Thu, 06/09/2011 - 14:31

Belmont Park: Trappe Shot ready for breakthrough

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ELMONT, N.Y. – Though he hasn’t yet won a graded stakes, it seems like just a matter of time for Trappe Shot, who figures to vie for favoritism with the entry of D’ Funnybone and This Ones for Phil in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 True North Handicap at six furlongs at Belmont Park.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 14:06

Belmont Stakes: Animal Kingdom's roller coaster comes to last stop

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ELMONT, N.Y. – What a long, strange trip it has been the past two months for trainer Graham Motion.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 13:37

Nehro gives Nakatani his third Belmont Stakes mount

Barbara D. Livingston
Nehro will be jockey Corey Nakatani's third mount in the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Corey Nakatani rides Kentucky Derby runner-up Nehro in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, it will be just his third mount in the third leg of the Triple Crown. The others were Green Alligator, who finished 10th in 1991, and Buckle Down Ben, who finished seventh in 2001.

Nehro is trained by Steve Asmussen, and that duo has teamed up to win at a 30 percent clip since the beginning of 2010.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 13:33

Belmont Park: Uptowncharlybrown on way back

Barbara D. Livingston
Uptowncharlybrown is expected to arrive at Belmont Park on Sunday, where he will continue training toward a comeback.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Uptowncharlybrown, the horse who finished fifth in last year’s Belmont Stakes but was ordered unplaced by the stewards after he failed to carry the appropriate weight throughout the race, is expected to arrive at Belmont Park on Sunday, where he will continue training toward a comeback.

The horse will be trained by Linda White, who was the assistant for Alan Seewald, the colt’s trainer before he died in April 2010. Kiaran McLaughlin trained Uptowncharlybrown for the Belmont Stakes.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 13:31

Belmont Stakes: Jockeys appear on Howard Stern's show

Jockeys Ramon Dominguez and Jesus Castanon, both of whom will ride in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, appeared on Howard Stern’s immensely popular satellite radio show Wednesday, in a 15-minute segment laced with profanity that included frank discussions about weight management, rider’s earnings, and racetrack groupies.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 13:20

Belmont Stakes: Prado aims to join elite group with third win

Barbara D. Livingston
A victory by Prime Cut would give jockey Edgar Prado his third win in the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – If Edgar Prado is able to pull off another upset in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, not only will it make him just the 10th rider to win this race at least three times, but he may actually be able to enjoy the victory.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 13:16

At Belmont, Velazquez has big edge in experience

Barbara D. Livingston
Jockey John Velazquez has 1,501 wins and seven riding titles at Belmont Park. He will go for his second Belmont Stakes win Saturday, when he rides Animal Kingdom.

ELMONT, N.Y. − It’s not a stretch to suggest what Calvin Borel is to Churchill Downs, John Velazquez is to Belmont Park.

Since the retirement of Pat Day, Borel has become the master of Churchill Downs, especially in the track’s biggest race, the Kentucky Derby, which he has won three of the last five years. While Velazquez hasn’t been quite as successful in the Belmont Stakes − he is 1 for 14 − his overall knowledge, experience, and record of success here is vast.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 12:49

Lone Star Park: Lil Cherokee hot off debut victory

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Lil Cherokee could become the latest stakes winner for his dam, Western Lil, on Saturday, when he starts as the probable favorite in the $100,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park.

The five-furlong race will share a card with the $100,000 fillies division of the TTA Sales Futurity. This is the first year there were no trials, and had there been overflow entries, first preference would have been gone to horses with the highest earnings. As it stands, each field drew nine runners.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 12:43

Assiniboia Downs: Ruby's Big Band ships back for La Verendrye Stakes

Ruby’s Big Band is based at Canterbury Park with trainer Charlie Smith but has shown a particular fondness for the Assiniboia Downs oval, scoring in six of eight appearances through her first two campaigns.

On Saturday, Ruby’s Big Band will be moving into the older filly and mare ranks when she faces seven rivals in the $25,000 La Verendrye, a six-furlong stakes that is the first for the division at the meeting.

Ruby’s Big Band, owned by Terry Propps, has been busy this season, starting seven times and winning allowance races at Sam Houston and Canterbury.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 12:22

Monmouth Park: Zero Rate Policy looks strong off last in Rumson

Two horses who ran extremely well in their first starts at Monmouth Park, one early this meet and the other last summer, figure prominently in a pair of $75,000 stakes for 3-year-old sprinters Saturday.