Sunday Stakes

- American Oaks winner Cesario is owned by a partnership in Japan, made up of 230 partners who paid $350 (American) apiece for their shares.. [Bloodhorse] She seemed to be flipping out a bit on the track before the race, but his jockey Yuichi Fukunaga said "She's always like that in the post parade.” She worked out a great trip from the outside post, and stormed home in :23.28. I was quite impressed by runner up and favorite Melhor Ainda; she was further back than usual having gotten off to a stumbling start, was wide around the turn, and rallied from far back to be second John Velasquez said: “For us, it was all over at the start." [LA Times] No disgrace for Frankel’s filly making just her fifth start. TVG was really trying to play up the race, but despite their and Hollywood Park’s best intentions, it’s hard for me to see where this race will become a major attraction in this country, especially if they don’t get it on national TV.

Nice to see Whilly bounce back yesterday and win the G2 American Invitational Handicap. He’d gotten good over the winter, taking the San Marcos at Santa Anita, and put in a fine second in the Dubai Duty Free on World Cup day. After a 5th in the G1 Shoemaker BC, he paid a handsome $16.20 in winning yesterday. He set the pace and never really got a breather, going sub- :24 seconds all the way, and repelling favorite King of Happiness slipping up the rail, getting the final eighth in 12.09.

- In the Astoria for 2 yo fillies at Belmont yesterday, Pletcher’s Adieu took a ton of late money and held off a host of challengers to win by 1 1/4. It’s the first stakes winner for first crop sire El Corredor (Mr. Greeley), who stands for $20,000 at Hill n Dale Farms in Kentucky. Adieu was a $300,000 purchase at the February Fasig-Tipton 2 yo in training sale, and I imagine we’ll see an ad in the Form about how Breeze-Figs had this one picked out.