A Maryland Senate budget committee meeting on Friday that was called to discuss legislation that would deed Pimlico to the state and lead to the reconstruction of the track drew outsized opposition to a small portion of the bill that would divert several million dollars of capital-expenditure money from a harness track in the state to a Thoroughbred track.
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ELMONT, N.Y. - The ground shook and part of the earth moved at Belmont Park on Friday morning. It was totally unrelated to the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Northeast, the epicenter of which was some 75 miles away in Lebanon, N.J.
Todd Pletcher, the Hall of Fame trainer, has secured a temporary stay of a 14-day suspension recently issued by the New York State Gaming Commission for an overage of the regulated medication phenylbutazone, according to his attorney.
1/ST Racing, the owner of Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, among other racing assets, has reached an agreement with the operator of numerous courses in the United Kingdom to provide automatic berths and travel incentives to a handful of their races this year.
We may now know who the favorite is for Kentucky Derby 150. By nightfall Saturday, we should have a pretty good line on the field likely to line up against impressive Florida Derby winner Fierceness at Churchill Downs on May 4.
WHO’S HOT
Fierceness is back, with a vengeance. The 2023 male juvenile champion scored a dazzling victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, winning by more than 13 lengths, earning a 110 Beyer Speed Figure, and reclaiming the role of early Kentucky Derby favorite. Derby Watch linemaker David Aragona lowered the price on Fierceness to 3-1.
Amr Zedan, the owner of Arkansas Derby winner Muth, has filed a lawsuit against Churchill Downs Inc. seeking a temporary injunction that would allow his horse to run in this year’s Kentucky Derby despite a ban on the horse’s trainer, Bob Baffert, according to a press release issued by Zedan’s public-relations firm and a copy of the lawsuit.
Endlessly is scheduled for his first workout over the Churchill Downs dirt track Friday or Saturday, although his Kentucky Derby status is uncertain. Endlessly has won five of six on turf and synthetic, including four stakes and a four-length victory March 23 in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Endlessly earned 100 Derby qualifying points.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Timberlake will not advance to the Kentucky Derby following his fourth-place finish in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday.
Timberlake was the favorite for last Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and set the pace to about the quarter pole before being overtaken by winner Muth. Timberlake was beaten 6 3/4 lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 88. The start came one race after Timberlake won the Grade 2 Rebel at 1 1/16 miles in February at Oaklawn.
Le Dom Bro, runner-up in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 2, and Tapalo, runner-up in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 10, head a group of nine 3-year-olds who were made late nominees to the Triple Crown, it was announced Tuesday by Churchill Downs.