Horse Racing News on April 6, 2013

Two races after Beholder coasted in the Santa Anita Oaks, Jimmy Creed gave owner Spendthrift Farm, trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Garrett Gomez their second major score on Saturday's card in the Grade 2, $150,250 Potrero Grande at Santa Anita.

Verrazano turned back the challenge of Vyjack and held off a late-closing Normandy Invasion in a formful edition of the $1 million Wood Memorial.

Goldencents was back on top of his game April 6, turning back even-money choice Flashback to capture the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Having chased returning rivals Discreet Dancer and Fort Loudon in a pair of recent stakes at Gulfstream Park, Silverton Hill's Swagger Jack earned a little payback Saturday in the Grade 1, $400,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.

Juddmonte Farms' Close Hatches successfully passed the stakes test on Saturday when holding off Princess of Sylmar to take the Grade 2, $250,000 Gazelle.

Beholder was in a race of her own, turning in a dominant performance to easily win the April 6 Santa Anita Oaks, her third grade I score at Santa Anita Park.

Juddmonte Farms homebred Emollient established a clear lead early and then opened up on her dozen rivals in the stretch to register an easy victory in the $500,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes.

David Blethen's Withgreatpleasure grabbed the lead turning for home and held on for a three-quarter victory April 6 in the Ruffian Handicap to kick off the stakes action on Wood Memorial Stakes day at Aqueduct.