The horses entered in the four races at Belmont Park on Saturday with purses of $1 million or more, including the Belmont Stakes, all tested negative for illegal substances in pre-race out-of-competition tests, according to Dr. Scott Palmer, the equine medical director of the New York Gaming Commission.

ALTOONA, Iowa – Jockey Roberto Morales was in possession of five electrical devices apparently intended for use in race riding when he was arrested Friday evening and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and prescription drugs following a routine search.

The officers of Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation conducted a search in the parking lot just outside of the jockeys’ quarters at Prairie Meadows. The officers conducted similar investigations of three other unnamed riders and nothing illegal was found.

Eldaafer, winner of the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap and the Grade 3 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, has been retired to Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky.  The aftercare home for racehorses said in a release Thursday that the 9-year-old A.P. Indy gelding arrived in Kentucky on June 2 along with two pet goats that serve as his companions.

“Eldaafer is a sturdy throwback to a time when stamina and strength were valued,” Old Friends president and founder Michael Blowen said. “We’re very grateful that his connections trust Old Friends to take care of his well-deserved retirement.”

ELMONT, N.Y. – California Chrome had a final schooling session in the Belmont Park paddock on Friday before going out for his daily gallop as he prepared for the 146th Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park, in which the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will try to become the 12th horse to sweep the Triple Crown.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The pick six Thursday at Belmont Park paid $3,315.

There was a two-card carryover of $132,407 entering Thursday’s card after the wager went unhit Sunday and Wednesday. An additional $436,361 was wagered into the pool Thursday.

With the exception of Manero ($21.80) in the second leg, the sequence was dominated by logical horses, including favorites Cajun Wedding ($4.70), Bluegrass Flash ($3.30), Doctor Dempsey ($3), the second choice Funky Munky Fever ($7.20), and the third choice Aqua Regia ($8.80).

The consolation payout (5 of 6) returned $34.60.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Perry Martin studied pedigrees for months, finally deciding that the sire Lucky Pulpit would be the best match for the mare Love the Chase.
Days before Love the Chase gave birth, Steve Coburn dreamed that she’d produce a chestnut colt, with a blaze and four white socks.

Before that colt ever ran, Martin sent an email to trainer Art Sherman outlining the road to the Kentucky Derby.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Robert Evans, the owner of Tonalist, recalled a conversation he had with the colt’s trainer, Christophe Clement, shortly after Tonalist won a maiden race by an eye-catching four lengths Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park.

“Christophe said, ‘You created a problem for me. I’ve been critical of all these people who push these horses to the [Kentucky] Derby,’ ” Evans recalled Clement telling him. “ ‘I never had a dirt horse to think about that. Now you created a problem.’ ”

It was a nice problem to have.

The odds of getting a second chance to win the Triple Crown are long. You can count on one hand the riders who were granted a do-over. Victor Espinoza, who failed in 2002 with War Emblem and has returned for the attempt on California Chrome, knows this and is determined to make his second chance count.

“This is very different from then,” Espinoza said. “I’m different. The horse is different.”

ELMONT, N.Y. – When the action builds to an absolute crescendo Saturday with California Chrome racing toward a Triple Crown in the 146th Belmont Stakes, it will not be without help from two announcers whose career arcs are intersecting in a notable way.

::2014 BELMONT STAKES: Latest news, video, PPs, and more

Tom Durkin, the outgoing legend, will call the Belmont for ontrack and simulcast audiences, while Larry Collmus, the rising star, will call the race for a worldwide television audience on NBC.

ELMONT, N.Y. – If you need a reason to get excited about Belmont before Saturday, there is a pick six carryover of $132,407 entering Thursday’s card at Belmont Park.

There was a $29,573 carryover entering Wednesday’s card, and an additional $180,435 was wagered into the pool. Many, if not all, tickets were eliminated after the first leg when King Dix C ($109) won the fourth race, or the first leg of the sequence. Despite the fact there were no double-digit-priced winners the remainder of the sequence, there were no live tickets entering the last race.