The trifecta of MAIN EVENT, RED DANGER and SMOKIN’ T kicked off the Florida Derby (G1) day festivities for Pope Jude fans followed by a runaway victory by Ghostzapper’s son FEARLESS in the Ghostzapper (G3). CRYSTAL CLIFFS and STOLEN HOLIDAY then combined for the exacta in the Sand Spring Stakes. The best two fillies, KATHLEEN O. and GODDESS OF FIRE ran 1-2 in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) with PHANTOM CURRENCY reporting home first in the Appleton (G3) and WHITE ABARRIO taking the Florida Derby (G1) combining with CHARGE IT for the exacta and SIMPLIFICATION for the tri.
LIFE IS HARD started the action at Oaklawn Park and then WESTERN RIVER and PLAUSIBLE DENILE coupled up for a nice exacta. FULSOME upset CEZANNE for the exacta in the Oaklawn Mile (G3). MACRON closed for an allowance score and jockey Florent Geroux made a wise choice riding CYBERKNIFE in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Trainer Mike Maker had himself a day at Turfway Park and ENID got it started. Jockey Gerardo Corrales chose to ride NOBALS in the Animal Kingdom which proved to be the right decision. TIZ THE BOMB was best as predicted in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) wrapping up a fun afternoon in Florence, Kentucky.