When the gate opened, Overanalyze was a bit tardy to move from post 4, then got bumped by Handsome Jack, who veered in from post 5. Meanwhile, as Overanalyze found himself lagging in the rear with John Velazquez, a contentious pace unfolded up front.
Evan recaps the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Beldame, and Awesome Again Stakes from the weekend.
The complexion of the John Henry changed early on, as the field crossed over the brief span of the main track before linking up with the turf course proper. When 3-2 favorite Turbo Compressor didn't sprint to the fore as expected, jockey Garrett Gomez called an audible and let Slim Shadey roll. The Simon Callaghan trainee never looked back.
<b><font face="Times New Roman" size="4">Kauai Katie runs away in Matron</font></b>
A freshened Slim Shadey, given a two-month break since a disappointing effort in the Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IIT), showed his heels in the $150,000 John Henry Turf Championship (gr. IIT) Sept. 30 at Santa Anita Park.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Politicallycorrect rallied on the extreme outside to upset 2-1 favorite Willy Beamin in Sunday's $400,000 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brisnet.com/edgeped/okderby12.pdf">Oklahoma Derby</a> at Remington Park. Hung out seven wide down the lane, the 10-1 chance came with an irresistible late charge beneath Kent Desormeaux to prevail in the shadow of the wire, snapping the favorite's six-race winning streak.
Politicallycorrect, rallying way wide through the homestretch for Kent Desormeaux, caught favored Willy Beamin in the final few strides to post an upset in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby Sept. 30 at Remington Park.
The 90-day meeting at Arlington Park ended Sept. 30 with trainer Wayne Catalano, jockey Francisco Torres, and owners Richard and Karen Papiese's Midwest Thoroughbreds all claiming titles.
Evan recaps the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Beldame, and Awesome Again Stakes from the weekend.
The 90-day meeting at Arlington Park ended Sunday, with trainer Wayne Catalano earning his 10th Arlington crown while jockey Francisco Torres and owners Midwest Thoroughbreds of Richard and Karen Papiese each took down their first Arlington title.
Aptly named Overanalyze gave trainer Todd Pletcher a sweep of the 2-year-old stakes at Belmont Park with a 5-1 upset in the $200,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 30.
Favored Kauai Katie didn't disappoint in the Sept. 30 Matron Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park when she overcame Baby J at the half-mile pole and increased her advantage to the wire, drawing off to a decisive victory.
Trainer Mike Hushion says Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) winner The Lumber Guy is headed for the Breeders' Cup Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park, but he and owner Barry Schwartz aren't sure which race.
Trainer Shug McGaughey says Point of Entry, his Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) winner Sept. 29, should be a prime contender for Horse of the Year if he can win the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott says all four of his Super Saturday horses, including Beldame winner Royal Delta and repeat TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup victor Flat Out will be pointed to the 2012 Breeders' Cup Nov. 2-3.
If ever there was a match made in heaven, it was exemplified once again a little less than two months ago when a large group of Arlington jockeys lent their time and expertise to a group of youngsters at nearby stables in Wauconda, Illinois.
New York trainer H. James Bond earned his 1,000th career victory when Messorio scored by five lengths in the fourth race at Finger Lakes Sept. 28.
Alex Campbell Jr.'s Karlovy Vary, winner of the Grade 1 Ashland this spring, breezed a half-mile in :52 3/5 over Keeneland's Polytrack Sunday morning in preparation for next Sunday's 57th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster.
Second favorite Lord Kanaloa, ridden by Yasunari Iwata, exerted a strong late charge, despite the strong crosswind from the approaching typhoon, to capture his first Grade 1 victory in a course-record time of 1:06.7 in Sunday's Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama. His victory prevented stablemate Curren Chan from achieving her third consecutive Grade 1 sprint race victory.
Coolmore and partners' Battle of Marengo scored easily over three opponents in the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Ire-II) for 2-year-olds on Sept. 30 at the Curragh, providing trainer Aidan O'Brien with a 12th win in the race.
Lord Kanaloa stormed to a course record-setting victory at Nakayama Racecourse on Sept. 30, taking the Sprinters Stakes (Jpn-I) by three-quarters of a length from defending winner and stablemate Curren Chan.
Editor's Note: This article is part of TheHorse.com's ongoing coverage of topics presented at the 2012 American Association of Equine Practitioners' Focus on Ophthalmology conference, held Sept. 6-8 in Raleigh, N.C.
Undefeated 2yo filly is the best of the west.
