Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., opens for an expanded race meet on Friday, with a card that is typical of the 34-day meet.
The 10-race card will include six turf races, and five of those have drawn 14-horse fields. Full fields on Colonial's massive turf course, the widest in the country, have become the track's signature after seven years of operation.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - A quick pace may help Papillon Rouge launch her U.S. career with a victory in a turf sprint at Hollywood Park on Friday.
A stakes winner in Chile last fall, Papillon Rouge, 4, faces eight rivals, several of whom are front-runners expected to set quick fractions. If jockey Martin Pedroza can get Papillon Rouge to settle in the first half of the 5 1/2-furlong turf race, she could rally to score her third win in her last four starts.
At the least the distance suits Papillon Rouge, trainer Ron McAnally said.
AUBURN, Wash. - Our Monstarr will attempt to extend her winning streak to three when she takes on seven other 3-year-old fillies in Friday's one-mile feature, for $10,000 to $12,500 claimers.
Our Monstarr, a daughter of Demons Begone and Bravest Star, is coming off a pair of wins over $7,500 company going 6 1/2 furlongs. Our Monstarr, who has helped trainer Dave Bennett achieve a 32 percent win clip at the meeting, will be attempting the mile distance for the first time on Friday.
CALGARY, Alberta - After five career starts, Beau's Diva, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Beau Genius out of the stakes-winning dam Shaniah, has yet to fulfill the high expectations her breeding warrants.
In Friday's feature, a $17,000 entry-level allowance at six furlongs, Beau's Diva is afforded an opportunity to take a step in that direction.
With leading rider Quincy Welch accepting the call from trainer Dale Saunders, Beau's Diva is expected to be on or near the lead from the rail.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Nine were entered Wednesday morning for Saturday's 70th running of the Grade 2 Ohio Derby. The purse this year is $350,000, an increase of $50,000.
Limehouse, Pollard's Vision, and Trieste's Honor will vie for favoritism in the 1 1/8-mile race. Limehouse and Pollard's Vision, both trained by Todd Pletcher, will ship in from New York and race as separate betting interests.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Azeri, coming off a loss against males in the Metropolitan Handicap on May 31, is being pointed to the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park on June 19, according to her trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.
Azeri will be back with her own sex in the 1 1/16-mile Phipps, but it won't be an easy assignment. Among the probable starters for the $300,000 Ogden Phipps are champion Storm Flag Flying, Sightseek, who won last year's Phipps, and Passing Shot, the winner of the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga in 2003.
BALTIMORE, Md. - The Maryland Racing Commission at a meeting at Pimlico on Tuesday narrowly gave the go-ahead to Magna Entertainment Corp., parent company of the Maryland Jockey Club, to begin rebuilding the turf and dirt tracks at Laurel Park, despite strong objections by horsemen.
New York Racing Association officials met with horsemen Wednesday to explain their support for a bill that would overhaul regulation of racing in the state and also pave the way for slot machines at Aqueduct racetrack, according to an official of the horsemen's group.
An investigation into a surprisingly low daily double payoff Sunday at Arlington has turned up no sign of wrongdoing.
Arlington stewards launched an inquiry after Sunday's double in the fifth and sixth races returned just $51.20. A win parlay on Girl Fever ($35.40) in the fifth and Oza ($19.40) in the sixth would have paid about $343.
The investigation focused on a winning $200 wager at an offtrack betting parlor in Joliet, Ill., but the bet appeared to have been legitimately placed, according to state steward Eddie Arroyo.
The Massachusetts State Racing Commission has allowed Suffolk Downs to cancel racing this Friday and will take up the track's request to eliminate June 18 and 25 at its next meeting, on Friday.
Suffolk hopes to strike a deal with the state Legislature to reduce the number of days the track is required to run and instead meet state requirements by running a certain number of races over the course of a shorter meet. Running fewer days would save the track money.