‘Prayer wins fifth stakes
River’s Prayer has made her victories count.
The 4-year-old Devon Lane filly has won six races in her career, five of them stakes.
The latest was Sunday’s $108,700 Las Cienegas Handicap, as the 19-10 second choice remained unbeaten in three starts on the Santa Anita turf course.
Owned in part by trainer Paula Capestro, the California-bred gray led virtually throughout under jockey Clinton Potts, defeating 13-10 favorite Indian Flare by half a length. River’s Prayer ran the about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12.99.
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With the Kentucky Derby less than three weeks away, it is possible 40% of the field will be trained by Todd Pletcher and Doug O’Neill.
Twenty 3-year-olds are allowed to start in the Derby, which will be run May 5 at Churchill Downs. Pletcher is planning on having five in the race. O’Neill has three probables.
In search of his first Derby victory, Pletcher is set to send out Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy, Any Given Saturday, Circular Quay, Sam P. and Illinois Derby winner Cowtown Cat.
Even with the absence of Notional, who underwent surgery to repair an injury to his left front leg Sunday, O’Neill will run Great Hunter, Liquidity and Cobalt Blue. Great Hunter is one of five who ran in the Blue Grass being pointed to the Derby. The first four finishers -- Dominican, Street Sense, Zanjero and Teuflesberg -- also plan to participate.
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The Nth Degree, a 12-1 shot, came from off the pace to win the $110,200 Shakertown Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland.
Eddie Castro rode the 6-year-old Distorted Humor gelding for owner-breeder Rodney Winkler and trainer Eduardo Caramori in the Grade III. The win was the fifth in 26 starts for The Nth Degree, who ran the 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:03.94.
Go beyond the scoreboard
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