Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:55

Belmont: Travelin Man gets rail again in Woody Stephens

ELMONT, N.Y. − Both times that Travelin Man has drawn inside posts, he has failed to win despite being a strong favorite. He will try to end that streak Saturday, when he breaks from the rail as the likely favorite in the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens Stakes, part of the Belmont Stakes undercard at Belmont Park.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:51

Parx Racing: Miss Preakness top three get rematch in Jostle

Tom Keyser
R Holiday Mood wins the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

A mere length separated the first three finishers in the Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness eve, which adds to the appeal of a rematch involving R Holiday Mood, Strike the Moon, and Bold Affair in Saturday’s $200,000 Jostle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Parx Racing.

Based on Beyer Speed Figures, however, recent maiden winner Ms. Crusen’ or former maiden-claimer Amylimehouse could play the spoiler’s role in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:49

Calder's Unbridled hinges on status of Manicero

Whether Manicero runs Saturday at Calder will be the key question in the $75,000 Unbridled Stakes, one of four stakes to be decided on Saturday’s Summit of Speed Preview card.

The Unbridled is one of 12 races on the program, which also includes the U Can Do It Handicap, Leave Me Alone Stakes, and Ponche Handicap. Each stakes will be decided at six furlongs and is a prep for a graded stakes on the July 9 Summit of Speed card. The Unbridled serves as a prep for the Grade 2 Carry Back.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:45

Calder: Giant Ryan seeks fourth straight win in Ponche

Giant Ryan will try for his fourth straight win when he makes his Calder debut in the $75,000 Ponche Handicap, one of four stakes to be run on Saturday's Summit of Speed Preview card. 

The Ponche is one of 12 races on the program, which also includes the U Can Do It Handicap, Leave Me Alone Stakes, and Unbridled Stakes. Each stakes will be decided at six furlongs and is a prep for a graded stakes on the July 9 Summit of Speed card. The Ponche serves as a prep for the Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:43

Hollywood Park: Horse-for-course Acclamation formidable in Whittingham

Your browser does not support iframes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Acclamation is never more comfortable than racing near the front of a marathon turf stakes at Hollywood Park.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:22

Calder: Wolfson has half the field in U Can Do It

MIAMI − The $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap in July is the only Grade 1 race on the Calder stakes schedule. Eight locally based fillies and mares will try to earn their way into the Princess Rooney here with a big performance in the U Can Do It Handicap, one of four stakes to be decided on Saturday’s Summit of Speed Preview card.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:21

Woodbine: Quarterback looks best of this bunch

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There isn’t much separating the upper echelon of Ontario-sired 3-year-olds at Woodbine, and Quarterback seems to have as good a chance as any in Saturday’s $125,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes, a six-furlong turf event for such runners.

Trainer Kevin Attard pointed out that Quarterback checked in fourth amongst a logjam finish in the Frost King Stakes in November. The first and 10th horses were separated by a mere 3 1/4 lengths in that seven-furlong sprint.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 11:20

Hollywood Park: Coil tries two turns in Affirmed Handicap

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The $100,000 Affirmed Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday is a two-turn audition for Coil, the promising colt trained by Bob Baffert. A win in his first start around two turns could lead to appearances in the major 3-year-old stakes later this summer.

Coil won his 3-year-old debut in an optional claimer over six furlongs on May 6, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over stablemate Smash in the quick time of 1:09.16. The Grade 3 Affirmed Handicap is run over 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and is a prep for the $150,000 Swaps Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on July 9.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:58

Belmont Stakes: Quiet man Castanon waits his turn, pays his dues to reach elite status

Your browser does not support iframes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When his career arc wasn’t soaring as high as he expected, Jesus Castanon would discuss his concerns with his wife, Rolanda Simpson.

Thu, 06/09/2011 - 10:54

Emerald: Praise a Native ready to rebound

AUBURN, Wash. − Praise a Native and Rainier Missile headline the feature race Saturday at Emerald Downs, a $15,000 claimer for 3-year-olds who have never won twice. It will go as race 9 on an 11-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Also on tap is a simulcast of the Belmont Stakes shortly after 3:30.

Four of the five horses in the Emerald feature have won at the current meeting, and the fifth horse, Rainier Missile, won at Turf Paradise in April.