Facey’s Spirit led from start to finish to win the $84,000 Ellen’s Lucky Star at Indiana Downs on Friday evening.
Trained by Chris Dorris, Facey’s Spirit is a perfect 2 for 2 against Indiana-bred company after being moved from Chicago in April.
Jockey Orlando Mojica hustled the 3-year-old filly away from the gate and set quick early fractions of 21.77 seconds and 44.51 in the six-furlong event. Facey’s Spirit responded when asked, and the final margin was 1 1/2 lengths.
Belmont Stakes odds (as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern)
1. Master of Hounds, 9-2
2. Stay Thirsty, 15-1
3. Ruler On Ice, 28-1
4. Santiva, 13-1
5. Brilliant Speed, 9-1
6. Nehro, 4-1
7. Monzon, 25-1
8. Prime Cut, 20-1
9. Animal Kingdom, 3-1
10. Mucho Macho Man, 7-1
11. Isn’t He Perfect, 29-1
12. Shackleford, 8-1
River Downs canceled the last race Friday after a severe thunderstorm came through the Cincinnati area.
The horses were on the track for the eighth and final race when the storm moved in. After a 20-minute delay and no sign of let up, the decision was made by management to cancel the last race.
Racing is scheduled to resume Saturday with a first post of 1:00 pm.
ELMONT, N.Y. - No one hit the pick six at Belmont Park on Saturday, leading to a two-day carryover of $144,003 into Saturday's Belmont Stakes card.
Saturday's pick six, comprised entirely of stakes races, already is guaranteed at $1 million. It begins with the sixth race, the Acorn Stakes, at 2:34 p.m. Eastern time, and concludes with the Belmont Stakes.
ULTIMATE BELMONT STAKES GUIDE: DRF picks, past performances, contender profiles »
Following are odds for the Belmont Stakes as of 6 p.m. Eastern time on Friday. Only betting through New York Racing Association outlets - such as at Belmont Park, or through NYRA One accounts - were merged into the pool on Friday, so the handle is a mere fraction of what eventually will be bet into the race, and, at this point, includes no other money bet from around the country.
1. Master of Hounds, 5-1
2. Stay Thirsty, 12-1
3. Ruler On Ice, 42-1
4. Santiva, 8-1
5. Brilliant Speed, 9-1
6. Nehro, 5-1
7. Monzon, 55-1
ELMONT, N.Y. - Birdrun, taking a page from the playbook Shackleford is likely to use on Saturday in the Belmont Stakes, led from start to finish going 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on Friday in the Grade 2, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap for older horses.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Courageous Cat made a successful return to the races, overcoming slow early fractions and overpowering longshot pacesetter Yield Bogey with a furlong to run to take Friday's Grade 3, $100,000 Poker Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park.
Fly First Down signaled he was a serious 2-year-old Quarter Horse last month at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, when he won his career debut by three lengths. It was a dominant kind of performance, and one that is not seen often from first-time starters.
“That’s usually a sign of a superstar,” said Paul Jones, who trains Fly First Down for Tremor Enterprises.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Even money turned out to be an overlay on Majestic City, who toyed with his competition May 21 in the strongest 2-year-old race of the spring meet Hollywood Park.
Majestic City won by 1 1/2 lengths with no urging, earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure, and made $4 seem like a gift payoff. The price will be shorter Sunday at Hollywood.
Majestic City faces five rivals in the $70,000 Willard Proctor Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong race in which the son of City Zip figures to be odds-on.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Donnie Von Hemel has more wins in 3-year-old graded stakes during the last month than in any kind of race at Arlington Park’s 2011 meet. Alternation won the Grade 2 Peter Pan on May 14 at Belmont, and Caleb’s Posse the Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 4 at Thistledown. Meanwhile – and in stark contrast – Von Hemel still is looking for his first win of the Arlington season after sending out 26 starters at the meet.
“Things will come around,” Von Hemel said with a laugh.
