Around the Backstretch

A few quick links to the stories and replays from the events making headlines on Saturday around the racing world:

• Well-Traveled Ron the Greek Captures Lecomte | BloodHorse.com
  Closing from out of the clouds, Ron the Greek ran down favored Maximus Ruler in the final strides to capture the $100,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3) by 1 1/2 lengths at Fair Grounds Jan. 23.
  
• Winslow Homer a Thing of Beauty in Holy Bull | BloodHorse.com
  Winslow Homer moved into striking position approaching the turn, splits horses at the top of the lane and held off 2-1 favorite Jackson Bend to win the Holy Bull by a length in his stakes debut Jan. 23.
• F. W. Gaudin Memorial S. | Races | BloodHorse.com
  Cash Refund rolls past Euroears and the rest of the field to capture the F.W. Gaudin Memorial Stakes at the Fair Grounds.
• Kinsale King too strong in Palos Verdes - Thoroughbred Times
  Kinsale King took the lead in early stretch and easily surged away from Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Dancing in Silks to win the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap (G2) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
• No Catching Friesan Fire in Louisiana 'Cap | BloodHorse.com
  Favored Friesan Fire scored his first victory since his romp in last spring's Louisiana Derby (G2) when he led all the way under Shaun Bridgmohan to take the $72,750 Louisiana Handicap at Fair Grounds by 1 3/4 lengths Jan. 23.

The speed figures are back on all of Saturday's stakes action, which you can find at the DRF.  Ron the Greek earned a 90, Winslow Homer a 91, and Cash Refund, with his dominating performance at the Fair Grounds, earned a 97.  The top Beyer of the day?  A 109 earned by Wall Street Wonder in the Paumonok Stakes at Aqueduct.

In a bit of news that I missed on Friday, if you're a player at Mid-Atlantic tracks or OTBs you received some good news as TrackNet and the Mid-Atlantic Cooperative resolved their longstanding dispute.  

And one final note, I've updated the North American Graded Stakes spreadsheet to reflect the results of all graded events as of yesterday, for your reference.