Yonkers: Thursday 5/7 Analysis
Derick Giwner's analysis of the Thursday 5/7 card at Yonkers Raceway.
Derick GiwnerMay 05, 2015
Derick Giwner's analysis of the Thursday 5/7 card at Yonkers Raceway.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Thursday 5/7 card at Mohawk Racetrack.
Murderers Row is one of nine 3-year-old female trotters entered in Friday’s $39,816 John Simpson Memorial Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The filly – whose name is a reference to the moniker bestowed upon the famed New York Yankees lineup in the late 1920s – will start from post one with John Campbell driving for trainer Brett Bittle.
An interesting Thursday program begins with the first 2-year-old maiden dash at Belmont’s spring-summer meet, followed by a trio of $77,000 allowance or optional-claiming races with preliminary conditions.
The post-Kentucky Derby portion of the Churchill Downs spring meet starts Thursday following a five-day break with at least a couple of new twists.
Stellar Wind, fourth as the favorite in the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs last Friday, is likely to stay in Southern California in coming months.
Diversy Harbor, who suffered sesamoid injuries when pulled up in the $151,000 Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita on April 18, has shown progress in her recovery, according to Aimee Dollase, assistant to trainer Tom Proctor.
NBC Sports reported that its coverage of the Kentucky Derby averaged 16 million viewers, up 4 percent from 15.3 million who viewed California Chrome last year. According to final data provided by The Nielsen Company, the telecast posted a 9.6 national rating with a share of 23, up from 9.4 and 22 last year.
Losses in two turf stakes at Santa Anita this year have led to a drop in class and an equipment change for the 3-year-old filly Havanna Belle, who starts in an optional claimer at Santa Anita on Thursday.
Handle on U.S. races rebounded in April despite a slight drop from last year in the number of races held during the month, according to figures released by Equibase on Tuesday.