ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Danish Dynaformer has evolved from a grass expert into a promising stakes winner on Polytrack and will try to give trainer Roger Attfield a record ninth Queen’s Plate win in the 156th running of the $1 million event at Woodbine on Sunday.
Danish Dynaformer, a Charles Fipke homebred, graduated in his second grass outing at Gulfstream Park. He subsequently won an allowance on Keeneland’s turf course with ease before returning to Woodbine for the Grade 3 Marine Stakes in May.
Ahmed Zayat, the owner of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, has confirmed that his 3-year-old colt will run next in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.
Zayat made the announcement through ESPN.com. Trainer Bob Baffert said through ESPN that he is pleased with the way American Pharoah has trained since returning to California and is in favor of the decision.
American Pharoah worked three furlongs in 36.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – There will be a pick-six carryover of $114,554 at Belmont Park on Friday after the wager went unhit for a second consecutive card.
The pick six begins on race 4, which on Friday isn’t until 4:33 p.m. Eastern since first post is 3 p.m.
There were live tickets on five of the eight horses heading into Thursday’s finale, including one on Rapscallion, who, despite being seven wide in the stretch, looked like he was on his way to victory. But Non Stop – one of three horses not covered – split horses under Jose Lezcano and won a head bob.
On Sunday, double Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence will make his first start since the March 28 Sheema Classic at Meydan in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park.
The United Nations, a 1 3/8-mile turf race, is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, and the winner will receive a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31. The Sunday Monmouth card also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile on dirt.
The Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes on Saturday at Sandown Park could be viewed as a two-horse race – unless one thinks that is one contender too many.
Golden Horn, the smashing Epsom Derby winner who has yet to be beaten, steps quickly out of 3-year-old-restricted competition and tackles older foes just one month after his Derby win, and bettors are not viewing him as vulnerable. Antepost wagering has Golden Horn a 4-11 favorite, making him a strong choice over the other primary contender, The Grey Gatsby at 7-2.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The morning line for the $50,000 Purple Violet, the Saturday feature and first stakes of the Arlington meet, pretty much says it all. Favored at 7-2 is Tizgorgeous, while the longest price among the eight entrants is 12-1 on Wildwood Kantharos.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Plate Trial Stakes winner Danish Dynaformer has been made the 3-1 morning-line favorite and will start from post 7 in a field of 14 Canadian-bred 3-year-olds for the 156th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate on Sunday at Woodbine.
Danish Dynaformer has won three of his last four starts and finished third in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on May 16. He and stablemate Billy’s Star (post 5) will be looking to give trainer Roger Attfield a record ninth Queen’s Plate victory and his first since Not Bourbon scored in 2008.
Back Seat Roll will attempt to remain unbeaten at two turns on Saturday when she takes on highweight Funnyoushouldask in the $45,000 Russell and Helen Foutz Distaff Handicap at SunRay Park in Farmington, N.M. The race is the second stakes of the meet, which opens Friday.
The Foutz will be run over 6 1/2 furlongs, which is a two-turn race on the six-furlong track at SunRay. Saturday’s stakes is restricted to fillies and mares bred in New Mexico.
Foutz Distaff Handicap (Race 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Hazel Park Raceway announced a 5 percent purse reduction on Tuesday, effective July 10, marking the track’s second purse cut in the last month.
The Detroit-area racetrack previously scaled back overnight purses by 15 percent on June 12, citing a decline in purse-fund revenue from simulcast wagering.
“It’s the same basic reason,” said Ladd Biro, Hazel Park’s director of racing. “We’re just making sure we have enough money to get through the end of the meet.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – The second annual Stars and Stripes card Saturday at Belmont Park definitely will have an all-American feel to it.
European participation for the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational, for 3-year-old males, and the $1 million Belmont Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies, was rather light, with only four horses – two males and two females – entered in the two Grade 1 turf races. Last year, in the inaugural running of these two races, there were a combined nine European-based horses entered.
