Casino Drive out of Belmont
Casino Drive, the unbeaten main challenger to Big Brown in today’s Belmont Stakes, has been scratched because of a hoof problem. Racing manager Nobutaka Tada for Casino Drive’s Japanese connections said the horse was fine during a three-furlong jog early Saturday, but planned to scratch th... read more
Big Brown vs. Curlin for $5M?
Suffolk Downs is offering a $5 million purse for the Massachusetts Handicap if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and Curlin go undefeated and start in the race against each other. The $5 million would include a $1 million participation bonus for each horse. The 1 1-8-mile race, to be ru... read more
Hooters teams up with Big Brown
In what you would have to call an unusual marketing team, Big Brown, who already has a sponsorship deal with UPS, now has another sponsor: Hooters of America. The Atlanta-based restaurant chain, best known for its chicken wings and hot waitresses, confirmed today that it has signed a deal to ha... read more
Aristides entries
Elite Squadron appears to be the class of the field for Saturday’s Aristides at Churchill. Six weeks ago, Elite Squadron went off at 38-1 in the Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland but finished second. He then won the Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Elite Squadron make... read more
Sands Point Stakes entries
I Lost My Choo will seek to avenge a narrow loss to Alwajeeha in last month’s Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland when the two 3-year-old fillies head the field entered for Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Sands Point Handicap at Belmont Park. Seven fillies were entered for the turf, while F... read more
Dogwood Stakes entries
Saturday’s Dogwood Stakes will have a similar look to the May 3 La Troienne Stakes. The $100,000 Dogwood is for 3-year-old fillies is a mile rather than 7 ½ furlongs, and three horses who did not compete in the La Troienne will contest this event. But those newcomers are outnumbered by the... read more
Z Fortune and Smooth Air lead Ohio Derby
Smooth Air drew the rail and was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the $300,000 Ohio Derby Saturday, but he will meet some pretty stiff competition, namely, graded stakes winner Z Fortune. Eight will go to the post in the nine-furlong Ohio Derby, which is the centerpiece of Thistledo... read more
Harlem Rocker back racing Sunday
Undefeated 3-year-old Harlem Rocker will face seven rivals in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes Sunday at Woodbine. The nine-furlong Plate Trial is the local prep for Woodbine’s $1-million Queen’s Plate Stakes, North America’s oldest Thoroughbred race, which is open to Canadian-bred 3-year-o... read more
Canadian champs battle in Nassau Stakes
Well, we should at least find out the best horse in Canada during Saturday’s Nassau Stakes. Sealy Hill and Arravale, the last two Canadian horses of the year, will meet over 1 1/16 miles on the grass Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 2, $300,000 race. Sealy Hill garnered the Sovereign Award ... read more
Hendricks ready for Shoemaker, Gamely stakes
Trainer Dan Hendricks is set to unleash Daytona and Lavender Sky with contrasting styles in the Shoemaker Mile and Gamely Stakes, respectively, $250,000, Grade I stakes on the Hollywood Park turf on Monday. Daytona is expected to be on the pace in the Shoemaker while Lavender is expected to close fr... read more