ELMONT, N.Y. - The CNN satellite truck parked alongside the main track Monday morning was the first sign. The hordes of television cameramen and still photographers who showed up here in the afternoon was the second.
This Belmont Stakes could get crazy.
Kentucky-based Reigning Court ($6.20) improved his record to 3 for 3 shipping into Mountaineer Racetrack with a wire-to-wire victory in Saturday night's $75,000 Waterford Park Handicap.
Ridden by Mary Doser for trainer Scott Sowle, the 5-year-old Reigning Court scored by 3 1/4 lengths, completing the six furlongs over a muddy track in 1:11.62. He has now won 9 of 27 lifetime and $334,625.
Bernie Blue, the 3-5 favorite in a field of six older sprinters, nosed out 19-1 longshot Nakayama Arashi for second.
Banker's D Light, the longest price among eight Minnesota-breds at 24-1, upset the $50,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes at Canterbury Park on Saturday.
Racing near the pace from the outset while along the rail, Banker's D Light ($50.20), ridden by Anne Van Rosen for trainer Phil Hartman, challenged for the lead entering the turn, opened up a 3 1/2-length lead margin, then held well to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths while completing the six furlongs in 1:12.49. Trickyville Dew finished second, a half-length in front of Bee O Bee Bob.
Revv It up ($11.40) remained unbeaten after three starts with a nose victory over Sixish in Saturday's $340,150 Kindergarten for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos.
Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Revv It Up overcame a bump with Sixish at the start to win her stakes debut, finishing 300 yards in 15.30 seconds. Show Me A Beduino finished third, but was disqualified and placed last for causing interference. Hes Regal was promoted from fourth to third.
Revv It Up, a filly by First Down Dash, has earned $142,863 for Keilani Farms and trainer Paul Jones.
Doc Tanner ($38), winner of a $3,500 claiming race at Fonner Park going a half-mile in his last start, upset 3-5 favorite Bevys Best by a half-length in Saturday's $15,450 Speed Stakesat the Lincoln State Fair.
Doc Tanner, ridden by apprentice Chris Fackler for trainer Brian Roberts, dueled with the favorite throughout, relinquished the lead into the stretch and rallied back to score by a half-length in 51.60 seconds for the 4 1/2 furlongs over a fast track.
I'm Real was another head back in third, combining for an 8-6-2 trifecta worth $245.40.
Beyond the Reach ($19.90), sent off as the longest shot on the board in Saturday's six-furlong Mamie Eisenhower at Prairie Meadows, ran like she belonged with the best older Iowa-bred fillies and mares when she scored by 1 1/4 lengths.
After being caught in the middle of a three-way speed battle, Beyond the Reach finally shook clear as the field reached the top of the stretch only to have the the 2-5 favorite, Camela Carson, looming dangerously on her outside.
Trainer Donnie Von Hemel and jockey Don Pettinger swept the two Oklahoma-bred stakes run at Will Rogers Downs on Saturday, when Marq French captured the $35,000 Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association Classic and Midsummer Magic won the $35,000 Cherokee Casino Classic.
Both races were at six furlongs.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Greg Gilchrist, who believes it's important to enjoy the highs of racing because there are so many lows, is riding a hot streak that began on Mother's Day when Wild Promises scored her first stakes victory.
What has Gilchrist happiest, though, is Vicarino's 3 1/2-length victory over Tribesman in an allowance race last Friday at Golden Gate Fields. In his two previous starts, Vicarino finished third after dueling with Tribesman in the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Sprint on March 15 and was fifth in the Grade 3 Count Fleet at Oaklawn Park on April 10.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The time to see the best horses in Kentucky was not this past weekend at Churchill Downs, although several good races, including the Matt Winn Stakes, were contested.
Rather, it was Monday morning, a dark day at the track, when seemingly one top stakes horse after another worked over the Churchill Downs main track, including the 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin, and the third-place finisher from this year's Kentucky Derby, Denis of Cork.
ARCADIA, Calif.- A 64-1 upset by Quiet Warrior in a maiden race on Saturday helped to create a carryover of $135,297 for Sundays nine-race program at Hollywood Park.
Sundays pick six covers the fourth through ninth race on a program that begins at 1:20 p.m. The pick six includes three main track and three turf races.
There were a few changes at scratch time on Saturday. In the sixth race, Dice Afare has been withdrawn from the sixth race, a maiden claimer over six furlongs. The race will have 11 entrants, led by Texas Dolly who is trained by Rafael Becerra.