Because stakes races are reserved for the second half of the two-week Preakness Meet at Pimlico Race Course this year, the first weekend of racing will be a curious affair. Sure to be dwarfed by events the following weekend, the first three days will mean much more to local Maryland connections and a small group of outsiders searching for winning moments on the historic grounds.
Mullikin finished second Dec. 7 behind the top-level performer Locked in the Cigar Mile. Making his first start since that race in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day, Mullikin lost ground while pressing a fast pace, which collapsed in a race dominated by late runners, and held stubbornly for a close fifth.
Was that enough to send Mullikin on to the $1 million Met Mile on June 7 at Saratoga? Probably not.
Good Cheer, presumably the best 3-year-old filly in North America, won the Kentucky Oaks by more than two lengths and earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. Nitrogen, definitely the best 3-year-old turf filly and arguably the second-best horse of her generation, won the Edgewood Stakes by more than three lengths, earning an 88 Beyer.
Weekend racing cancellations during Oaklawn Park’s recently concluded meet led to significant declines in total handle and average wagering per race, according to an analysis conducted by Daily Racing Form. However, the track’s purse distribution was largely unaffected and its average field size remained robust.
All-sources handle at the Aqueduct spring meet was $102,356,937, a 2.8 percent decline from the 2024 spring season, in which handle was $105,265,644, according to figures provided by the New York Racing Association.
With important graded stakes victories accomplished by Fierceness and Mindframe over the weekend, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole will weigh their options for both 4-year-olds, with one being a potential meeting of the two in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on June 7.
Pletcher said Fierceness came out of his track-record performance in Friday’s Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes in good order, as did Mindframe, who narrowly won Saturday’s Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes. Both horses were expected to arrive at Saratoga on Tuesday while plans are made.
Mark Casse has handled plenty of stellar turf fillies, including champions Tepin, a two-time Eclipse Award heroine, and Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse. Nitrogen might not be at that level yet, but Casse said she is “catching up.” She remained unbeaten in four starts this year with a victory in the Grade 2 Edgewood for 3-year-old turf fillies on Friday at Churchill Downs, and will now eye an elusive Grade 1 win.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Juveniles by the prominent California stallion Stay Thirsty won maiden races at Santa Anita last Friday and Sunday, the first races for the division this year.
The filly Tapatia Mia, who won on Friday, and Fionello, who won on Sunday, were bred by Terry Lovingier, who retains an ownership interest, and are trained by Steve Knapp. Tiago Pereira rode both winners.
Judge Miller, twice stakes-placed in the spring of 2024, returned from a layoff of more than 11 months to win an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on Sunday in an encouraging manner.
Ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Mark Glatt, Judge Miller closed from fourth of seven to win by a half-length despite being held up behind rivals briefly on the turn. With room to race approaching the stretch, Judge Miller closed steadily to reach the front in the final sixteenth.
Judge Miller ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.27 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.
