ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Jockey Julio Felix rode his 3,000th winner Friday evening at Arlington, guiding Carnoustie to a fast-closing victory in the seventh race.
Felix, 51, began race-riding during 1989 in South Florida and was a fixture on the Ohio circuit before shifting his tack to Chicago several years ago. He’s since been a fixture at Hawthorne and Arlington, riding during the local winter dark period at Oaklawn, and has found steady success here.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Santa Anita will enact a 10 percent purse increase for overnight races effective June 1 for the final 15 racing days of the spring-summer meeting, the track announced in a statement on Friday.
The increase will not affect stakes purses. The spring-summer meeting concludes on June 24.
Tim Ritvo, the chief operating officer of The Stronach Group, the track’s parent company, said on Friday afternoon that larger field sizes in recent months have led to a $70 million increase in total all-sources handle since Dec. 26 compared to the early months of 2017.
There will be mandatory payouts on all Pimlico wagers Monday, the final card of a 12-day meet. This is especially significant since coming into the Friday races at Pimlico, the Rainbow 6 carryover stood at $240,824.
If the Rainbow 6 is not hit over the weekend, it essentially turns into a normal pick six Monday. The Rainbow 6 jackpot normally is paid out only when there is a single winning ticket. On Monday, the tickets selecting the most winners will split the entire pool.
The minimum wager Monday will remain 20 cents.
ELMONT, N.Y. – In addition to his two potential Belmont Stakes starters – Vino Rosso and Noble Indy – trainer Todd Pletcher worked several other horses Friday ahead of stakes races on the June 9 Belmont card.
Hi Happy, the winner of the Grade 1 Man o’ War, went a half-mile in 48.56 seconds over the Belmont training track in preparation for the Grade 1 Manhattan. Hi Happy worked with Driven to Compete.
ELMONT, N.Y. – John Velazquez will ride Strike Power in the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens on June 9, Belmont Stakes Day. On Friday, Velazquez got acquainted with the 3-year-old by working him five furlongs in 1:00.79 over Belmont Park’s main track.
According to Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, Strike Power got his final quarter in 23.04 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.07.
ELMONT, N.Y. – That Mind Your Biscuits has not proven himself beyond seven furlongs was on the mind of trainer Chad Summers on Friday when he gave the New York-bred colt his strongest workout to date in preparation for next month’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.
Just before 9 a.m., Mind Your Biscuits worked six furlongs in 1:11.66 and galloped out a mile in 1:37.80. He went his opening three-quarters in 36.54 seconds and his last three furlongs in 35.12 under Joel Rosario.
BELMONT PARK
Friday, May 25
Track: Fast
Weather: Clear
Temp.: 63
ELMONT, N.Y. – The Belmont Stakes is now just 15 days away, and that means things will start getting a lot more serious in the morning for the dozen or so 3-year-olds under consideration for the final leg of the Triple Crown, including Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Justify.
Jockey Mike Smith, who in two weeks will chase the Triple Crown with Justify, is scheduled to ride Sunday at Lone Star. He has the mount on Mubtaahij in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
Smith said Justify has been a blessing and he is looking forward to the Belmont Stakes.
“It’s every rider’s dream to get an opportunity like this,” he said Friday. “First of all, to win a Derby, and a Preakness . . . and now going for the Triple Crown. I’m so excited for the opportunity. I can’t wait.”
Smith is based in Southern California.
Shotgun Kowboy and jockey Luis Quinonez have been stalwarts in the Mid-South region, which includes Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, and on Sunday they will attempt to pull a mild upset in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lone Star Park Handicap.
“It’s a tough race, but he’s that caliber of horse, too,” Quinonez said.
Shotgun Kowboy, a Grade 3 winner, went over $1 million in career earnings on Feb. 3 when he won an allowance at Oaklawn. The 6-year-old won by five lengths in a race run over the same 1 1/16-mile distance of the Lone Star.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Despite a very good chance of rain over the holiday weekend, and after some deliberation on the part of the racing office hierarchy, the Home of the Brave Handicap was drawn Friday for Monday’s special Memorial Day program at Gulfstream Park.
