ELMONT, N.Y. – Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming disappointed in the Alysheba Stakes and his future is uncertain. Preakness winner Cloud Computing came out of his comeback race with a chip in an ankle that requires surgery.
So it may be up to Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit to carry the mantle for the Triple Crown class of 2017.
ELMONT, N.Y. – It has been six weeks since Mind Your Biscuits did any serious running. On Friday morning he was eager to show his connections that he’s ready to go back into the fray.
Mind Your Biscuits zipped a half-mile in 46.93 seconds over the Belmont Park main track Friday morning as he prepares for a start in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap here June 9, Belmont Stakes Day.
ARCADIA, Calif. – My Boy Jack, who was fifth in the Kentucky Derby on May 5, may have his next start at Belmont Park, but it could come on dirt or on turf.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux said on Friday that My Boy Jack is being considered for two Grade 1 races – the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on dirt on June 9, or the $1.2 million Belmont Derby at 1 1/4 miles on turf on July 7.
Desormeaux was leaning slightly toward the Belmont Derby as of Friday.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Skye Diamonds may have a summer campaign similar to last year’s, when she won consecutive graded stakes in Southern California.
Thursday, trainer Bill Spawr said Skye Diamonds will be considered for the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos on July 7, a race she won last year.
“That’s on our radar,” Spawr said. “She’s run so well on that track. I’d hate to pass that up.”
Spawr said Skye Diamonds may also try to repeat in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo at Del Mar on Aug. 12.
Sweet Parang is set up for success Sunday when she returns to racing over six furlongs in the featured 10th race at Gulfstream Park.
Sweet Parang is part of a field of seven fillies and mares for an optional $25,000 claiming sprint that carries first-level allowance conditions. The card also includes a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies.
Sweet Parang has registered both of her wins at six furlongs, which trainer Ralph Nicks said is her best distance. She was third at this level while going 6 1/2 furlongs on March 30 at Gulfstream in her most recent start.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown appears to be more enthusiastic about starting Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic in next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.
After watching Good Magic gallop a solid 1 1/4 miles Friday over the Belmont Park main track, Brown stopped just short of committing last year’s 2-year-old male champion to the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown and a rematch with Derby winner Justify. Brown did say that if Good Magic runs in the Preakness, he would van to Baltimore on Monday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nobody has held a hotter hand in the Churchill jockey colony since the 38-day meet started April 28 than Brian Hernandez Jr.
After a terrific Derby weekend that included an upset of the Pat Day Mile on 39-1 shot Funny Duck and key allowance scores with McCraken and Crosswalk, Hernandez rode four winners on the Thursday program, the first post-Derby card. All four were part of a Single 6 force out that returned a whopping $81,891 for a winning 20-cent ticket, including Angaston, a 33-1 shot.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – He wasn’t actually here to witness it first hand, but surely Norm Casse was able to enjoy the first victory of his training career Thursday evening when favored Tiznoble rolled to a 7 1/4-length victory in the third race.
Casse was on a quick vacation trip to the Bahamas.
“It was only right to get our first win at my home [track],” he posted on Twitter. “It felt like it took a long time, but it was certainly worth the wait.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen already is well into his ninth set of 1,000 victories while still savoring hitting the 8,000-win milestone on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. The Hall of Fame trainer was thrilled that his parents and two of his sons were here to celebrate the monumental feat with him.
“I was happy beyond words,” Asmussen, 52, said one morning this week while astride his pony on the Churchill backside.
