Fri, 06/04/2010 - 00:00

Krypton wins duel in Hill Prince

ELMONT, N.Y. - Under a heady ride from Rajiv Maragh, Krypton upset previously undefeated Nordic Truce by a neck in Friday's Grade 3, $100,000 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park.

Nordic Truce, the 3-5 favorite who surprisingly set the pace under Ramon Dominguez, finished second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Lethal Combination. Gold Medallion and Noah's Dream completed the order of finish. Avenging Spirit scratched.

Krypton had to withstand a steward's inquiry and objection from Dominguez, who claimed interference in the stretch, to maintain the victory.

Thu, 06/03/2010 - 00:00

Gaffney, exercise rider of Secretariat, dies

Jim Gaffney Sr., the regular exercise rider of champion Thoroughbreds Secretariat and Riva Ridge, died on Thursday from pneumonia. He was 75.

Gaffney lived in Commack, N.Y. In addition to being the exercise rider, he worked as a mutuel clerk at the New York Racing Association from 1957 until 2000 when he retired.

Gaffney exercised horses for many years - and got on Northern Dancer, Spanish Riddle Angle Light and Fort Marcy - but retired after Secretariat retired in 1973.

"It was hard to top that for $2 an hour," said Gaffney's son, Jim Gaffney Jr.

Thu, 06/03/2010 - 00:00

Churchill Downs completes Youbet.com purchase

Churchill Downs Inc. has completed its acquisition of Youbet.com in a transaction that will make Churchill the largest account-wagering company in the U.S.

The deal closed on Wednesday, Churchill said in a release, after drawing some scrutiny from federal anti-trust regulators. The deal valued Youbet.com at approximately $133 million at Wednesday's stock prices by giving Youbet shareholders 99 cents for each share of Youbet stock they owned and one share of Churchill stock for every 17 shares of Youbet stock.

Thu, 06/03/2010 - 00:00

Lady Alexander, Blue Sailor speedy threats

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Speed is what you will need to win Saturday's $100,000 co-features at Monmouth Park, the Red Cross and the Wolf Hill stakes.

The Red Cross, race 10 at six furlongs on the main track, drew a field of eight fillies and mares. The pacesetter clearly will be Lady Alexander, who leaves from post 5. She has never been wild about passing horses late, so, as usual, Lady Alexander will be on the lead, looking to steal the race.

Thu, 06/03/2010 - 00:00

Fallon flies into New York for work

ELMONT, N.Y. - The exotic saga of Kinsale King reached another level Thursday morning at Belmont Park, when he worked in preparation for the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot later this month, and jockey Kieren Fallon flew in from Europe, for the day, for the breeze.

"No, I've never done anything like that," Fallon said, "but it will be worth it, I hope."

Kinsale King worked a half-mile on the main track in 48.42 seconds, with Fallon giving him a vigorous hand ride through the lane.

"He's like me -- laid back," Fallon said.

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 00:00

A Streakinson fastest in Vessels trials

Qualifying an older Quarter Horse for the $139,600 Vessels Maturity last Saturday was not an especially difficult chore in time trials at Los Alamitos.

There were only 19 horses in two 400-yard time trials and the 10 fastest qualifiers, regardless of finishing position, advanced to the June 18 final. It turned out that the first five finishers in each trial earned a berth in the final, which promises to be a more grueling race.

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 00:00

Burj Dubai may be 'something special'

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Burj Dubai looked like he was worth the $1 million Darley Stables paid for him at Keeneland in 2007 when he scorched a field of maidens in his debut at Hastings last Saturday.

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 00:00

Stidham well equipped for summer stakes

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Trainer Mike Stidham has won 4 of 32 races so far this Arlington Park meet, but his stable's win percentage is a study in misrepresentation.

Seventeen other Stidham-trained horses have finished second or third at Arlington for a 21-of-32 top-three strike rate. The Stidham barn also is 2-1-1 in five stakes races and 1-1-1 in three graded stakes races here this spring.

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 00:00

Hudson has major local player in Snug

Belmont Park was an occasional field trip for Jim Hudson when he was a member of the New York Jets team that won the Super Bowl in 1969, but he never really thought his post-football career would be in racing. Fast forward to 2010, and Hudson has logged more than 30 years as a trainer, and his barn houses one of the top Louisiana-breds in Snug.

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 00:00

Gio Ponti main draw of undercard

ELMONT, N.Y. − The return of dual Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Manhattan and a near-capacity field of 13 in the Grade 1 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies highlight Saturday's Belmont Stakes undercard at Belmont Park.