Gosger, a game second to Journalism in Saturday’s Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, will skip the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 7 in favor of a major stakes for 3-year-olds in July.
Trainer Brendan Walsh said on Wednesday that Gosger has emerged from the Preakness in good condition, and will benefit from a longer period between starts.
“I don’t think we’re going to go” to the Belmont, Walsh said. “I think we’ll give him a little more time.
Qatar Racing has acquired part-interest in Shisospicy. The multiple turf sprint stakes winning 3-year-old filly will be pointed to the Group 1 Commonwealth Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20, her connections announced Tuesday.
Qatar joins ownership of Shisospicy with Morplay Racing, the racing operation of Rich and Josh Mendez, which put out a statement on the sale and plans on Tuesday.
Larry Demeritte, who captured the hearts of the public when he saddled his first Kentucky Derby starter, West Saratoga, last year, has died at age 75. Demeritte had lived with various health issues, including a 1996 bone cancer diagnosis, for many years.
Demeritte’s passing was first reported by Our News Bahamas, which recognized him as the first Bahamian to saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby. Demeritte continued to hold his birthplace close. He wore a tie in the colors of the Bahamian flag for major races, including on Kentucky Derby Day.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The two-time stakes winner Goliad will play a pivotal role in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 26.
Ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar last November in his most recent race, the 8-year-old Goliad almost always sets the pace.
The strategy failed in the BC Mile when Goliad faded through the stretch to finish ninth, 6 3/4 lengths behind More than Looks.
BALTIMORE - The connections of Preakness winner Journalism would like to run their horse in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Saratoga. As they did before the Preakness, they will wait for Journalism to indicate that he’s on board with that plan.
Fresh off recording his second English classic winner, 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify looks for his first American classic winner as American Promise goes in Saturday's Preakness Stakes. It would be the latest international checkpoint for the young stallion, who has already sired champions in the U.S., Australia, and Europe, and who was third on last year’s North American general sires list, a high placing this early in his career.
When the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty decided just days after the colt’s win in the first leg of the Triple Crown to skip the Preakness Stakes, racing’s chattering classes leapt to the ramparts to resurrect calls for the Triple Crown schedule to be altered.
Unlike in previous years, however, there was no such spirited debate occurring in the executive offices of the companies that have stakes in the races.
Despite evidence to the contrary, Todd Pletcher has nothing against the Preakness.
“I don’t hate the Preakness,” Pletcher said. “I love the Belmont.”
Pletcher has started a record 65 horses in the Kentucky Derby and a modern-day record 37 horses in the Belmont Stakes. Saturday, when he sends out River Thames in the 150th Preakness Stakes, it will be just his 11th starter in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. Pletcher is 0 for 10 in eight runnings of the Preakness, with Impeachment’s third-place finish in 2000 – Pletcher’s first Preakness starter – his best result.
