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Papetu Returns With Win In Carry Back At Gulfstream

Magic Stables LLC's Papetu fired off the layoff to win Saturday's $75,000 Carry Back at Gulfstream Park, victorious in his first start since finishing off the board in the March 27 Grade 1 Florida Derby.

The Carry Back, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, headlined a 13-race program that also featured Competitive Speed's return to winning form in the $60,000 Hallandale Beach, an overnight handicap for 3-year-old fillies.

Papetu ($9.40) ran seven furlongs in 1:09.35 to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths under Leonel Reyes, who was also aboard Competitive Speed.

The son of Dialed In had earned his way into the Florida Derby with a runner-up finish in the Mucho Macho Man and a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth during the Championship Meet.

Papetu broke well from his far outside post position and settled several lengths behind the early pace, set by Moonlite Strike and stalked by Real Talk on the rail and Lauda Speed on the outside. Moonlite Strike, who captured the Roar Stakes in his most recent start, set fractions of :22.53 for the first quarter and :44.76 seconds for the first half mile, as Papetu made his way into contention on the turn into the homestretch.

Real Talk made a strong move to take the lead at the top of the stretch under Samy Camacho but proved no match for the wide stretch drive of Papetu, who claimed his first stakes victory.

“He ran a good race. He was training very good. I know that he wasn't 100 percent, but we had to start somewhere,” trained Antonio Sano said. “We would like to run him at Saratoga in August.”

Papetu was impressive while winning his first two starts of his career last year at Gulfstream before venturing to Saratoga to finish sixth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and fifth in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. The Kentucky-bred colt was competitive with the top 3-year-olds during the Championship Meet before enduring a five-wide trip from his far-outside post position and finishing seventh.

In the Carry Back, Real Talk finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of a tiring Moonlite Strike.

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Souper Sensational Rallies To Win Victory Ride At Belmont

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational rallied to an impressive score in Saturday's $150,000 Grade 3 Victory Ride, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse and piloted by Flavien Prat, Souper Sensational was slowest away from the gate but quick when it mattered most, demonstrating a smart turn-of-foot late in the turn en route to a 3 1/4-length win.

Miss Brazil, with Jose Ortiz up, set a contested pace of :22.81 and :45.68 seconds on the main track rated good, with Ova Charged on her flank and Red Ghost outside of that one as Souper Sensational settled in fifth.

Ove Charged loomed large but Souper Sensation, rallying wide outside of rivals, found her best foot through the turn and was 1 1/2-lengths in front at the stretch call. A game Ova Charged continued to find more, but there was no reeling in the runaway Souper Sensational, who stopped the clock in 1:15.79.

Prat, aboard Souper Sensational for the first time, said the talented chestnut provided an immediate response when asked.

“She was traveling well and when I got her in the clear, she really kicked on well,” said Prat. “It didn't feel like we were going crazy fast. I thought she broke well. I bided my time and got off to a nice rhythm. In the end, she really responded.”

Ova Charged, with Luis Saez up, completed the exacta by two lengths over Inject. Red Ghost, Miss Brazil, and the previously undefeated Australasia completed the order of finish. Bella Sofia and Shop Girl were scratched.

“It was a very nice trip. She broke beautifully,” said Saez. “She never gave up and kept trying the whole way. We just got beat by a good one.”

Bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud, Souper Sensational banked $82,500 in victory. She returned $13.80 for a $2 win wager.

The victory marked the first graded stakes win for Souper Sensational, who turned back in distance in the Victory Ride off a trio of Grade 2 efforts, finishing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in February, third in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks in March, and fourth in the seven-furlong Eight Belles at Churchill Downs in April.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont for Closing Day of the 48-day spring/summer meet. First post on the nine-race card, featuring the $150,000 River Memories, is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

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Hot Rod Charlie Arrives At Monmouth For Haskell

Belmont Stakes runner-up Hot Rod Charlie arrived at Monmouth Park at approximately 5:20 p.m. following a flight from California, with the TVG.com Haskell Stakes contender immediately settling into trainer Kelly Breen's barn.

The Louisiana Derby winner and third-place Kentucky Derby finisher, who is trained by Doug O'Neill, was accompanied by his famous pony, retired Hall of Famer Lava Man.

Next Saturday's $1 million Haskell Stakes is expected to feature all three runners-up from the Triple Crown – Hot Rod Charlie, Mandaloun and Midnight Charlie – as well as the Todd Pletcher-trained Following Sea. The field for the Grade 1 race is also expected to include the Breen-trained Pickin' Time and Basso.

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Cilla Shines In Blue Sparkler At Monmouth

Trainer Brett Brinkman's initial reaction when Saturday's Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. came off the grass? “I was happy,” he said.

His second reaction?

The realization that he still didn't have an answer about whether or not his talented 3-year-old filly Cilla will take the turf.

For now, Brinkman can live without finding out for sure if Cilla can turf after she impressed with a 2½-length victory in the $75,000 feature on the 11-race card.

Ridden by Roberto Albarado, Jr., Cilla sat behind dueling leaders Dr B and Running Memories and then took command in mid-stretch, covering the 5½ furlongs over a fast main track in 1:03.07.

Dr B held for second, four lengths ahead of a tiring Decade in a field reduced to five due to the surface switch.

“I was happy when it came off the turf but I still don't know if she likes it or not and I'd like to find out,” said Brinkman, who is Louisiana based but keeps a string at Delaware Park. “The way the Into Mischiefs perform on the grass I've got to leave that as an option until she tells me not to.”

Cilla's only turf try came in the one-mile Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park a year ago, when she failed to fire in a ninth-place finish.

Owned by P. Dale Ladner, Cilla is a daughter of California Chrome-Sittin At the Bar by Into Mischief. The Blue Sparkler marked her fourth career win in nine starts and second straight stakes victory.

“She's as good as she has ever been right now, training-wise, maturity-wise, and speed-wise,” said Brinkman. “She has finally gotten up to the speed I always thought she had. The race set up nicely for her. This filly has always liked a target. They gave us one today. But when she decides to go you need to have a spot for her because she is ready to rock.”

Let go at 5-1, the Louisiana-bred Cilla returned $12.20 to win.

“When it came off the turf I think everyone associated with this horse was happy because she's better on the dirt than the turf,” said Albarado. “This is my first time riding her so I looked at her form and I saw that I was sitting on something good. I rode her the way she is – I rode her like a good horse.

“I told Brett there was a lot of speed in the race and the hope was they would hook up with us sitting off of them. It happened just the way we thought.”

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