ELMONT, N.Y. – The owners of Max Player will have to pay a double jockey’s fee for the Belmont Stakes after making a late switch from Dylan Davis to Joel Rosario, according to the stewards. Thus, whatever Rosario earns, Davis will also get.
The stewards said that Davis had a call with trainer Linda Rice to ride Max Player in the Belmont. On Sunday, Rice said Rosario would ride Max Player, leaving Davis without a mount for the race.
ELMONT, N.Y. – For the past five years, Larry Collmus and John Imbriale have shared the announcer’s booth on Belmont Stakes Day. Collmus would call the majority of the races, including the Belmont, while Imbriale would call the races following the Belmont.
WHO’S HOT
Late developers Uncle Chuck, who got a Beyer Speed Figure of 95 when debuting going two turns against maidens at Santa Anita, and Art Collector, who got an even bigger figure of 100 when beating allowance runners at Churchill Downs, are the two newest members of the Derby Watch top 20 following wins last week. Uncle Chuck is 15-1 on the line set by Marty McGee of Daily Racing Form for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby, with Art Collector at 20-1.
WHO’S NOT
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission granting its approval Tuesday, Churchill will now extend its spring meet by one more day, through June 28, with Ellis Park delaying the opening of its summer meet to July 2.
Ellis runs July 2-5, followed by a five-day Keeneland meet July 8-12. Ellis will then resume racing July 17, conducting three-day weekends through Aug. 30. Churchill then runs its delayed Kentucky Derby week schedule Sept. 1-5, with Kentucky Downs starting its six-day meet on Labor Day, Sept. 7.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The $200,000 Wise Dan for older horses attracted 11 horses and the $100,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds has a field of eight. The races, both on turf, are the features on the Saturday card at Churchill Downs.
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Factor This figures to be favored in the Grade 2 Wise Dan off a 104 Beyer in winning the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial at Fair Grounds in his last start.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brendan Walsh is doing his best to give a straightforward response to, “Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?”
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ron Moquett is fiercely proud of his Arkansas heritage, so there was a little something extra to a race he won last week at Churchill Downs.
Moquett sent out an Arkansas-bred named Man in the Can to win a 1 1/8-mile first-level allowance for 3-year-olds on Friday. He earned a second straight 87 Beyer Speed Figure and is now 4 for 5, and likely will get a shot at making the Kentucky Derby with his next start.
“I think he’ll fit with a lot of these other 3-year-olds,” said Moquett. “He’s an improving horse at the right time.”
Trevor Denman, the popular and influential racecaller who has been at the helm at Del Mar since 1984, will miss this summer’s meeting out of an abundance of caution related to the coronavirus pandemic, as he is choosing not to travel from his home in Minnesota, which he does every year for the summer and fall meets.
Fortunately for Del Mar, a top free agent was available to pinch hit.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Barb Minshall got off to a fast start at the meet, beginning on opening day, June 6, when Another Time posted a 6-1 upset in the feature.
Another Time lowered the 7 1/2-furlong course record on the inner turf when winning that open allowance over Souper Escape. She had struggled in her previous race, the Sand Springs Stakes at Gulfstream, 17 days after prevailing in her March 11 season opener in a second-level optional claimer at Tampa.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Fore Left, winner of the Group 3 UAE 2000 Guineas in Dubai in his last start, will be re-routed from Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens to the $1 million Belmont Stakes, trainer Doug O’Neill said Tuesday.
Fore Left, a son of Twirling Candy owned by Paul Reddam, adds some pace to the Belmont, which this year will be run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn. He will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, who won the 2017 Belmont aboard Tapwrit.
