The big story at the 2009 $200,000 Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park is Calvin Borel choosing to ride Warrior's Reward, who has not yet won his first stakes race. Borel would nt provide a commitment that he would ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby on August 1, so he was pulled by Mine That Bird's connections.
The $300,000 Grade 1, 6-furlong Prioress Stakes has attracted nine contenders, one of them being the Bob Baffert-trained Gabby's Golden Girl, who intends to make this her second straight Grade 1 victory following her win in the Acorn Stakes on June 6.
Wow! As if Rachel Alexandra wasn't enough to liven up a weekend, now our VIPs will be also be receiving Zenyatta in the Grade 1, $300,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park. Talk about a 'wild weekend with the ladies' - this is it!
Well, this is definitely one race that will capture your attention! Rachel Alexandraa comes into the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes with a 6-race winning streak including her impressive win in the Preakness Stakes. Steve Asmussen, her trainer, says she's ready and all eyes will be on her to see if he's right.
The $100,000 Cinema Handicap (Grade III) for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park is the second race for our VIPs this weekend. The spotlight is on Elusive Bluff, who won both of this two starts as a 2-year-old but has not raced since last October.
The $100,000 Affirmed Handicap for 3-year-olds at Hollywood Park set to run Saturday, June 20, features Scorewithcater, who beat the not-yet-crowned Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Borderland Derby in February at Sunland Park. Our own Joe Talamo will pilot Scorewithcater tomorrow in the Affirmed Handicap.
Named after the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Regret, the $150,000 Regret Stakes, Grade III, for 3-year-old fillies is headed to our VIPs. This turf race drew a field of what appears to be 11 fairly evenly-matched fillies.
The Grade III Northern Dancer Stakes for 3-year-olds looks like it will offer some exciting horse racing enjoyment for all of our VIPs this weekend. Running Saturday, June 13, at Churchill Downs, it appears that the favorite is Warrior's Reward who comes off a strong allowance victory in May.
Keepng your focus on Belmont Park, we are sending you the Grade 1 $300,000 Acorn Stakes for 3-year-old fillies to round out your racing weekend, VIPs. Justwhistledixie comes into this race with Grade 2 wins at the Davona Dale and the Bonnie Miss. She appears to be a strong contender in this race. This will be her first Grade 1 appearance.
Featuring many of the horses that were on the Triple Crown trail but not particularly suited to the longer distances, the Grade 2 $250,000 Woody Stephens Stakes to be run at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day has attracted an impressive group of 3-year-olds. Coming into the Woody Stephens undefeated are Hull, Regal Ransom and Everyday Heroes - all who will try to keep their undefeated status.
LW