In addition to the quartet of juvenile stakes at Fair Grounds, the Santa Super Saturday card offered opportunities for the older brigade as well. Chief among them was Grade 1 veteran Two Emmys.

A year and a half after rallying to victory in the 2022 Blue Grass (G1), four-year-old Zandon returned to the winner’s circle with a blowout victory in Sunday’s $400,000 Woodward S. (G2) at Aqueduct.

Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll got the solid pace set-up and 1 3/16-mile trip he loves in Friday’s $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3), but it almost wasn’t enough.

Remsen (G2) runner-up Arctic Arrogance was the one to beat in the next Road to the Kentucky Derby contest at Aqueduct, Saturday’s Jerome S., and Lugan Knight did just that in ultra-game fashion.

Trainer Phil D’Amato swept both graded turf stakes on Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita, in contrasting styles. Count Again got up on the wire in the $503,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1), while Leggs Galore wired the $202,500 Buena Vista (G2).

Successful title defenses were the theme at Santa Anita on Saturday. Merneith rebuffed Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) heroine Ce Ce to retain her crown in the Santa Monica (G2), and Express Train likewise scored a repeat in the San Pasqual (G2).

Upsets were the theme of the afternoon in a trio of off-the-turf graded stakes on opening day at Santa Anita.

Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) winner and San Felipe S. (G2) runner-up Medina Spirit will be the horse to beat in Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.