Horse Racing News on March 3, 2012

Ron the Greek, taking advantage of a hot pace that sapped favored Ultimate Eagle, stormed down the center of the track and drew away for a 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap

Willyconker, claimed last summer for $40,000 and risked by his current connections for $25,000 in October scoring an upset victory over highly regarded Mr. Commons in the Grade 1, $300,000 Kilroe Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita.

There is more to Eden's Moon than her new status as a Grade 1 winner in Saturday's $250,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

Doubles Partner showed little effect from a 10-month layoff when he charged home late to register a three-quarters of a length victory in the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes March 3 on the Gulfstream Park turf.

Any suggestion that Hansen was a mere a one-dimensional speedball proved unfounded in Saturday's Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham at Aqueduct.

A rare "no contest" was declared after Santa Anita's third race March 3 when the starting gate malfunctioned and only three of the seven horses came out of the gate properly.

It doesn't matter who he faces, Calibrachoa is unbeatable on the Aqueduct inner track. The former claimer took over from the pacesetters in the stretch and held off a late run from Caleb's Posse to win the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap by a neck March 3.

Saturday's 7th race at Gulfstream Park promised to be a battle between Dialed In and Pants on Fire, both 2011 Kentucky Derby alumni making their comebacks in this spot, but the allowance/optional claimer proved to be no contest at all.

Fountain of Youth winner Union Rags attracted strong support during first of three days of betting in the second pool of Churchill Downs' 2012 Kentucky Derby Future Wager, but the mutuel field ended the day as a narrow favorite March 2.

It's Tricky made a successful return to the races Saturday, persevering over a laboring muddy inner track to a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct.