Samraat puts away Uncle Sigh

NEW YORK - Samraat remained undefeated with a hard fought victory over Uncle Sigh on Saturday in the $250,000 Withers Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

The colt trained by Rick Violette improved to 4 for 4 with the 1-length victory. He also picked up 10 qualifying points toward a starting spot in the Kentucky Derby.

Samraat cruised to easy victories in his first three races, all against New York breds. Tackling open company for the first time, Samraat faced an equally determined foe in Uncle Sigh.

Uncle Sigh jumped out to the early lead from the rail, and Samraat, with Jose Ortiz aboard, went right with him. Uncle Sigh held a slight advantage until midway on the final turn as Samraat relentlessly pressing the pace on his flank.

It was a head-to-head battle from that point until Samraat edged clear in deep stretch.

“This was a tough race,” Violette said. “You’ve got to have a tough race before you get to the bigger races. They have to learn how to fight.”

Violette listed three possible stakes for Samraat’s next assignment, including two at Aqueduct: the $500,000 Gotham on March 1 or the $1 million Wood Memorial on April 5. The $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 29 is also under consideration.

The time was 1:46.31 for the 1 1-16 miles on the fast track.

Samraat paid $4.30, $2.50 and $2.10 and Uncle Sigh returned $2.60 and $2.20. Both were even-money choices on the tote board.

GULFSTREAM PARK Wildcats Red takes step

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Wildcat Red took the lead coming out of the final turn and romped to a 4¾-length victory over C. Zee in the $200,000 Hutcheson Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Wildcat Red won the Grade 2 7-furlong race in 1:22.21 and paid $6.00, $3.80 and $2.60.

Trainer Jose Garoffalo said he expects Wildcat Red’s next race will be the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on Feb. 22.

That Grade 2 race is 1 1/16 miles, the longest yet for Wildcat Red.

SANTA ANITA Fashion Plate uncatchable

ARCADIA, Calif. - Fashion Plate led all the way in winning the $300,000 Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a half-length at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Fashion Plate, ridden by Gary Stevens, ran 1 mile in 1:37.22 and paid $11.40, $4.40 and $3.80 at 9-2 odds in the Grade 1 race.

In the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes, Winning Prize, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, pounced on pacesetter Regally Ready in deep stretch to win by 1½ lengths.

Winning Prize ran one mile on the turf in 1:32.89 and paid $7.40, $4.60 and $3.

SAM F. DAVIS Vinceremos wins by nose

TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Vinceremos, sent off at odds of 12-1, beat stablemate Harpoon by a nose in Saturday’s Grade III $200,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Vinceremos, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Edgar Prado, was fourth entering the far turn, but he surged to a 1½ -length lead with a furlong to go.

Harpoon, the 3-2 second choice, also trained by Pletcher, was forced to angle out four wide and ran out of room as Vinceremos, a son of Pioneer of the Nile, got up just in time for his first stakes victory, running the distance in 1:47.34.

TRIPLE CROWN 413 nominated

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Undefeated Shared Belief and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Havana lead the list of 413 early nominees for the Triple Crown series for 3-year olds.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has 18 nominations, followed by Steve Asmussen with 13 and D. Wayne Lukas with 12.

Asmussen and Luksas have horsers at Oaklawn Park.

Sports, Pages 25 on 02/02/2014

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