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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lil Missknowitall, a romping, odds-on winner of the May 18 allowance prep for the La Verendrye Stakes, will look to double up in the main event at Assiniboia Downs on Saturday evening.
The $30,000 La Verendrye, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares, attracted a field of nine and will go as the seventh of eight races.
Lil Missknowitall, claimed for $8,000 from a winning effort at Oaklawn Park this April, doubled up in a stakes at Fonner Park and recorded her third straight win when making her Assiniboia Downs debut May 18.
L. A. Weekend will put his considerable speed on display when he tackles a star-studded field in the $50,000 Journal Handicap at Northlands Park on Saturday. The six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up drew eight horses, including Commander, who hasn’t lost at Northlands and was voted the champion older horse in Alberta last year.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Vinoterra figures to take a big step forward when she makes her second start at the meet in a first-level allowance race for fillies and mares that will serve as Saturday’s feature at Hastings. The 6 1/2-furlong sprint drew seven horses and goes as race 4 on the seven-race card, which begins at 1:50 p.m. Pacific.
