Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:38

Emerald Downs: Carrabelle Harbor set to end drought on Saturday

AUBURN, Wash. – The future looked bright for Carrabelle Harbor after she won her first two starts, both stakes races, back in 2010. Yet when she starts Saturday in the feature race at Emerald Downs, the 5-year-old Carrabelle Harbor will be trying to get back to the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly two years. Her lengthy losing streak aside, she is likely to start as the favorite in a field of five fillies and mares racing 6 1/2 furlongs in a first-level allowance with a $32,000 optional claiming price. First post for the nine-race card is 2 p.m. Pacific.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:29

Belmont Park: New and improved Irsaal tries Easy Goer

Tom Keyser
Irsaal (right) has moved up his game since being gelded and racing on Lasix.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Irsaal was an easy winner of the second start of his career last October, but was pummeled in four subsequent starts through this February. His trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, believed he was a far better prospect than that, so he had Irsaal gelded, and began using Lasix.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:24

Arlington: Work All Week faces few challengers in Cammack

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – From the standpoint of wagering opportunity, the Addison Cammack Handicap is the worst of four stakes races carded Saturday at Arlington. But the five-horse Cammack includes Work All Week, an Illinois-bred who might turn out to be one of the better sprinters in the Midwest.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:22

Belmont Stakes: Missing Kentucky Derby a blessing for Freedom Child

Tom Keyser
Freedom Child (left) is held back by an assistant starter at the break in the Wood Memorial, in which he was declared a non-starter. He enters Saturday's Belmont Stakes off a 13 1/4-length romp in the Peter Pan.

ELMONT, N.Y. − The worst thing to ever happen to Freedom Child may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to Freedom Child.

With one chance to crack the field for the Kentucky Derby, Freedom Child, coming off a maiden victory, ran in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Well, he attempted to run in the Wood Memorial.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:17

Woodbine notes: Black Hornet misses Plate Trial

Michael Burns
Black Hornet, winner of the Queenston Stakes, will miss the Plate Trial.

Black Hornet, winner of the seven-furlong Queenston for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds here May 11, was not eligible for the Queen’s Plate and was supplemented at a cost of $5,000 last Saturday with an eye toward Sunday’s Plate Trial.

Unfortunately, Black Hornet is ailing and will not be in the Plate Trial lineup.

“We’re hoping we can have him ready for the Achievement,” said Pat Parente, who trains Black Hornet and owns the gelding in partnership with Dean Ventresca and Joe Guerieri.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:15

True North sees contrast in styles with Caixa Eletronica, Fast Bullet

Barbara D. Livingston
Caixa Eletronica (right), training with stablemate Overanalyze, has not started since finishing fifth in defense of his title in the Charles Town Classic on April 20.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Caixa Eletronica and Fast Bullet are as different as two horses can get. About the only thing the two have in common is that they’ll both be in the starting gate for Saturday’s $400,000 True North Handicap at Belmont Park.

The six-furlong True North drew a field of seven speedsters that includes Justin Phillip, who will race coupled in the wagering with Fast Bullet as the Zayat Stables entry. Laurie’s Rocket, Reload, Off the Jak and Sage Valley complete the compact lineup.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 13:12

Belmont Stakes: Orb, Oxbow rematch brings curtain down on Triple Crown

Barbara D. Livingston
Orb, training at Belmont Park on Thursday, is favored over Revolutionary and Oxbow in the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The story of this year’s Triple Crown opened with a rousing Kentucky Derby victory by Orb, giving rise to hope that he’d be shooting for a Triple Crown by now, but the second act had quite the plot twist, with Oxbow winning the Preakness and Orb struggling home fourth.

The final act awaits on Saturday, not far from the neon lights of Broadway, in the 145th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. Shug McGaughey, the trainer of Orb, is hoping for a show-stopping finish in the 1 1/2-mile race.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 12:59

Manhattan Handicap: Soft turf, long layoff are questions for Point of Entry

Barbara D. Livingston
Point of Entry will be making his first start in four months in the Manhattan Handicap, which may be contested on something less than the firm turf he prefers.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Looming a universal single in the $1 million-guaranteed pick six and pick four, Point of Entry makes his first start since beating Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom four months ago and will be no better than 3-5 to garner his fifth Grade 1 title in Saturday’s $500,000 Manhattan Handicap.

The Manhattan is the 10th of 13 races, with post time set for 5:40 p.m. Eastern.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 12:54

Just a Game: Stephanie's Kitten, Hungry Island may benefit from soft ground

Tom Keyser
Stephanie's Kitten won the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 4.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The race Mother Nature may have the greatest impact on at Belmont Park on Saturday is the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game, which drew a stellar field of seven fillies and mares for the one-mile turf race.

Horses like Stephanie’s Kitten and Hungry Island – as well as the European import Laugh Out Loud – would seem to move up if the race is run over soft ground, while contenders such as Dayatthespa and Mizdirection would tend to be at a disadvantage if Friday’s anticipated rains come with the forecasted ferociousness.

Thu, 06/06/2013 - 12:48

Woodbine: Inglorious targets rebound in Trillium Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Inglorious seeks her first win since the 2011 Queen’s Plate in Saturday’s $125,000 Trillium.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Inglorious was on top of the world here two Junes back, winning the Woodbine Oaks and then doubling up in the Queen’s Plate for trainer Josie Carroll.

Not much has gone right for Inglorious since then, however, and she will be looking to end an eight-race losing streak here in Saturday’s $125,000 Trillium Stakes.

The Trillium, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, attracted a field of seven, and Inglorious is the even-money favorite on Woodbine oddsmaker Ernie Perri’s morning line.