Last-place finishes by Triple Crown hopefuls at Belmont
With a last-place finish, Big Brown earned the dubious distinction of the worst BelmontStakes finish for a horse that won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Horse Year Finish Big Brown 2008 9th War Emblem 2002 8th Carry Back 1961 7th Alysheba 1987 4th Canonero II 1971 4th ... read more
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
Don’t overlook Denis of Cork at Belmont
Perhaps one overlooked betting option for Saturday’s Belmont is Denis of Cork, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby behind Big Brown and Eight Belles. Denis of Cork had won three straight races this past winter to emerge as one of the top 3-year-olds. But after a fifth at the Illinois Derby... 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
Heatseeker, Tiago resume duel at Californian
Santa Anita Handicap winner Heatseeker and Oaklawn Handicap winner Tiago will meet for the third straight time in Saturday’s $250,000 Californian at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif. Irish-bred Heatseeker started the year with a third-place finish in the San Pasqual Handicap in Jan. He was t... read more
Sudan a big favorite in Golden Gate Fields Turf
Irish-bred Sudan is the big favorite for Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Golden Gate Fields Turf. Sudan took the Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-G1) last June and in 2006 was twice third behind Rail Link, subsequent winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). The son of Peintre Celebre is a... read more
Zenyatta one to beat at Milady
Four starts into her career, 4-year-old Zenyatta will be heavily favored to make it 5 for 5 when she runs 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 2 Milady Handicap for fillies and mares Saturday at Hollywood Park. Zenyatta was making only her fourth start when she won the Apple Blossom with a 104 Beyer Speed F... 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