favorites. Late September, a Munnings colt, won the Juvenile. Free Drop Maddy dueled to the lead in the Lassie for 2-year-old fillies and survived a last bid by the favorite, Norah G, to win by a neck. Big Chopper came from well back to capture the Sprint. A G's Charlotte chased down pacesetting favorite Winning Romance a furlong and half from home in Ladies Distaff.
Kate's Kingdom won the My Charmer Stakes for fillies and mares. Candy Raid came second, Champagne Lady third. Kate's kingdom ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:44.06 with Jack Gilligan up.
Il Malocchio won the La Prevoyante Stakes for Ontario-sired fillies and mares. Silent Causeway was second, 1/2 length better than Strega. Avoman stalked the pace set by Lac Macaza in Sunday's Steady Growth Stake for Onterio- sired horses.
Chancery Way won the $75,000 Bear Fan Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at Golden Gate Fields.
Ari Gold won the Pulpit Stakes for 2-year-olds at Gulfstream Park. It was his second win from four starts. Irad Ortiz Jr. booted Junipermarshmallow home first in the Wait a While Stake for fillies. She's now 2 for two after winning at first asking on the Keeneland turf.
Lookin for Bala won the Jim Edgar Futurity for Illinois-bred, 2-year-old colts and geldings.
Jason Servis pleaded guilty to adulteration and misbranding of drugs used to enhance horses' performance without detection. James McDonald was honored as the 2022 Longines World's Best Jockey tonight at the Longine's Hong Kong International Races Gala dinner. McDonald won 142 points, beating Ryan Moore (96 points) and William Buick (78 points).
