Bringing the Heat Speightstown colt Salamis earned his first graded stakes badge with a spicy showing in Saturday’s $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1T) at Del Mar. Closing from sixth with Umberto Rispoli in the irons, Salamis turned a dawdling pace into a sizzling display of late speed, outlasting multiple stakes winner Tom’s Magic for the breakthrough score. The dark bay out of First Defense mare Antonoe successfully avenged a fifth in her graded debut, which came on October 25 in the Grade 3 Bryan Station at Keeneland. Trained by Chad Brown for breeder/owner Juddmonte, Salamis is now 3-0-2 from seven starts ($353,363). At 3-1 in the Hollywood, Salamis paid $8.20. Bella of the Ball After waltzing her way to victory in her professional debut, Bella Ballerina elevated to the graded level for Saturday’s $400,000 Golden Rod (G2), and didn’t disappoint. Testing the iconic grounds of Churchill Downs for the first time, the 2-year-old daughter of Street Sense–Pretty City Dancer took a confident 3 ½-length lead at the stretch into the push for home. While fatigue set in and whittled the final margin down to a half-length, Bella Ballerina prevailed unbothered for the landmark triumph. Off to a perfect two-for-two start for trainer Brendan Walsh, the bay, bred and owned by Godolphin, paid $10.28 at 4-1. A Little Further A tough-minded effort from Further Ado in Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Oaks (G2) at Churchill Downs (G2) led the Spendthrift Farm colt to his first graded stakes title. Teamed with rider Irad Ortiz Jr. in his stakes debut – graded or otherwise – Further Ado trailed leader Soldier N Diplomat by 3 ½ lengths at the stretch. Not fretting, the Gun Runner bay and Ortiz executed a strong move in the six path to gain the advantage and rumble clear for the 1 ¾-length decision. The gritty display improved Further Ado to 2-0-1 through four lifetime starts for trainer Brad Cox. As the 3-5 choice Saturday, Further Ado paid $3.42. Underdog Story Call Sign Seven’s trend of finishing well off the board in one start then winning the next continued as a 68-1 dart throw in Saturday’s $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar. Returning from an eight-month layoff that began after a seventh in a March claiming contest, Call Sign Seven found himself stuck in second-last through the majority of the 1 1/16-mile test. However, flying under the radar is nothing new to Call Sign Seven, who snuck through on the rail to complete the remarkable comeback for his first stakes success. Heading into the Seabiscuit, the 4-year-old colt had recorded finishes of eighth, first, sixth, first, and the aforementioned seventh. Now at 3-0-0 from six starts ($190,500), Call Sign Seven paid $139. California Love Segesta made the most of her first appearance on the West Coast, capturing the $300,000 Matriarch (G1T) on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Del Mar. Sent off as the one-mile turf contest’s 8-5 choice, Segesta, with rider Flavien Prat aboard, saved her best for last to pull away from the pack of nine for the smooth 2 1/4-length score. With the stellar outing, the Ghostzapper bay notched her third career graded stakes badge (Grade 2 Wonder Again and Grade 3 Matchmaker) and first at the top level. Now standing at 11: 4-4-0 with nearly $1.2 million in the bank for owner/breeder Juddmonte, Segesta paid $5.40. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
