WINS OF THE WEEK

WHO'S HOT

3-Year-Olds

It's true no stopwatches were busted in the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness, and scribes are still in mourning over Eskendereya and what might have been, but let's look at the bright sides, which are twofold:

The Belmont Stakes is shaping up as a terrific betting race, with a field of about nine or so, and whoever emerges victorious will share equal footing with Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky atop a wide-open division heading into the second half of the season.

ALTOONA, Iowa - Prairie Meadows has carded two $60,000, 1 1/16-mile stakes Saturday, the Jim Rasmussen Memorial for older horses and the Wild Rose for fillies and mares. Chicago-based Shadowbdancing is using the Rasmussen as a step along the way to the Grade 2 Cornhusker Handicap here on July 26.

"That's our main goal, to run in the Cornhusker," said trainer Terrel Gore.

After taking about five weeks off this winter, Shadowbdancing has made two starts this year. He won the Cryptoclearance at Hawthorne in April, then shipped to Fonner Park to win the

WHO'S HOT

Jockeys Patrick Husbands and Chantal Sutherland both won six races from May 19-24. Sutherland had the best win percentage (19) among all of the leading riders during that time.

Apprentice Cory Spataro won aboard his only mount. The other bugs who found the winner's circle were Omar Moreno, Caroline Duquet, and Betty-Jo Williams.

Eurico Da Silva saw limited action due to a suspension, but he managed to exit the week in a tie for leading rider with Husbands, with 34 victories apiece.

One of the many pet phrases trainer Nick Zito uses comes from a preacher friend: "Great expectations bring great disappointment."

When it comes to the Belmont Stakes, Zito has far exceeded expectations in recent years. He has won two of the last six runnings of the Belmont; in 2004 with Birdstone, a 36-1 shot, and in 2008 with Da' Tara, who at 38-1 was the longest shot on the board. In the same span, Zito has two seconds and two thirds with horses who ranged in prices from 11-1 to 34-1.

AUBURN, Wash. - In a predictable world, Posse Power's victory last Sunday in the Auburn Handicap would serve as a stepping-stone to Emerald Downs' marquee race for 3-year-olds, the $75,000 Emerald Derby on Aug. 15. But Posse Power, a rapidly improving colt trained by Frank Lucarelli, might jump into deeper waters this summer.

Much depends on Posse Power's stablemate, Gallant Son, who is scheduled to run Monday in the Grade 1, $250,000 Shoemaker Mile on the grass at Hollywood Park.

Warrior Maid's win in the $60,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint was a popular one for the Heitzmann family last Saturday at Louisiana Downs. The filly is trained by Eric Heitzmann, whose brother Roger made the trophy presentation in his role as the secretary-treasurer of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association. In addition, another brother, David, was on hand as the new racing secretary at Louisiana Downs.

"It's always good to have family around," Eric Heitzmann said. "It was a good day."

Redding Colliery and Euroears flew into Texas on Wednesday to run in the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap. The 1 1/16-mile race is Monday. It has a working list of seven probables, with starting highweights Mythical Power and Awesome Gem having been scheduled to arrive Thursday from Southern California.

There should be no horse shortage at Marquis Downs, which opens its 2010 meeting Friday evening.

A total of 71 horses were entered for Friday's eight-race card at the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan oval including full fields of 10 in four races.

"The barns will be full," said Rick Fior, general manager of racing for Marquis Downs, which has stalls for 550 horses.

Marquis Downs will be conducting its usual 30-day meeting, with racing on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning at 7:05 p.m. with the exception of Aug. 13 and Aug. 14, when the chuckwagon races take over.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Dave Forster reported that Otero came out of her win over Dearest Princess in the $51,000 Emerald Downs at Hastings on Monday in good shape and will be pointed to the $50,000 Supernaturel Stakes on July 1. The 1 1/16-mile Supernaturel will be the first middle-distance stakes race for 3-year-old fillies at Hastings this year.

Forster doesn't think the added distance will be a problem for Otero.

"She runs like she'll go long and she also has the pedigree," said Forster.