The process of filling the void in the 3-year-old division left by Point Given's retirement begins Monday at Philadelphia Park, where Macho Uno, last year's 2-year-old champion, squares off against up-and-comer Touch Tone in the $500,000 Pennsylvania Derby.
The Grade 3 Pennsylvania Derby, run at nine furlongs on the main track, highlights a 12-race card, which also includes a trio of ungraded stakes. First post is 12:25 p.m. Eastern with the Pennsylvania Derby scheduled to go at 5:12 p.m.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Point Given, whose retirement was announced on Friday due to a tendon injury, will be paraded between races on Wednesday, the closing day of the meeting.
According to track president Joe Harper, Point Given will be presented in the paddock and on the racetrack, and a video of his career highlights, which includes wins in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, will be shown to the crowd.
Gary Stevens, who rode Point Given, paid tribute to the nation's top 3-year-old, saying the colt will be a hard act to follow.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Jerry Bailey established a new record for wins at a Saratoga meeting by a jockey when he won Saturday's sixth race aboard Listen Here, a first-time starter trained by Bill Mott. It was his 51st win, which eclipsed the old mark of 50 set by Bailey last summer.
While favored Golden Antigua was trapped along the rail, Star Queen surged to the lead in midstretch and went on to victory in the $50,000 Dade Turf Classic at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky.
Ridden by James Lopez, Star Queen ($16.40) ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.56 over a soft turf course. Fast Delivery was a late-running third in a field of 11 fillies and mares.
In their last meeting, at Arlington, Golden Antigua won at 7-1, with Star Queen second as the 2-1 favorite.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Scioto Bootski kept her lifetime record unblemished as she stepped into the stakes division and posted a 2 3/4-length win over her eight 3-year-old Ohio-bred rivals in the $40,000 Ohio Debutante Handicap at Thistledown.
Eye Slew the City finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Ashwood C C, the 3-2 favorite.
Key Lory ($6.80) has discovered the fountain of youth on turf. A
7-year-old gelding who was winless on dirt for over two years, Key Lory won his second stakes since switching to grass in the $100,600 Sussex Handicap at Delaware Park.
Ridden by Harry Vega and trained by Dennis Manning, Key Lory dueled with Lightning Paces for the first six furlongs of the nine-furlong Sussex, then shook clear on the far turn and drove to a 1 1/2-length victory over runner-up Warrant. His time over a firm course was 1:49.93.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Maiden claiming horses swept the top two spots in the $75,000 Top Flight Stakes at Arlington, as Vicki Vallencourt just got up to beat Don't Ruffle Me by a head. Both 2-year-old fillies had started but once before, each winning a $50,000 maiden-claiming race at Arlington.
In fact, Vicki Vallencourt's trainer, Hugh Robertson, came close to waiting for an easier spot with his horse, but chose to tackle a short field lacking a standout. It was a good call.
CINCINNATI - In a field full of highly regarded shippers, it was a local filly, Joanies Bella, who stole the show in the $100,000 Bassinet Stakes at River Downs.
Ridden by Craig Perret, who was making his first-ever appearance at River in a career of over 30 years, Joanies Bella took command on the turn of the six-furlong Bassinet, then turned back the 6-5 favorite, Lakeside Cup, to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Honor Glide turned back a stretch bid from another American shipper, Royal Strand, to capture Saturday's
Grade 2 $335,100 Niagara Breeders' Cup Handicap at Woodbine.
Robbie Davis rode Honor Glide, who assumed command from front-runners Wolvspa and Strike Smartly heading into the far turn of the 1 1/2-mile turf race. Favored Royal Strand tracked Honor Glide on the far turn and drew even with him in midstretch, but Honor Glide repelled the challenge and drew off for a three-length win in 2:26.52. Strike Smartly re-rallied to miss second by a nose.
Carey's Gold kept his hopes alive of becoming the second straight horse to sweep all three legs of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series, rallying to a 2 1/4-length victory over Mountain Forum in the second division of Saturday's $125,000 Affirmed Stakes.
Bog Hunter won the opening split of the Affirmed, by a convincing three-length margin over the 44-1 Thiscannonsloaded.