Creme Fraiche Wins American Derby

Creme Fraiche, winner of last month’s Belmont Stakes, upset Smile in the 75th running of the $169,000 American Derby Saturday at Arlington Park outside Chicago.

Ridden by Eddie Maple, Creme Fraiche stayed within two lengths of pace-setting Smile throughout the race and charged past the 7-5 favorite late in the stretch to win by a length.

Calumet Farm’s Red Attack, closing fastest of all in the 1-mile race, beat Smile by three-quarters of a length for second.

Clock Tower and Nordic Scandal completed the field of five 3-year-olds before a combined crowd of 22,815, which included 4,806 bettors at Sportsman’s Park and Maywood Park.

Creme Fraiche, a gelding, has earned $96,000 to increase his career total to $787,004.

Creme Fraiche, carrying co-high weight of 123 pounds with Smile, was timed in 2:01 3/5, paying $4 to win.

At Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., jockey Abigail Fuller rode Mom’s Command to victory in the $230,600 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park. With the victory, Mom’s Command became the sixth winner of New York’s Triple Crown for fillies.

The filly’s owner (and Abigail’s father), Peter Fuller, said after the race that he would like to match his filly against Kentucky Derbe winner Spend a Buck.

Mom’s Command led almost all the way in winning the 1 1/2-mile Oaks by 2 1/2 lengths over Bessarabian. Her time of 2:32 was the slowest Oaks since it has been run at 1 1/2 miles, beginning in 1971. Mom’s Command, who earned $142,560, returned $3 to win.

Bessarabian finished second, Foxy Dean third.

Arewehavingfunyet drew off from six rivals in the final furlong to win the $102,450 Landaluce Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Bill Shoemaker, Arewehavingfunyet finished 2 3/4 lengths in front of the favored Fashion Dynasty, ridden by Rafael Meza. La Codorniz, ridden by Laffit Pincay, was third.

Arewehavingfunyet, trained by Wayne Lukas, ran the six furlongs in 1:10 and paid $7.80 to win. It was Shoemaker’s 926th stakes victory.