Three white-hot horses who have combined to win 14 of their last 16 starts are among 10 evenly matched older runners in Saturday's $100,000 Donald LeVine Memorial Handicap, the first stakes of the season at Philadelphia Park.
Forest Park, a 4-year-old who has lost only once in his career, and Busted Trust, who has reeled off four straight wins since beginning the year racing against $6,250 conditioned claimers, are both making their stakes debut in the seven-furlong LeVine.
Three horses with solid credentials but coming off long layoffs are among the contenders in the $50,000 Ben Cohen Stakes, a five-furlong turf race at Pimlico.
Yankee Wildcat, Namequest, and Quest of Fate all appear capable of winning if they're ready to fire their best shot following extended vacations of between six and nine months.
Namequest was fifth, but beaten just more than a length, in last year's Beh Cohen following an extended break.
It's hat-trick time for Just Michel. A consistent 5-year-old mare, Just Michel will shoot for her third consecutive stakes win at Thistledown while facing eight of her Ohio-bred peers in the $40,000 Brent's Princess at six furlongs.
Just Michel comes into the race off impressive wins in the Alyssa Handicap at Beulah Park and the Angenora at Thistledown, both at six furlongs, and if she retains her form she will have little difficulty adding to that string.
Camela Carson and Sunrise-ontheoasis are the ones to beat when a field of 11 3-year-old Iowa-bred fillies meet in the $50,000 Bob Bryant Stakes at Prairie Meadows.
Camela Carson scored a game neck victory against statebred one-other-than allowance rivals in her last start on May 6, dueling throughout before inching clear at the wire under jockey Perry Compton.
ELMONT, N.Y. - His career has been brief, but brilliant. When Ghostzapper runs, be it short or long, he is always worth the price of admission.
In winning all four starts last year, Ghostzapper did enough to be crowned Horse of the Year convincingly over the popular Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Smarty Jones. Ghostzapper could have been a super sprinter had he not been a magnificent router.
MIAMI - Hal's Image was back home at Calder on Monday afternoon following his 11th-place finish in last Saturday's Preakness Stakes.
"He ran down in both hind legs during the race," trainer Barry Rose said. "That track was very hard, very rough, and he burned right through his bandages. As a result he was probably a little ouchy during the race and couldn't quite stretch out properly."
Rose said he has no definite plans for Hal's Image's next start.
ELMONT, N.Y. - By splashing his way to a six-length victory in an allowance race Wednesday at Belmont Park, Love of Money may have earned himself a spot in the starting gate in Monday's Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said Love of Money would definitely run in the Met Mile if the track comes up wet. He will also consider running Love of Money on a fast track.
The Met is scheduled to mark the return to the races of Ghostzapper, the reigning Horse of the Year.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Bobby Frankel takes the blame for Gigli finishing last as the 2-1 favorite in an allowance race here on May 13. He doesn't intend to make the same mistake twice.
is entered back in a similar spot in Friday's featured eighth race at 1 1/4 miles on Belmont Park's inner turf. A field of six was assembled for the race, which is likely to be run over a soft course. First post for the Sunset Friday card is 3 p.m. Eastern.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Returning from injury, Stormin' Lyon has a winning streak to protect when he starts in Friday's $62,000 Bullet Stakes at Hollywood Park.
The minor stakes marks Stormin Lyon's return after a layoff of nearly a year, but comes over a course and distance that he is proven to like.
, 4, has won his last two starts - the Harry Henson Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf here in April 2004 and an allowance race at six furlongs on dirt in June 2004.
