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After the Wire - 5/28/2012

Evan Hammonds recaps the Met Mile, Acorn Stakes, and Ogden Phipps Handicap.

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Jones: Weight Must be Right for Apple Blossom

For Rick Porter and Larry Jones, Plan A is to run Havre de Grace in the Apple Blossom Handicap April 13. However, the connections have also made one thing clear: They will only do so under the right weight conditions.

BC Winner Unrivaled Belle Retired

Breeders' Cup winner Unrivaled Belle, who broke her withers after falling backward in the paddock while waiting to be saddled for the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 18, has been retired

Awesome Maria Much the Best in Ogden Phipps

Awesome Maria remained perfect in four starts in 2011 and notched her first grade I win when she kicked away in the stretch to post an easy victory in the $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap June 18 at Belmont Park.

Awesome Maria Shoots for Grade I in Phipps

One of three chances for Todd Pletcher, Awesome Maria seeks her first grade I win when she faces a small but solid field in the $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap.

No Catching Life At Ten in Ogden Phipps

Life At Ten overcame a slight stumble at the start to record her fifth consecutive win and first grade I score in the $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park June 12.

Unrivaled Belle Tops Five-Horse Phipps Field

Unrivaled Belle, who defeated 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in her last race, bids for her first grade I victory when she faces just four rivals in the $250,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 12.

Phipps: Seattle Smooth Sails to 5th Straight

Seattle Smooth wore down Seventh Street in the homestretch to win the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) for her first grade I victory June 13 at Belmont Park.

Music Note Battles Stablemate in Ogden Phipps

Music Note, one of the top fillies in the nation last year when she was a three-time grade I winner, makes her 4-year-old seasonal debut in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Bemont Park June 13.

Champ Ginger Punch Impressive in Phipps

Stronach Stables' Ginger Punch, keen on defending her champion older female title of 2007, made it look easy in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap with a commanding victory in the Belmont Park fixture June 14.

Take D' Tour Holds On for Phipps Repeat

Alice Muller's even-money choice Take D' Tour opened up a sizable lead in the stretch and held on under Eibar Coa to make it back-to-back victories in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) for fillies and mares at Belmont Park Saturday.

Take D' Tour Shows Way in Ogden Phipps H.

Take D' Tour enjoyed the scenic route on the front end to gain her fourth consecutive victory, a resounding 5 1/2-length triumph in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) for fillies and mares Saturday at Belmont Park.

Take D' Tour Tries Spun Sugar in Phipps H.

With a chance to take her place among the top older mares in the country, Take D' Tour tries to stay unbeaten at Belmont Park when she starts in the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at 1 1/16 miles.

Televised Road to the Breeders' Cup Starts June 17

The second half of the Thoroughbred racing season kicks off June 17 with the first 2006 telecast of the Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships – Powered by Dodge on ESPN from 5-7 p.m. (est).

Ashado Shines Again in Ogden Phipps Romp

The champion filly Ashado, the focus of concern after she lost her first two starts in 2005, looked like her old self in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park Saturday, defeating her four rivals with ease.

Sightseek Dominates Phipps 'Cap; Azeri Last

Juddmonte Farms' Sightseek turned in a brilliant performance Saturday in winning the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park. Champion Azeri faded to finish last by 11 3/4 lengths in her third consecutive defeat.

Three Talented Rivals For Azeri in Phipps

Just three accepted the challenge of extending Azeri's two-race losing streak in Saturday's $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) for fillies and mares at Belmont Park, but the task figures to be far from easy for the 6-year-old champion.

Sightseek to Battle Take Charge Lady

Juddmonte Farms' Sightseek, a filly who always fires, is the likely favorite in Saturday's $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park, but she'll have to beat an extremely tough if compact field.

Queen Bee

Things were back to normal for the Edward P. "Ned" Evans stable on June 22. After pulling off the rare feat (for him) of winning two consecutive stakes with colts, Evans and trainer Mark Hennig returned to their filly factory and sent out the queen bee, Raging Fever, for another victory in a filly and mare stakes.