Hunters Bay Impresses in Stakes Debut

Stronach Stables homebred Hunters Bay made the most of his first opportunity in stakes company, winning the Eclipse Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine in impressive fashion by three lengths

Cauthen, Velazquez revisit 1978 Triple Crown with fans

The unforgettable rivalry between 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed and archrival Alydar came alive again at Belmont Park on Saturday afternoon as hundreds of fans lined up for a special autograph session with Hall of Fame jockeys Steve Cauthen and Jorge Velasquez.

Silver Max leads throughout in Arlington Classic

Much like his recent wins in the Grade 3 Transylvania and Grade 2 American Turf, Mark Bacon and Dana Wells' Silver Max proved too difficult to beat on the front end in Saturday's $125,000 Arlington Classic, the first leg of Arlington Park's Mid-America Triple for three-year-olds on the turf.

Upperline scores in Arlington Matron

Stone Farm, John H. Adger, Oakcrest Farm and trainer Michael Stidham's Upperline was content to stalk the early pace set by Hooh Why in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Matron over the Polytrack at Arlington Park, but asserted her authority in the lane to take over and draw off for a four-length win. Jockey James Graham had piloting duties aboard the Maria's Mon mare, and the duo completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 3/5 to return $5.80, $3.80 and $2.60.

Aruna Takes Start-Plagued Sheepshead Bay

Flaxman Holdings homebred Aruna took charge at the five-sixteenths pole and held off Hit It Rich to win the Sheepshead Bay, a race that was impacted by a troubled start for Mystical Star and Magical Cat.

Simmard shows class in Louisville 'Cap

Mowed down after taking a lead in his prior two starts, the seven-year-old Simmard hit the front three furlongs from home in Saturday's Grade 3, $115,200 Louisville Handicap on the Churchill Downs turf, but did not relinquish control this time. Under Gabriel Saez, the veteran held off a late charge from Joinem to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of 2:27, the fastest edition of the Louisville Handicap since the race was extended to 1 1/2 miles in 2007.

Power looks electric in Irish 2000 Guineas

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's Power was sapped in the boggy ground in his seasonal reappearance in Newmarket's Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas on May 5, but rebounded in slashing style in Saturday's Group 1 Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Able to produce his electric turn of foot in the quicker conditions, the Aidan O'Brien trainee flashed home late to give the master of Ballydoyle his eighth victory in this classic.

Upperline Up in Time in Arlington Matron

Favored Upperline collared pacesetter Hooh Why in the final furlong to post a sharp four-length victory in the $150,000 Arlington Matron (gr. III) at Arlington Park May 26.

Aruna takes eventful Sheepshead Bay

Flaxman Holdings' homebred Aruna made an impressive move on the far turn en route to victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes, but the Belmont Park race will be better remembered for a wild start that derailed the chances of two horses.

Al Qasr targeting Breeders' Cup Turf following Gran Premio 25 de Mayo score

Peruvian invader Al Qasr captured the Group 1 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo while making his turf debut on Friday evening by two lengths over Bogeyman at San Isidro Racetrack in Argentina.

Grandstand general admission Belmont tickets available through Ticketmaster

The New York Racing Association (NYRA), for the first time ever, is making $10 grandstand general admission tickets to the Belmont Stakes available through Ticketmaster.

Dullahan, Street Life breeze; Atigun, Unstoppable U probable for Belmont

Dullahan turned in one last workout on Saturday at his Churchill Downs home base prior to his departure for the Belmont Stakes in New York, traveling one mile over the fast main track in 1:43 with Tammy Fox aboard.

Grit and Grace has big shoes to fill

Trainer Gary Hartlage knew On Fire Baby was special from the moment last spring when she walked off the van into his Churchill Downs barn. The gray daughter of Smoke Glacken validated that early opinion later in the year with wins in the Pocahontas and Golden Rod, both Grade 2s, at Churchill Downs and a victory this spring in the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn Park.

I'll Have Another posts 'fantastic' gallop under sunny skies at Belmont

Under bright and sunny skies, Triple Crown hopeful I'll Have Another had a second energetic gallop over Belmont Park's main track Saturday morning as he continues preparations for the June 9 Belmont Stakes.

Homecoming Queen looking for second Guineas crown

She may not have been an obvious leading lady a few weeks ago, but Homecoming Queen put herself firmly in the spotlight with a sensational victory at Newmarket in the Group 1 English One Thousand Guineas and is poised to complete the double in Sunday's Group 1 Irish One Thousand Guineas at The Curragh.

Rapid Redux retired to Old Friends

Rapid Redux, the extraordinary racehorse who holds the modern North American record of 22 consecutive wins, will be permanently pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center near Georgetown, Kentucky.

Unbridled Humor Solid Fit in Violet Stakes

Unbridled Humor will be looking for her first win of the year and her first graded stakes victory since last September when she goes postward in the $100,000 Violet Stakes (gr. IIIT) over the Monmouth Park turf May 28.

Winning Image Steals My Juliet Stakes

Locally based Winning Image, owned by Martin Scafidi, asserted herself early and ended up wiring the field in the $150,000 My Juliet Stakes at Parx Racing May 26.

Rail Trip Back to Work in Los Angeles 'Cap

Rail Trip, back in the Southern California barn of Ron Ellis, gets back into action in the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap (gr. III) May 28 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

No Pushovers in Strong Metropolitan Handicap

Experience and previous success on the Belmont Park dirt surface could be the deciding factor when a short but strong field gathers for the $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at one mile May 28.

Awesome Gem Faces Hudson Landing in Berkeley

Awesome Gem, lifetime winner of more than $2.7 million, and San Francisco Mile (gr. IIIT) victor Hudson Landing head the field for the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields May 28.

Kailani supplemented to Oaks

The Mahmood al Zarooni-trained Kailani was supplemented to the Group 1 Oaks at a cost of £20,000, making 14 three-year-old fillies still eligible to contest Friday's classic at Epsom Downs. Kailani is out of the 2002 Oaks heroine Kazzia and like her dam is owned by Godolphin, which has also enjoyed Oaks success with Balanchine (1994) and Moonshell (1995).

Rapid Redux to be Pensioned at Old Friends

Rapid Redux, who established the modern North American record of 22 consecutive wins in January, will be permanently pensioned at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement center in Georgetown, KY.

Power Surges to Victory in Irish Guineas

Power surged to the lead in deep stretch to capture the Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) over Foxtrot Romeo at the Curragh May 26.

Dullahan Breezes at Churchill Downs

Donegal Racing's Dullahan, the Kentucky Derby third-place finisher who will be seeking to block I'll Have Another's Triple Crown bid, breezed a mile at Churchill Downs the morning of May 26.

Reddam, Gutierrez Team Up Again in Gamely

J. Paul Reddam's Quiet Oasis, an upset winner in her first start of 2012, will seek to keep it going when she returns to grade I stakes company in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park May 28.

Jockey Injured at Los Alamitos Race Course

A jockey was injured in a fall at Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, California during the fourth race on the track's May 25 night racing card.

KY Judge Grants Albarado's Request to Ride

A judge is preventing the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission from enforcing its suspension of jockey Robby Albarado.

Haskin's Belmont Report: What's Shakin?

What's Shakin' with Cal Board?

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In brief

A brief synopsis of today's happenings in Thoroughbred Racing from brisnet.com.

No Nasal Strip, No Problem, O'Neill Says

I'll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness wearing a nasal strip. He'll make his first start in the Belmont without one because NYRA bans nasal strips. The reason for the ban is unclear.

Eight line up in Gamely; Rail Trip returns in LA 'Cap

Up-and-coming turf distaffers Quiet Oasis and Capital Plan will clash in pursuit of Grade 1 laurels in Monday's $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park. The Memorial Day card also features the return of Grade 1 veteran Rail Trip, who meets a field of sprint specialists in his tightener, the $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap.

Bolger seeks first Irish 2000 Guineas against top-class field

Jim Bolger has one omission from his list of big-race successes and will be hoping that Parish Hall can put it right by providing a belated first victory in Saturday's Group 1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas at The Curragh. New Approach appeared poised to bring the trophy home to Coolcullen four years ago only to be denied by Henrythenavigator, while Parish Hall's sire, Teofilo, would have been a leading player had he the chance to flaunt his wares at three.

Short, but competitive, field set for Met Mile

Only six were entered for Monday's Memorial Day feature of the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, but the short field is comprised of some of the best older runners currently in training.

Former NYRA Investigator Says He Was Fired

A former outside counsel for the New York Racing Association claims he was fired in 2011 in the midst of performing two separate "integrity investigations" of the organization.

On Fire Baby Returns in Acorn

Anita Cauley's homebred On Fire Baby cuts back to a one-turn mile at Belmont Park in the May 28 TVG Acorn Stakes (gr. I). The Smoke Glacken filly was a disappointing fifth as the second choice in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).

Overnight Purses Boosted 10% at Churchill

Citing higher than expected all-sources wagering during Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) week, Churchill Downs announced a 10% increase in overnight purses effective May 28.

Graded Stakes Winner Silver Medallion Retired

Multiple graded stakes winner Silver Medallion has been retired following a suspensory ligament injury he sustained during a workout at Belmont Park.

Churchill raises overnight purses by 10 percent

Effective Monday, Churchill Downs Racetrack will raise overnight race purses 10 percent because of higher than expected all-sources wagering levels during Kentucky Derby Week.

Apart, Nates Mineshaft Top Lone Star Handicap

Headed by grade II winners Apart and Nates Mineshaft, a solid field of eight older horses will compete in the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III), the May 28 Memorial Day feature at the Texas track.

'Maria' the Main Star in Ogden Phipps

Awesome Maria carries highweight of 124 pounds against four rivals May 28 in Belmont Park's Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). The Phipps is one of three grade I races on the Memorial Day card in New York.

Somali Lemonade Seeks to Regain Winning Form

Grade III winner Somali Lemonade seeks to get back on the winning track when she heads the eight-horse field entered in the May 28 Sands Point (gr. IIT) on the Memorial Day card at Belmont Park.

I'll Have Another Gallops at Belmont Park

With a steady rain falling, dual classic winner I'll Have Another galloped a mile at Belmont Park May 25 as he continued to prepare for attempt at history in the June 9 Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Racing Language Protected in OH Gaming Bill

Language pertaining to the horse racing industry remained intact May 24 when the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate passed a casino cleanup bill that was sent to Republican Gov. John Kasich for his signature.

NTRA adds 'best bet' feature to NHC

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Friday that the the 14th annual Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) will again be contested over a two-day period and consist of 15 race selections each day -- eight from mandatory races and seven from races of the player's choosing among available contest tracks.

I'll Have Another 'hard to pull up'

It was the first gallop over Belmont's 1 1/2-mile track for I'll Have Another, who jogged the previous two days after arriving in New York Sunday. The Flower Alley colt, who is bidding to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years, was accompanied by his stable pony, Lava Man, as he made his way to the track shortly after the renovation break.

JRHA Sale Has 250 Yearlings and 226 Foals

The Japan Racing Horse Association has cataloged 250 yearlings and 226 foals for its July select sale. The auction will be held July 9-10 at the Northern Horse Park on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Slideshow: Affirmed

Celebrating the career of Affirmed, the most recent Triple Crown winner.

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Peruvian Jockey to Ride at Monmouth Park

Another successful rider in Peru is preparing to ply his trade in the U.S. and has selected Monmouth Park for his domestic debut.

No Re-Vote, But Maryland THA Makes Changes

In the wake of recent conflict over its structure, the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced "major leadership changes" after a closed May 23 board of directors meeting held at Laurel Park.