Crowned Dancer Recovers

An equipment change and a poor start by the even-money favorite helped Crowned Dancer make amends for his failure in last month’s Haggin Stakes on Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Racing in blinkers for the first time, Crowned Dancer, the 5-2 second choice, led throughout under jockey Alex Solis and went on to beat 5-1 shot Outta Here by two lengths in the $108,300 Hollywood Juvenile Championship.

Owned by the Eastern Sky Unlimited Trust and Charles and Karen Cono, and trained by Chris Paasch, the son of Tactical Advantage, who was purchased for $225,000 earlier this year in Florida, won for the second time in four starts and completed the six furlongs in 1:10.

Outta Here, a maiden making his second start after a runner-up try at 35-1 behind the promising Inamorato two weeks earlier, finished a length in front of 11-1 shot Chief Planner, who finished half a length in front of stablemate and favorite Kafwain.

A $720,000 purchase by Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corp. who had broken his maiden in quick time on June 22, Kafwain hesitated leaving the gate and effectively lost all chance. He made a bid while wide to get into contention around the turn, but weakened a bit late and wound up 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

“His first two races were so good, I thought his last race was too bad to be believed,” Paasch said of Crowned Dancer. “He had a slight temperature the next day. When he came back to work, my exercise rider said he seemed to be bored and looked around a lot, so we tried blinkers. The blinkers really turned this horse around.”

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A stumbling start wasn’t enough to thwart Jilbab in the $350,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park.

Seemingly eliminated at the break when she nearly went to her nose, the 3-year-old third choice overtook 12-1 shot Tarnished Lady to win the Grade I by 1 1/2 lengths. Ridden by Mike Luzzi for Godolphin Racing Inc. and trainer Saeed bin Suroor, Jilbab completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:31 2/5. It was her third win in seven starts and first in a graded stakes.

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Magic Weisner, the 7-5 second choice, wore down favored Wiseman’s Ferry in the final strides to win the $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

Owned, bred and trained by Nancy Alberts and ridden by Richard Migliore, Magic Weisner, a gelded son of Ameri Valay, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 4/5. Best known for finishing second at 45-1 in the Preakness, Magic Weisner has won seven of 13 and has banked $673,110.

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Allamerican Bertie, the 5-2 third choice, rolled to a 6 1/4-length victory over 9-5 favorite Alternate in the $250,300 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park.

Owned by Bertram, Elaine and Richard Klein and trained by Steve Flint, the 3-year-old Quiet American filly completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43 4/5 under jockey Larry Melancon.

Adoration, a two-time stakes winner at Hollywood Park for trainer Dave Hofmans, finished sixth and last under Garrett Gomez as the 2-1 second choice.

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Jockey Patrick Valenzuela clinched the riding title at Hollywood Park with three more victories Saturday.

He has a 70-60 lead over Solis going into the 65th and final day of the meet.