NEW YORK - War Emblem's less-than-convincing victory in the Kentucky Derby was good for business on Saturday for the Preakness Stakes.
With betting spread over the 13-horse Preakness field and record-setting handle in the exotics pools, all-sources betting on the Preakness set a record at $42,301,515. Total handle on the 13-race card was also a record, at $64,546,504, according to Preakness officials. The previous record was set last year, on a 12-race card.
Inglewood, Calif. - Jockey Alex Solis has been given a three-day suspension for causing interference in Friday's fifth race at Hollywood Park, which he won aboard Irish Warrior. Solis was cited for altering course without sufficient clearance.
The suspension begins Thursday and continues through Saturday, but Solis will be allowed to ride Collect Call in the Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap on Saturday.
Hollywood stewards also suspended trainer A.C. Avila for 15 days after one of his runners tested positive for a prohibited medication last summer at Del Mar.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The transition is pretty much over.
The Claiborne Farm horses, which resided in the Churchill Downs barn of Frank Brothers for some six years, have been dispersed to other trainers. Meanwhile, the Lazy Lane Farms horses are filling those stalls in the Brothers barn.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Congaree, who was expected to make his 4-year-old debut Monday in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, is now more likely to launch his comeback in the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap the same day. The 1 1/16-mile race anchors Lone Star Million Day, which will feature seven stakes.
NEW YORK - The overnight television rating for the Preakness broadcast Saturday by NBC was 6.5, the highest rating since 1990 and up 8 percent compared with last year, NBC officials said Monday.
The rating for the race portion of the broadcast, from 6 p.m. to 6:42, went up 14 percent, from 7.8 to an 8.9. Overnight ratings are measured in the top 53 U.S. markets with each point representing 675,000 households. Final ratings will be announced on Thursday.
ELMONT, N.Y. - To date, Pure Prize has failed to live up to his royal bloodlines and, more often than not, his short odds. He will get another opportunity to do both Wednesday when he tries to clear the second-level allowance condition at Belmont Park.
A 4-year-old son of Storm Cat out of the champion mare Heavenly Prize, Pure Prize is just 2 for 11 in his career. However, both victories came at Belmont Park, including a win at the 1 1/16-mile distance of Wednesday's race.
ELMONT, N.Y. - With the prospect of a Triple Crown looming and with the Belmont Stakes having become more popular in general the last few years, New York Racing Association officials are gearing up for a potential record-setting crowd on June 8, when War Emblem goes for the Triple Crown in the 134th Belmont Stakes.
"The phones were ringing off the wall Saturday night into Sunday," said Terry Meyocks, president and COO of NYRA.