Free Like a Girl, who placed in back-to-back Grade 1 races this spring, now ranks third among all accredited Louisiana-breds in earnings and could make a serious move up the charts next month.
Trainer Chasey Deville-Pomier said Wednesday that Free Like a Girl could make her next start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Fleur de Lis on June 29 at Churchill Downs. The mare made her last start at the Kentucky track and was second in the La Troienne won by returning champion Idiomatic.
The only horse he rides these days is on a country trail near his home in Apache Junction, Ariz., often early in the morning before temperatures soar.
Life is different these days for Russell Baze, North America’s all-time winningest rider, than it was in June 2016, when he shocked the racing world by announcing his abrupt retirement at the end of the Golden Gate meeting.
There was no farewell day, or winner’s circle ceremony. Baze walked away from the sport, on his own terms.
Kentucky-based trainer Mike Maker won his 27th stakes race over a Texas turf course Monday with Dana’s Beauty in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff at Lone Star Park.
Maker’s outstanding record includes 17 turf stakes victories at Sam Houston Race Park, where he has won eight runnings of the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup. Maker also has won six turf stakes at Retama Park.
Dana’s Beauty became his fourth turf stakes winner at Lone Star, where she tracked pacesetter Libban in second before securing a head win under Ramon Vazquez.
Spirit Wind is under serious consideration for the $500,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town following her standout victory in the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park.
Spirit Wind breezed home by 3 1/2 lengths Monday and covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.37. Spirit Wind was assigned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99.
“She ran big,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “I think six, six and a half furlongs is probably her best distance.”
It’s homecoming night for Ova Charged, who brings the year’s highest Beyer Speed Figure into the $100,000 Mademoiselle on the $600,000 Louisiana Legends Night card Saturday at Evangeline Downs.
There are a total of six divisional stakes on the card, with each restricted to horses bred in Louisiana. During the program, Evangeline will honor racing legends from its state: Calvin Borel, Mark Guidry, Larry Robideaux Jr., Joseph Broussard, Eddie Johnston, and Charles Ashy Sr.
Twelve of the 24 Belmont Stakes run since 2000 have been won by horses who ran in but did not win the Kentucky Derby, skipped the Preakness, and came in relatively fresh for the third leg of racing’s Triple Crown.
There figures to be a handful of horses attempting to duplicate the likes of Mo Donegal (2022), Essential Quality (2021), Palace Malice (2013), Birdstone (2004), and Commendable (17th in 2000) when this year’s Belmont Stakes is run June 8 at Saratoga and at the shortened distance of 1 1/4 miles.
Frankie Dettori was supposedly making a pre-retirement tour when he rode in the United States, Dubai, and all over Europe during 2023. Dettori did not retire and has been based in the United States this year, having something of an American tour. Dettori has already ridden in California, Florida, Kentucky, New York, and Maryland in 2024, and on Saturday, he rides at Monmouth Park for the first time since the 2007 Breeders’ Cup.
For Weekend GamePlan purposes, disliking short prices isn’t enough. For instance, the Shawnee at Churchill, where all three favorites – Xigera, Wet Paint, and Scylla – can be opposed. That alone can be useful in multi-race wagers, but it’s hard to flesh out an alternative winner, and Weekend GamePlan is all about looking for winners. Here’s one idea to get the day started: A longshot named Voyage springing a surprise in the Derby at Epsom.
Blame
Wet Paint won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks as a 3-year-old in 2023. Xigera ended her 3-year-old campaign looking like she might blossom into a top older female in 2024. One race into their respective seasons, both fillies have a lot to prove Saturday in the Grade 3, $275,000 Shawnee Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs.
