The timing of Sunday’s $100,000 Silky Sullivan for California-bred 3-year-olds at one mile on the turf at Golden Gate Fields couldn’t be better for Surfcup, who enters the race at the top of his game.
A son of Unusual Heat, Surfcup will try to match the effort of Unusual Way, a daughter of Unusual Heat who won last week’s Campanile, a California-bred turf stakes race for 3-year-old fillies.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A certain dilemma presents itself when a trainer contemplates claiming a horse away from Mike Maker, whose dominance on the Kentucky circuit has hit unprecedented heights in the last couple of months.
“You’re pretty sure you’re not going to move one up on him,” said Bill Denzik, who went against that grain when he recently claimed a 3-year-old colt named High Dollar Kitten for the full-retail price of $50,000 from Maker and owner-breeder Ken Ramsey.
FORT ERIE, Ontario – Fort Erie is only three days into its 116th year of operation, but the vibes could not be much better, as fans are helping to make a successful beginning to a season that many thought would never happen.
The onsite handle has been up on all three days.
Tuesday’s first twilight card of the meet attracted a large crowd, and it was evident that a post-workday starting time allowed for the increased attendance.
Adding to the excitement of the evening’s eight-race card were the Horns from Hell. Following the last race, the group took to the bandstand.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Pyrite Mountain reaffirmed his fondness for Woodbine’s Polytrack when he took the May 5 Wando Stakes from off the pace. He should be favored in Sunday’s $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a nine-furlong event that is restricted to 3-year-olds who are eligible for the $1 million Queen’s Plate Stakes on July 7.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Spring Venture disappointed in her local seasonal debut, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Selene at 1 1/16 miles.
On Sunday Spring Venture will be looking to redeem herself as she moves back to the turf for the Alywow Stakes, an open 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies that attracted a field of nine.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Spring in the Air and the long-winded Nipissing will clash Sunday in the 58th running of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. The duo will be the top two betting choices in the nine-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, which will go as the eighth on a superb 10-race card.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Rydilluc, regarded as the top 3-year-old turf horse in the United States, will point to the $500,000 Virginia Derby going 1 1/4 miles at Colonial Downs on July 13.
Rydilluc is undefeated in four turf starts, having won the inaugural Penn Mile last week and the Grade 3 Palm Beach at 1 1/8 miles earlier this year.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Saturday’s Belmont Stakes features 10 of the 19 horses who ran in the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago. The most prominent horse from the Derby not in the Belmont field is Normandy Invasion, who made the lead in upper stretch before finishing fourth.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Dr. Larry Bramlage, who sustained a head injury in a golf cart accident at Churchill Downs two days before the Kentucky Derby, will be back in his role as the American Association of Equine Practitioners on-call veterinarian for NBC during Saturday’s broadcast of the Belmont Stakes.
[BELMONT STAKES: Live updates and video from Belmont Park]
Bramlage, 61, said he was feeling better in time for the Preakness, but was not given clearance by doctors to fly. He is based in Lexington, Ky.
Within the first two months of 2013, Heart of Rome lost three straight races at odds of 3-1 or lower while running for a claiming tag. Now, three weeks after clearing her first allowance condition while running the fastest race of her 14-start career, Heart of Rome has been established as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $75,000 Jostle Stakes at Parx Racing.
Heart of Rome, with twice as many runner-up finishes (six) as wins (three), has the appearance of a favorite worth trying to beat in the 6 1/2-furlong dirt sprint for 3-year-old fillies.
