First-Timer Cherokee Queen looked home free, but Rich Citizen kept coming and just got her head in front. Go Go Pink, who was the best looking horse in the post parade, went off as the favorite, but she couldn't keep pace with the top two.

Dancingcolors sold for $100,000 as a yearling. Her dam, Forever Rainbows, was unraced, but she has produced 2 winners. Forever Rainbows is also a half-sister to 9 winners including Kentucky Derby winner and champion Winning Colors.

Another new face was Conga Queen, our first Congaree worker. A filly out of the Hawkin's Special mare, Special Test, Conga Queen worked 3 furlongs in :37.80 at Lone Star Park on 3/25. Special Test was a stakes winner who earned $207,656. She has produced 3 winners including the stakes winner, Adopted Daughter, who earned $255,850.

The first notice of a Speightstown 2-year old working out was received as Pick's Express (Speightstown - Program Pick by Peterhof) went 2 furlongs in 26:00 on 3/21/08 at New Episode Training Center.

The dam of Cape Cod Bay (Cape Town - Augusta Springs by Nijinsky II) earned $55,600 and finished 3rd in the Valley View Stakes on the turf. She has produced 4 winners including Buffythecenterfold who won or placed in 10 graded stakes and earned $527,685.

Game Show went off as the favorite, but she encountered traffic trouble and some bumps and could do no better than third. She didn't give up, however, so should come back strong. Glimmering Hope seemingly benefitted from experience, as she drew off to a professional 3-length victory.

Game Show (Deputy Minister – Vana Turns by Wavering Monarch) is the only first-timer. Game Show did not sell at auction, but she is out of a stakes winning mare, Vana Turns, who earned $154,734. Vana Turns has produced 4 winners including 1996 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Pike Place Dancer.

First-Timer Cape of Bradford set the pace, but she was passed by both Amaretta's Way and fellow debut runner, My Little Dragon. My Little Dragon, who went off at 88-1, paid a whopping $51 to place and was the bottom of $554 exact (and the middle of a $7,314 trifecta).

I was attracted to this race because of the large number of first-time starters, as half the field debuts today. The firsters are: Fan Dame, Louisiana Roux, Tomisue’s Cat, My Little Dragon, Cape of Bradford, and Polite.

First-timer Acoma was off a little slowly and lingered at the back, before making a nice run in the stretch. A number of the Empire Makers seem to be slow starters and this one should definitely improve next time.

Of course, the hunch bet of this race is Saintsgomarchingin (Include – Saint Ballad by Saint Ballado). This horse would seem to be a sure thing in New Orleans. Saintsgomarchingin sold for $40,000 as a yearling and $80,000 as a 2-year old. She is the first foal out of the unraced mare, Saint Ballad.

Dr. Smarty Jack (Smarty Jones – Hoh Buzzard (IRE) by Alhaarth (IRE)), a chestnut colt, worked 4 furlongs in :54.00 at Sunland Park on 3/5/08. Grade II stakes winner Hoh Buzzard earned $319,839 and included the Mrs. Revere (gr. II) among her victories. Dr. Smarty Jack is her first foal.

Fort Apache took all the money once again, but he couldn't run down Proud Kentuckian. Evade was along for third. Biscay Bay was much improved from his last start and looks like he may be starting to figure things out.

No first-time starters in this race, but lots of familiar faces. Three entrants ran in a Maiden Special Weight at Fair Grounds on February 16 which was profiled in this blog. Proud Kentuckian finished 2nd, finished 4th, and Biscay Bay finished 7th (and last).

First-Timer Certifiably Royal showed brief speed before fading to last. The other first time starter, Fuencia, ran 6th the whole way round. Wesley and Posse Cat (who went off at odds of 115-1) dueled through the stretch, but Ready's Echo outfinished them both. However, I think this is the last time you will get 115-1 on Posse Cat.