Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, September 5

Anna’s Bandit. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s your five-minute read to get caught up on all of it:

TIMONIUM

• Anna’s Bandit continued her East Coast sprinting spree on Saturday, winning the $75,000 Timonium Distaff as the 1-5 favorite. She rated off the early speed duel between Truly Hot and Past Perfect, while staying towards the inside. Truly Hot was the first to fold, and Past Perfect attempted to kick clear on the turn. In the last sixteenth, Past Perfect tired, and with a “goodbye” wave from Xaiver Perez, Anna’s Bandit rolled on by for her third stakes win of the year. She’s owned by No Guts No Glory Farm and was trained by John Robb.
• Kevin Gomez won the riding title, winning seven races over the seven-day meet. He took the title away from Xavier Perez with a three-win day on Monday, including a victory in the finale with Shackforlove. Perez had a chance to wrestle it back in that same race, but did no better than sixth with Dixie’s Fascinator. Anthony Farrior won the training race, with seven wins. And thus concludes the 2019 Timonium meeting.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

MONMOUTH PARK

• The long layoff was no problem for Postulation on Saturday, as he won the Presious Passion Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths. He rated off loose leader Saratoga Jack, who opened up by five lengths in the early stages of the 12-furlong race. When Saratoga Jack gave way, Postulation made his move and drew off. He’s owned by Runnymede Racing LLC, trained by Michael Matz, and was ridden by Paco Lopez. This race was one of five victories for Lopez on the Saturday card. 
• A jam-packed Sunday program featured five stakes races, with the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes serving as the headliner. Divisidero won as the 7/5 second favorite, rallying from last place to win by a length. This marked his first stakes win of the year, after back-to-back runner-up performances. He’s owned by Goldwood Farms, trained by Kelly Rubley, and was ridden by Julian Pimentel.
• Big City Bob took the field to upset city in the Sapling Stakes, prevailing by a neck at 26/1. He was well back early on, and was forced to rally wide on the second turn and in the stretch. However, he never stopped grinding, and got up in the last strides of the one-mile contest by a neck over Skyscanner. This marked the second victory of Big City Bob’s short career, with both coming at Monmouth Park. He’s owned by Colts Neck Stable, trained by Jorge Duarte, and was ridden by Chris DeCarlo.
• Earlier in the day, the Colts Neck/Duarte combination teamed up with Goldwood, who continued her torrid summer with a victory in the Safely Kept Stakes. She dueled early on with longshot Valuable Package, then brushed her off and kicked away to win by a length. That victory completes a sweep of all four turf sprint stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park. Jose Ferrer was the victorious jockey.
• Lopez’s big day on Saturday propelled him up to 80 victories on the meet. He’s just ten away from catching Nik Juarez, who has 90 wins with just under two months left in the season.
• Jorge Navarro remains well out in front in the trainer race, with 60 victories. Kelly Breen won two races over the weekend, putting him in second place by himself, with 30 scores.

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