Weekend Takeaways: Good Magic rules, sprinters show off

A new favorite for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, set for Aug. 25 at Saratoga, seemed to emerge each day of the weekend, with Hofburg, Tenfold and Good Magic rattling off wins in 3-year-old races.

Hofburg earned his first stakes win Friday in Saratoga’s Curlin. In a short career, Hofburg was runner-up in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. He made easy work of a short Curlin field and was immediately discussed as a top Travers contender when drawing off to win by five lengths.

A day later, Tenfold made a dashing show in the more traditional local prep for the Travers, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes. With Flameaway at the rail, Tenfold drifted in and out down the stretch, edging closer to the grandstand as he went. Flameaway remained on course, but Tenfold still managed to win by three-quarters of a length. If it wasn’t for the swerving trail, he arguably could have won by more.

The possibilities of Hofburg or Tenfold as the Travers favorite went out the window Sunday when Good Magic ran away with the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. The winning margin was three lengths in the end, and Good Magic was able to finish without serious threats while runner-up Bravazo tried desperately to close the gap.

To add to the Travers mix, trainer Mark Casse confirmed the filly Wonder Gadot for the Midsummer Derby. Runner-up in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and winner of the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown against the boys, the addition of a filly mix makes for an interesting race with Justify retired.

Big coast-to-coast wins in the sprint division

Sprinters took the stage at Saratoga and Del Mar Saturday, with Promises Fulfilled and Imperial Hint showing off in New York and Ransom the Moon upsetting Roy H in for the second summer in a row in Southern California.

Up at the Spa, Promises Fulfilled proved himself a successful sprinter against other 3 year olds in the Grade 3 Amsterdam Stakes, earning his first win since the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in March. Later on the card, Imperial Hint drew off in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap under wraps. Trained by Luis Carvajal Jr. out of Parx, the 5 year old was runner-up in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and could be looking to rebound in the race this year.

In the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at the seaside oval, 2017 Eclipse Champion Male Sprinter Roy H was installed as the favorite for the second consecutive year. Also repeated from last year, Ransom the Moon ran down Roy H to earn an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, won by Roy H last year. It was the first win in a year for Ransom the Moon, who finished fifth in the last Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Pharoah's family keeps winning at Del Mar

On Saturday, Chasing Yesterday, a half-sister to American Pharoah, made a winning debut at Del Mar, putting in an eye-catching performance to win by 4 ¼ lengths. The 2-year-old Tapit filly was the third consecutive American Pharoah sibling to break their maiden at 2 at Del Mar. In 2016, American Cleopatra, a full sister to the 2015 Triple Crown champion, won on debut before finishing second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. St Patrick’s Day, a full brother, also came on the scene a year later to break his maiden second time out. American Pharoah also broke his maiden at Del Mar in 2014 second time out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.