ELMONT, N.Y. - We'll be back.

That was the proclamation of the Japanese connections who were forced to scratch Casino Drive from Saturday's Belmont Stakes due to a stone bruise in his left hind foot that was first noticed Friday morning. Casino Drive is by Mineshaft out of the dam Better Than Honour, making him a half-brother to Belmont Stakes winners Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007).

Casino Drive, who had won both of his starts, including the Grade 2 Peter Pan here on May 10, was the second choice on the Belmont morning line behind Big Brown.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Rene Douglas hadn't experienced such a thrill on Belmont Stakes Day since he notched arguably the greatest victory of his career 12 years ago aboard Editor's Note in the Belmont.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The conditions of the $300,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on Saturday were an ideal fit for Artiste Royal, and gave the 7-year-old his second Grade 1 win in the last year.

Artiste Royal ($8.40) outfinished Monzante and a game pacesetter in Lava Man to win the Whittingham by a neck. The victory was Artiste Royal's first of 2008, and first since the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship at Santa Anita last fall. The Whittingham and the Hirsch are run over 1 1/4 miles on turf.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Dancing Forever dove to the rail with a bold rally in the stretch and then won a head bob from 3-1 favorite Out of Control to take Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Indian Blessing was the champion of the division last year, but a changing of the guard was signaled when Proud Spell dealt her the first defeat of her career in March at Fair Grounds.

A further evolution was in evidence Saturday at Belmont Park when Zaftig, ridden by John Velazquez, glided past Indian Blessing with surprising ease to post a 4 1/2-length triumph in the 78th running of the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin was assigned 128 pounds for next Saturday’s Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs, an impost that left Curlin’s trainer, Steve Asmussen, talking about possibly skipping the race.

“It might eliminate us from running,” Asmussen said. “They” – meaning Churchill Downs – “may have outsmarted themselves again.”

ELMONT, N.Y. - J Be K solidified his status as the East's top-ranked 3-year-old sprinter with an emphatic score over eight rivals in the 23rd running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont.

J Be K broke alertly, took a short lead outside True Quality through fractions of 22.29 and 44.89 seconds, and unleashed a burst of speed to draw clear into midstretch after six furlongs in 1:08.78.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Soft ground and a softer pace was Ventura's undoing in last month's Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs when she finished third.

Saturday at Belmont Park, Ventura got firm ground and a solid early pace and she capitalized on both to record a three-quarter-length victory in the Grade 1, $400,000 Just a Game Stakes. Lady of Venice, the 2-1 favorite, chased Ventura home and finished second, three-quarters of a length in front off 44-1 shot Forever Together.

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Dance Gal Dance scratched from the Grade 1 Acorn, it looked as though Indian Blessing was a cinch as the lone speed.

But proving yet again there are no sure things in racing, Zaftig went right past Indian Blessing in upper stretch and romped to a 4 1/2-length victory over last year’s 2-year-old filly champion. Indian Blessing finished second by 17 1/4 lengths over Game Face. It was 13 3/4 lengths back to Golden Doc A.

ELMONT, N.Y. - IEAH Stables and trainer Rick Dutrow, the connections of Big Brown, enjoyed an auspicious beginning to their stakes action Saturday at steamy Belmont Park when Benny the Bull got up in the final strides under Edgar Prado to win the $250,000 True North Handicap.

Benny the Bull, the top-ranked sprinter in the country and the 1-2 favorite off consecutive victories in the Grade 1 De Francis Dash, the Sunshine Millions Sprint, and the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, tracked along in fifth place early as Man of Danger carved out fractions of 22.06 seconds and 44.98.