When Tale of Verve failed to draw into the field for the Kentucky Derby, his connections immediately began thinking about the Belmont Stakes as an ideal race for their long-distance-running 3-year-old.
Although Pedro Terrero won the sixth race at Golden Gate Fields aboard 6-5 favorite Smart Ellis on Friday, apprentice jockey David Lopez also was a winner in the race.
Some small fields and a 2-year-old maiden race chockfull of first-timers smack in the middle of the card make it tricky to put together some multirace plays on the Sunday card. I’ve settled for an end-of-the-day pick three, though the favorites hold strong hands in those races, so unless you can topple them, it’s not likely to be a “wow!” hit for you. And the small fields make your options as far as trying to beat those favorites limited.
Colerful Bride took advantage of a spirited duel between the heavily favored M B Prize and Kera Kera when rallying past that pair for a three-length win in Friday night's $69,566 Bob Bryant, a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old Iowa-bred fillies.
On a bright, warm Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah was sent through what figures to be his final gallop here, as the colt was tentatively scheduled to have his final breeze here Sunday in preparation for the Belmont Stakes on June 6.
State Treasurer gutted out a tough first-over trip to get up on the shadow of the wire over a stubborn All Bets Off to win Friday's Molson Cup at Western Fair in stakes record time of 1:51.
Pinkman, last year’s 2-year-old champion trotting colt, may have been the star attraction on the Friday program at The Meadows, but it was another Jimmy Takter-trained colt that stole the show. Uncle Lasse put up a track record 1:51 4/5 clocking while winning the first of three $63,739 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions.
Duramente, the winner of the Japanese 2000 Guineas on April 19, and Satono Rasen, the winner of the Grade 2 Shimbun Hai at Kyoto Racecourse earlier this month, are two leading contenders for Sunday’s $3,351,865 Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse.
DRF handicapper Matt Bernier provides his best plays for Saturday's program at Santa Anita.
DRF handicapper Dan Illman provides his best plays for Saturday's program at Belmont Park.
