Donegal Racing’s Ballagh Rocks got the class break he needed in the $300,000 Poker Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park June 18 and he took advantage of it to add his first graded stakes victory to his resume.

None could muster enough to challenge Senga, as the striking bay blaze-faced filly passed the finish a length ahead of Sistercharlie in the Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks, G1) June 18.

William Peeples’ Spirit of Shanghai became the first winner for her sire Shanghai Bobby when she took a maiden claiming race for juvenile fillies at Santa Anita Park June 18 by a length. 

Woodford Racing’s Timeline kept his undefeated streak alive when he coasted to an easy victory in the $100,000 Betfair.com Pegasus Stakes (G3) June 18 at Monmouth Park. 

Trainer Richard Mandella was hopeful Claiborne Farm’s homebred Bendable would come back as strong as she was before she fractured a splint bone in October, but he wanted to see her do it on the racetrack.

Poseidon’s Warrior was represented by his first winner June 18, when his son Firenze Fire won a five-furlong maiden special weight at Monmouth Park by 3 1/2 lengths.

While most of the attention “across the pond” in America is focused on Miss Temple City’s appearance in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), the Royal Ascot opening day feature for most of the locals will be the St. James’s Palace (G1).

Journeyman Horacio Karamanos, a perennial leading rider in Maryland since his arrival in 2002, celebrated Father’s Day in style, winning the third race June 18 at Laurel Park for his 2,000th career victory.

Kimberlea K held a 5 1/4-length lead to score decisively on debut at Golden Gate Fields June 17, giving freshmen sire Indian Evening his first winner.

After a stint at Julie Adair-Stack’s farm—where trainer Richard Mandella also sent four-time champion Beholder for some time off—Paradise Woods got back to serious training June 18 at Santa Anita Park with an easy half-mile breeze.

Trainer Steve Asmussen was still beaming the morning of June 18 following Gun Runner’s stellar seven-length victory in Saturday night’s $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs.

For trainers Garry and Zack Simms, Father’s Day holds a special meaning for the father-son team since Garry was diagnosed with cancer nearly eight years ago.

Sweeping Paddy tracked the early leaders before he launched a four-wide move in the stretch to take over and quickly drew away for a 3 1/2-length win over 5-2 favorite Proctor’s Ledge in the $100,000 Regret Stakes (G3T) June 17 at Churchill Downs.

In his first start since finishing second in the March 25 Dubai World Cup (G1), Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner drew off in the stretch for an easy victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) June 17 at Churchill Downs.

Baoma Corporation’s Faypien continued her trip up the class ladder June 17 with a victory in the $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita Park, but she needed every ounce of effort in the final strides.

Stretching out in distance and traveling around two turns finally resulted in a graded stakes win for Cheyenne Stables’ Classy Class in the $100,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park June 17.

The McCraken that inspires confidence from trainer Ian Wilkes is the one that showed up in the June 17 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, unleashing his typical kick after ranging up on the final turn en route to a 2 1/4-length triumph. 

Unleashing a sustained rally entering the far turn, Kasaqui (ARG) carried that momentum to the finish to post a 2 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) June 17 on the turf at Churchill Downs.