Monty Haul and Gryvon, each coming off an impressive victory during the winter meet, will vie for favoritism and face seven other optional-claiming rivals in Thursday’s $42,000 main event at Gulfstream Park, carded at seven furlongs.
Jockey Taylor Hole is one win away from his 2,000th career victory.
Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux may be the biggest fan of Head South, who starts in an optional claimer for sprinters at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Joe Bravo had a busy Preakness Week. On Monday he rode at Parx Racing, Friday he was at Belmont Park, and on Saturday he finished second on 25-1 shot Cage Fighter in the Grade 2 Dixie and third on Happy My Way in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint at Pimlico. Back home at Monmouth Park on Sunday, he notched career win No. 4,999. His milestone 5,000th victory could come as early as Wednesday when he is scheduled to ride for trainer Jason Servis in the ninth race at Belmont.
In a six-week span from mid-March to late April, the Little Red Feather racing partnership won eight races at Santa Anita with six horses.Those runners earned a collective $388,280. In the next month, they could collect even more.
Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan has done well over the past few weeks in his recovery from a fracture to his right ankle, trainer Charlie LoPresti said Sunday at Churchill Downs.
Saturday’s Grade 3 Louisville Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on turf is shaping up light, with Majestic Harbor, predominantly a dirt runner, the possible starting highweight at 116 pounds.
Unlike Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah, who is bidding the become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years in the Belmont Stakes June 6, the Kentucky Oaks winner won’t be running in New York anytime soon.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer may not be holding all the aces for Monday’s $100,000, Grade 3 All American at one mile on the Golden Gate Fields main track, but he has three of them.
Chortle has raced mostly in stakes or stakes-quality allowance races in 2014-15, facing stakes-winning sprinters Spring Included, Street Story, Sugar Shock, and My Option, among others.
