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Romantic Thor is preparing for his sternest test to date as he steps into Group 1 company for the first time in the HK$13 million Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 May), but rider Zac Purton is refusing to rule him out completely.
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Luke Middlebrook's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, May 24, 2026 at Sha Tin.
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There's an undefeated 3-year-old based in Ontario, and then there's another unbeaten that hasn't received such headlines. While Beau Jangles has made the news, trainer Anthony Beaton's undefeated pacing filly Be Perfect BG has won all seven of her career starts and hopes to make it eight straight on Saturday night in the $180,000 final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes (Platinum division) at the Meadowlands. The daughter of Perfect Sting landed the pole position with only six other fillies facing her in the 13th race on the program.
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It was in May of 1980, as best as I can recall, that an undefeated pacer would make his stakes debut at Vernon Downs in upstate New York. Niatross had captured the sport's attention through a brilliant freshman campaign, and there was a need to see this horse in person, no matter what. A five-hour drive with relatively cheap gas and tolls made for an adventure, with much to discuss on the way and even more coming home. Niatross and Clint Galbraith lived up to their billing on that day and days to follow. Watching greatness in those days was only possible if you made the road trip; otherwise the details would come from second- and third-hand sources that I found over time came with wide exaggerations of the truth.
David Aragona's TimeformUS Highlight Horse for Friday, May 22, at Belmont at the Big A.
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Annie Stoebe came into this year enthusiastically looking forward to racing an established star among older trotters, the 5-year-old mare Elista Hanover, and a highly regarded Hambletonian Stakes contender, 3-year-old colt trotter Diabolic Hill.
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Derick Giwner's analysis of the 5/24 "Super Sunday" afternoon card at Harrah's Philadelphia.
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The New York Racing Association will offer significant purse increases when Belmont Park opens for racing this September.
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Weekend GamePlan: Picks for Crystal Water, Keertana, Paradise Creek
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Trainer Todd Pletcher has run at least two horses in the Belmont Stakes in each of the last 13 years and 15 times overall. He is likely to continue that trend this year. Already set to run Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade in the 158th Belmont on June 6, Pletcher is strongly considering starting recent maiden winner Powershift as well.
