MIAMI -- Something Ventured and Host came from behind to win close victories in $100,000 graded stake races Saturday at Calder Race Course.
Something Ventured beat Snowdrops by a length in the My Charmer Handicap for fillies and mares on the grass. Host rallied from sixth on the final turn to edge Silver Tree by a neck in the Tropical Turf Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.
The double victories made it a perfect day for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Something Ventured ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:46 3-5 and paid $14.20, $6.40 and $3.80. Snowdrops paid $4 and $2.80, while 8-5 favorite Changing World returned $2.40.
Velazquez also rode Host, who ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:45 3-5 and paid $5.40, $2.80 and $2.80. Silver Tree paid $2.80 and $2.60, and 48-1 shot Demeteor paid $11.20.
Something Ventured is owned by Irvin Wiener and John McLane and is a 5-year-old daughter of Cobra King. Chilean-bred Host is owned by Laura and Eugene Melnyk and has won seven of 12 starts.
In other races, 18-1 shot Leona's Knight beat favorite Smuggler in the $100,000 Three Ring Stakes for fillies.
Leona's Knight, ridden by Carlos Olivero, went 1 1/16 miles on the dirt in 1:49 1/5 and returned $38.60, $7.80 and $2.10. Smuggler paid $2.40 and $2.10, while Southern Serenity paid $2.10.
Better Than Bonds rallied from next to last to beat G P's Black Knight in the $100,000 What A Pleasure Stakes for colts and geldings.
Ridden by Brice Blanc, Better Than Bonds paid $4.40, $4.40 and $3.40. G P's Black Knight paid $11.20 and $5.40, while Cherokee Chase returned $7.20.
