Hollywood Park

Champs Elysees returned to the turf in Saturday’s $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, after an unsuccessful effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and again demonstrated his ability on the green. After tracking the pace and saving ground until the final turn, the 5-year-old, British-bred son of Danehill came out for running room and edged clear to win by 1/2 length over Obrigado. Church Service finished third. Champs Elysees, with Jose Valdivia Jr. in the irons, ran the 1 1/2 miles on firm going in 2:27.71. Winning trainer Bobby Frankel said the surface change wasn’t as important as other factors. “He likes each surface equally,” Frankel said. “He got sick in the middle of the summer so I think that’s why he had those two bad races, but he was really going into this race really well. I told Jose to try and make him break good, but don’t worry about rushing him or anything.”

Slew’s Tizzy stalked the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 Native Diver Handicap, got a head in front midway down the stretch, and finally got clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Past the Point. Ball Four was third. Slew’s Tizzy, a 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred colt by Tiznow, ran the 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:46.78 under Joel Rosario. It was also a redemption for Slew’s Tizzy after an 11^th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. In that race, Rosario said, “I got bumped real hard by the horses inside me and outside me. My horse wanted to go, but it was a big field and they were going real fast. Today he was much more relaxed and more confident. It’s harder to race between horses because you’re under pressure the whole time, but he handled it great.”

Briecat was first out of the gate in Sunday’s $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap, for fillies and mares, and extended the advantage to win by 2 1/4 lengths over the favorite, Model. Wake Up Maggie finished third. Briecat, a 3-year-old, Florida-bred filly by Adcat, ran the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:40.38 under Jon Court.

Calder Race Course

Spice Route was reserved early in Saturday’s $100,000 Tropical Turf Handicap, worked to the lead late in the stretch drive, and just prevailed by a nose over the favorite, Soldier’s Dancer. A.P. Magic was third. Spice Route, a 4-year-old, British-bred gelding by King’s Best, ran the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:48.41, with Javier Castellano up for trainer Roger Attfield. “He was turning back in distance from the longer races in Canada,” Attfield noted. “But I wasn’t concerned. I’ve always thought he could be a good miler.”

Wild Promises led from gate to wire in Saturday’s $100,000 My Charmer Handicap, for fillies and mares, winning by 1 length over Callwood Dancer. Rutherienne was third as the favorite. Wild Promises, a 4-year-old, Florida-bred filly by Wild Event out of the Frosty the Snowman mare Frosty Promises, got the 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:47.78, with Aaron Gryder riding. Winning trainer Greg Gilchrist said he had “pretty much kept her protected racing at home (Northern California) until now, but I felt that she had earned a chance to go on to bigger things, and Calder has always been good to us in the past.” He said he hopes to come back to Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24th, for the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf.

Aqueduct

Haynesfield led from gate to wire in Sunday’s $75,000 Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds, winning by 5 1/4 lengths over Fiddlers Afleet. Legal Consent was third. Haynesfield, a chestnut son of Speightstown, got the 1 mile and 70 yards on the inner track in 1:42.95. Ramon Dominguez rode for trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn.

Don’t Forget Gil stalked the pace in Sunday’s $75,000 East View Stakes, for state-bred 2-year-old fillies, got the lead turning for home, and won by a comfortable 3 3/4 lengths over the favorite, Submerge. Soave was third. Don’t Forget Gil, a daughter of Kafwain, ran the 1 mile and 70 yards in 1:46.34, after closing into a glacial pace. Rajiv Maragh had the mount for trainer Mark Hennig.

Turfway Park

Kiss With a Twist bobbled at the start in Saturday’s $50,000 My Charmer Stakes, for fillies and mares, then was forced to work through horses to get to the lead in the stretch. Despite the added tasks, the 4-year-old, Kentucky-bred Lemon Drop Kid filly got the job done, beating Cryptoquip by 2 1/4 lengths. Lauren’s Tizzy was third. Kiss With a Twist, under Miguel Mena, ran the 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:47.52.