INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Mr. Commons, third in the Santa Anita Derby last month, will be ridden by Victor Espinoza in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 21, trainer John Shirreffs said on Thursday.

PREAKNESS STAKES 2011: Contender profiles and news updates

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The favorite in the feature race last Saturday at Churchill Downs went off at 5-1. That might not be quite the case this Saturday, when a somewhat less prominent feature, the $63,000 Unbridled Sidney, is run at Churchill, but the depth and competitiveness of the five-furlong turf race suggests there is wagering value to be had.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Officials at Churchill Downs weren’t the only ones smiling in the aftermath of their record-breaking Kentucky Derby last Saturday. The folks at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky also were very proud that their premier race, the Vinery Spiral Racing Stakes, produced the emphatic winner, Animal Kingdom.

ALBANY, Calif. – Plenty of talent will be on display Saturday at Golden Gate Fields when eight 3-year-olds compete in the $75,000 Alcatraz at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Four last-race winners, three runners that finished within one-half length of each other in their last start, a stakes-placed sprinter stretching out, and a runner who has been testing tougher stakes foes down south make for an interesting race.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Dr. Zic shipped up from Kentucky last year to finish second in the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes.

On Saturday, Dr. Zic will be looking to go one better when she returns from her Keeneland base for the 6 1/2-furlong Hendrie for fillies and mares.

“We were happy with how she ran last year,” said Joan Scott, who trains Dr. Zic and also is among the group of owners who will be here to provide vocal support in the Hendrie.

“I hope we’ll be even happier this year. She’s doing well, and she loves the Poly.”

Five days before the end of January, the 4-year-old filly Sarah’s Song was still a maiden. By mid-March, she owned just one win and had run no faster than a 69 on the Beyer Speed Figure scale. Nevertheless, a good performance in Saturday’s $50,000 Winter Melody Stakes at Delaware Park could make Sarah’s Song a viable candidate for the track’s premier event, the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap on July 16.

ELMONT, N.Y. - He started slow but finished fast and now Trappe Shot may be ready to make an impact in the sprint division this year.

Making his first start in eight months, Trappe Shot overcome a stumble at the start to wear down the five-time Grade 2 winner D' Funnybone and win Wednesday's $60,000 Waldeboro Stakes at Belmont Park. It was two lengths back to Rule by Night in third. Deputy Daney, who set the early pace, finished last, beaten 13 lengths. This Ones for Phil and Sunrise Smarty scratched.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Darrin’s Dilemma, bet early and often, lived up to her 1-4 odds with a front-running, 2 1/4-length victory under Ramon Dominguez in Wednesday’s $100,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park. Freud’s Honor finished second, three lengths ahead of Warrior Up.

The Times Square was originally scheduled for this past Sunday, but did not have enough entries to be carded.

AUBURN, Wash. – After a whirlwind winter, Vann Belvoir has settled into his old routine at Emerald Downs. The 37-year-old trainer has more than 40 horses in his barn, with many more going through their paces at nearby West Coast Training Center, and he has been winning at a familiar 20 percent clip.

Sakakawea, the pride and joy of Ray Tracy’s stable, will be the odds-on favorite in Friday evening’s feature at Prairie Meadows, the $70,000 Mamie Eisenhower, a six-furlong sprint for four year olds and up Iowa-bred fillies and mares.

Defending her title in the race and an undefeated 7 for 7 record in one-turn races at Prairie Meadows, Sakakawea is as good as ever two races into her 5-year old-campaign. According to Tracy, “She’s definitely as sound as ever.”