Diplomat, the early season leader in earnings among steeplechase horses following his win in last month’s $75,000 Carolina Cup, is among 16 horses in the catalog for the inaugural sale of steeplechase prospects and proven competitors at Shawan Downs in Baltimore County, Md., on Sunday.
Dom the Bomb and Recount meet for the first time Saturday in the $50,000 Land of Lincoln Stakes, a six-furlong dash for Illinois-breds heading a nine-race card that includes the $50,000 Pretty Jenny for Illinois-bred 3-year-old fillies.
The influence D. Wayne Lukas has had on the game could be underscored next month, with as many as four of his former assistants positioned to have starters in the Kentucky Derby. And Lukas could have one, too.
The graded stakes experience Hillbilly Royalty brings into the $100,000 Northern Spur on Saturday at Oaklawn Park could give him a slight class edge over a competitive field of 3-year-olds.
Fresh off a mind-blowing weekend at Santa Anita, John Sadler will be running Louisiana Handicap winner Hard Aces in the Oaklawn event for owners Pete and Kosta Hronis, with Victor Espinoza firmly attached. It’s a band you wouldn’t want to break up.
A pair of overnight stakes on the turf were expected to share the limelight on Saturday’s 10 race program at Gulfstream Park. But when both those races failed to fill, the spotlight shifted to a field of seven 4-year-old and up optional-claiming runners who’ll vie five furlongs on the grass for a $44,000 purse.
NBC and its sister network NBC Sports will televise 18 graded stakes races this summer and fall in 10 telecasts as part of its coverage of prep races guaranteeing spots in the Breeders’ Cup event, the network and the Breeders’ Cup announced on Thursday.
So instead of taking a relatively short price on one of the three favorites, why not look for a price on a horse who figures to be in front early in the Top Flight at Aqueduct on Saturday?
Living the Life will sprint on turf for the first time in Saturday’s $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.
Uncoupled stablemates African Rose and Belleofthebeach, who have split two close decisions since December, will clash again in Saturday’s $50,000 Czaria Handicap at Sunland Park. The six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares drew a field of seven.
