‘Downs After Dark’ draws 89,115 for three nights of racing

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CHURCHILL DOWNS

Churchill Downs’s experiment with night racing appears to be a hit after 89,115 came to the first three cards of night racing in the track’s history.

Thursday night’s program drew 33,481, the largest of the three night cards. It is also believed to be the largest non-Kentucky Derby (G1), Kentucky Oaks (G1), or Breeders’ Cup crowd in the track’s modern history. The previous record is believed to be 28,396 on November 17, 1987, for a $1-million pick six carry-over.

“They got something that works,” trainer Steve Penrod said. “No question lights will be permanent. As long as they make each night an event, it will work. Last night was a perfect evening with the weather and it was very impressive.”

The first “Downs After Dark” card on June 19 drew 28,011 despite hot weather and long lines at concession stands. With more workers at the concession areas, the second night card on June 26 drew 27,623.

“I loved it,” trainer Buff Bradley said. “I didn’t think they’d have as many as they had the first two nights, but as long as it remains a novelty on Friday night I think it will do well. … I can see people saying ‘I’ll meet you at Churchill Downs’ and it will be the thing to do.”

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Peter Eurton Suspended, Fined for Clenbuterol

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Trainer Peter Eurton will serve five days of a 30-day suspension handed down by Hollywood Park stewards and pay a $3,000 fine after one of the horses in his care was found to have tested positive for clenbuterol following a race on May 2.

Under terms of a stipulated agreement released by the California Horse Racing Board on July 3, the agency agreed to stay 25 days of the suspension if Eurton has no additional medication violations for a one-year period. Eurton is suspended from July 7 to 11.

His horse, Areutrue, won the 12th race at Hollywood on May 2. Post-race blood and urine samples tested by the Maddy Laboratory at the University of California-Davis determined that clenbuterol, a bronchodilator commonly used in horses, was in excess of the authorized level. It is a Class 3 violation under California racing rules.

Eurton, whose probationary status ends July 2, 2010, declined to have split samples tested, according to a CHRB statement. Stewards earlier issued a ruling disqualifying Areutrue from the race and ordered redistribution of the first-place purse of $7,800.
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Smith to Ride Mine That Bird in Two Stakes

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Mike Smith will ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby.

Trainer Chip Woolley announced July 4 that Mike Smith would ride Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Mine That Bird in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 and the $1 million Shadwell Travers (gr. I) on Aug. 29.

“Mike Smith has given us a two-race commitment for the West Virginia Derby and the Travers,” Woolley said.

Smith rode Mine That Bird in the to a second-place finish in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I) when Calvin Borel honored a commitment to ride winner Rachel Alexandra.

Borel won the Kentucky Derby on Mine That Bird and was in the saddle in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in which Mine That Bird ran third in his most recent start on June 6.

However, Borel could not give a commitment for the West Virginia Derby.

Woolley did not get a commitment for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) to be run Nov. 7 at Santa Anita.

“Hopefully we won’t be in a switch in the Breeders’ Cup,” Woolley said.

Smith is the regular rider of the undefeated mare Zenyatta, who never has faced males in her 11-for-11 career.

Smith, who was at Churchill Downs on Saturday to ride Thorn Song in the Firecracker Handicap (gr. II), said, “I’m very happy to have the opportunity to get back on him. Hopefully I can make amends for what happened the last time and get him home this time.”

Earlier in the day, it was reported that Julien Leparoux would ride the Derby winner in the West Virginia Derby before his agent realized he had a prior commitment.
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Wagering on U.S. Racing Continues to Plummet

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Statistics released July 5 by Equibase Company show double-digit declines in betting on U.S. races in June and for the year to date.

June wagering on U.S. races from all sources, including worldwide commingled simulcast bets, fell 16.89% to $993,578,873, compared with $1,195,562,620 during June 2008. With a 5.63% decline in race days to 620 from 657 last year, purses for the month also fell, from $112,735,233 to $101,126,923, down 10.3%.

Through the first half of 2009, all-source wagering on U.S. races has fallen 10.48% to $6,503,994,769, compared with $7,265,400,239 through June 2008. Purses fell 6.04% during the first six months, from $539,745,595 to $507,165,548. Shrinkage in live racing was indicated by a 2.05% drop in U.S. race days, from 2,873 last year to 2,814 this year.

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Happy 4th of July to you & all your families! ...

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Jockey Sellers wins comeback race at Evangeline Downs

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SELLERS AND IDE BALL WIN AT EVANGELINE

After 4½ years in retirement, Shane Sellers made a victorious return to race riding on Thursday night at the track where his career began 26 years ago— Evangeline Downs.

The 42-year-old jockey, one of the nation’s top riders in the 1990s, scored a convincing victory in the first race Thursday aboard Ide Ball, his only mount on the ten-race card at the Opelousas, Louisiana, track.

Sellers settled Ide Ball, the fourth wagering choice at 3.60-to-1 odds, in fourth early in the $25,000 claiming race. The four-year-old Ide gelding was angled three wide entering the stretch and accelerated willingly on Sellers’s cue to score by 2¾ lengths in the 5½-furlong race.

Trained by close friend and former jockey Mark Guidry, Ide Ball improved to four wins in 11 career starts for owner Rodney Verret.

After amassing 4,069 wins and mount earnings of $122,431,794, Sellers hung up his tack on December 15, 2004, citing nagging injuries, a constant battle with weight, and lack of adequate on-track medical insurance for jockeys.

Sellers won his first race in 1983 as a 16-year-old at Evangeline Downs, when the track was located in Carencro, Louisiana. He won riding titles at Arlington Park and Keeneland Race Course.

Sellers’s 149 graded stakes wins include the 2000 Travers Stakes (G1) on Unshaded, the ’98 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Buck’s Boy, the ’97 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Countess Diana, and the ’96 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) aboard Skip Away.

Hundreds of friends and family gathered at the track for Sellers’s return to competition and were rewarded with an emotional comeback, according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser, which reported a wild celebration, tears, and weeping in the winners’ circle.

Formerly an outspoken advocate of jockey issues, including on-track accident insurance and the right to wear advertising, Sellers is not booked to ride again until July 8 at Evangeline. He has mounts in the fifth and sixth races.

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Churchill's Final Test Night Card is Best Yet

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Night Racing at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs officials say their test of night racing this summer has been a great success after large crowds packed the track for the final evening.

Track officials said a crowd of 33,481 showed up July 2, the biggest crowd outside of the Kentucky Derby, Oaks and Breeders' Cup.

Churchill general manager Jim Gates told The Courier-Journal that the city clearly loves the experiment held over three nights in the past two weeks.

Because of the high turnout, Churchill is asking spectators and fans to vote on whether to make it a permanent fixture.

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Mine That Bird's Jockey Situation Unresolved

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Mine That Bird

Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Mine That Bird remains without a confirmed rider for the West Virginia Derby (gr. II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.

“I am looking for a rider that will fit my horse best,” trainer Chip Woolley said July 3. Woolley started the search for a rider when he did not receive a commitment from rider Calvin Borel for the race at Mountaineer. Borel rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and to a third-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Mine That Bird’s schedule after the West Virginia Derby is the Shadwell Travers (gr. I) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita on Nov. 7, with the possibility of a race between the Travers and Breeders’ Cup.

Mine That Bird galloped twice around the main track Junly 3 before the renovation break with exercise rider Rudy Gallegos up.

“I know we are working Monday (July 6) morning,” Woolley said. “I’m not sure who will work him.”

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Ex-CHRB Head Charged With Felony Vandalism

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Richard Shapiro

Richard Shapiro, the former head of the California Horse Racing Board, was charged with one felony count of vandalism for allegedly damaging a vehicle owned by a longtime rival, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Shapiro was charged with a felony because of the amount of the financial damage done to Jerry Jamgotchian's late-model Jaguar XJS, Los Angeles District attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons told The Times. Shapiro was not immediately available for comment and Jamgotchian declined to comment.

Jamgotchian, a horse owner and CHRB critic, accused Shapiro of using a key to scratch his vehicle in the parking lot of Hollywood Park April 24. The incident allegedly occurred during a meeting of the CHRB that both men attended at the Hollywood Park Casino. Jamgotchian claims that the damage to his vehicle totaled $6,700.

Lt. Mike McBride of the Inglewood PD's detective bureau said May 14 that police have possession of videotape filmed by a parking lot surveillance camera that purports to show the commission of the crime. The video was supplied by the Hollywood Park security force.

"We have the video and we are in the process of reviewing it," he said at the time..

Shapiro, who resigned his chairmanship on the board in December, is currently a consultant with the California Horse Racing Alliance, a group of industry representatives. During his four-year stint as CHRB chairman, he and Jamgotchian clashed on practically every issue that came before the board. Jamgotchian became well known for his e-mail attacks against Shapiro and Ingrid Fermin, the agency's former executive director.

Jamgotchian has also filed a formal complaint with the CHRB in Sacramento seeking to have Shapiro's racing license revoked. Shapiro has declined to comment, referring questions to his attorney.

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Showdown Challenge at the Oval - Final results!

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Well after 99 races (of 100) each, it was a battle that came down to the very last race!

I had the #3 at 8-1 in Emeralds 8th Race! I had it to Win! ...

I ran 2nd ...

So DRB Wins the Showdown Challenge against U.S.

Congratulations to DRB!
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Showdown Challenge at the Oval day 2 results!

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OVERALL after 2 of 3 days


Ultimate Selector!

Daily Balance: -$1,215.00
No. of Plays: 53 of 100
W-P-S: 53 - 10-12-4
No. of wagers cashed: 10 / 53


DRB

Daily Balance: -$960.00
No. of Plays: 54
W-P-S: 54-9-12-8
No. of wagers cashed: 14 / 54



DAY 2

Ultimate Selector!

Daily Balance: -$905.00
No. of Plays: 13
W-P-S: 13 - 1-2-1
No. of wagers cashed: 1 / 13


DRB

Daily Balance: +$515.00
No. of Plays: 33
W-P-S: 33-8-5-4
No. of wagers cashed: 10 / 33



DAY 1

Ultimate Selector!

Balance: -$310.00
No. of Plays: 40 of 100
W-P-S: 40 - 9-10-3
No. of wagers cashed: 9 / 40


DRB

Balance: -$1,475.00
No. of Plays: 21 of 100
W-P-S: 21-1-7-4
No. of wagers cashed: 4 / 21
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Showdown Challenge at the Oval day 1 results!

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Ultimate's Re-Cap Today!



Races Played = 40 ... I have 60 left ...



Wins = 9_______23%


Place = 19_______48%



My 9 Cashes totaled ... $73.60



Overall Profits are Down (-) $310.00 ... (per $100.00)


My 5 Highest payoffs today: $15.60 - 13.00 - 12.80 - 7.60 - 5.80



* I ran 2nd 10 separate times today!

CYa Tomorrow!


*******************************************************************************
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DRB's Re-Cap Today! ... * Corrected totals



Races Played = 21 ... I have 79 left ...



Wins = 0_______0%


Place = 4_______19%



DRB's 4 Cash's totaled ... $12.50



Overall Profits are Down (-) $1,475.00 ... (per $100.00)


DRB's 4 Highest payoffs today: $4.40 - 3.00 - 3.00 - 2.10

__________________________________________________________


Ultimate leads by $1,165.00


Selections left for U.S. to play yet: 60

Selections left for DRB to play yet: 79

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Showdown at the Oval between Ultimate Selector! & DRB ..

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I have been challenged By head moderator & Capper DRB at E-Ponies.
I have accepted this Challenge!
It's a 3 day challenge wagering $100.00 per race with a 100 race limit.
This Showdown starts tomorrow Tues & goes thru Thursday!

I will let my selections do all my talking for me!
Be sure to check this one out! You can even vote in the poll!

6http://www.e-ponies.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2154

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You can now Listen to U.S. Updates with my instant Voice messages!

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* You may ask any questions or leave a comment by clicking on "Record by phone button" There are no fees it's free!, just a phone call! ... 1(206)777-0137 Code: *7578490

* I will be updating this daily with my results when I play my "Live" Selections!

To listen to the newest messages I leave, just fast forward past my Intro to get them. Thanks!

Here is my Snap Vine Profile Page & other sites! ...

http://www.snapvine.com/profile
Ultimate's Live Selections!
Ultimate's Music Cafe! (600 songs)
Ultimate's Ustream Live Web TV Broadcasts
Ultimate's You Tube Video's


** By the way all new horse racing articles will now be below this post!
This will remain as my #1 primary post for now! ....
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'Rachel' Sets Stakes Record in Mother Goose

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Rachel Alexandra is all alone at the finish of the Mother Goose.

Rachel Alexandra faced only two opponents in the $300,000 Mother Goose (gr. I) (VIDEO) June 27 at Belmont Park but the sensational filly put on a dazzling display anyway, setting a stakes record while romping by nearly 20 lengths under Calvin Borel.

Owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick, Rachel Alexandra scored her seventh consecutive victory in the 1 1/8-mile Mother Goose, which went to post with only three starters after the scratches of Hopeful Image and Don’t Forget Gil earlier in the day. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro —Lotta Kim, by Roar, captured her third straight grade I win while making her Belmont debut. She has now earned $1,798,354.

Breaking from post 3, Rachel Alexandra was content to sit three to four lengths off a suicidal pace set by Edward Evans’ Malibu Prayer, who posted fractions of :22.57, :44.66, and 1:08.86 under John Velazquez. Godophin Stable’s Flashing and Javier Castellano pressed the leader throughout, which was all the better for a stalking Rachel Alexandra.

Mother Goose Slide Show

Rachel Alexandra's Mother Goose

It was nearing the three-eighths pole that Rachel Alexandra began to inch closer to her two rivals, and when they neared the quarter-pole Borel decided to split horses with his charged-up filly. She took over with ease coming off the turn and sprinted away from her overmatched opponents.

Borel peeked over his right shoulder a couple of times before gearing down on Rachel Alexandra midway through the stretch, but she still hit the wire 19 1/4-lengths ahead of Malibu Prayer. The final time on a track labeled "fast" was 1:46.33, breaking the mark of 1:46.58 set by Lakeway in 1994. She also shattered the record for margin of victory, which was previously held by the great Ruffian, who won by 13 1/2 lengths in 1975.

The race, which began in 1957, was run at 1 1/16 miles for the first two years. Since it changed to 1 1/8 miles in 1959, only Lakeway and Rachel Alexandra have run the Mother Goose in a time under 1:47.19. Only seven fillies have finished in a time better than 1:48.

The nine-furlong Belmont track record of 1:45.40 was set by Secretariat in the inaugural Marlboro Cup Sept. 15, 1973.

Undefeated Zenyatta Masters Another Vanity

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Zenyatta rolls again in the Vanity.

A 129-pound impost wasn't enough to stop the undefeated champion Zenyatta, who earned a repeat win in the $287,000 Vanity Handicap (gr. I) (VIDEO) at Hollywood Park June 27 for her 11th consecutive victory.

In her familiar come-from-behind style, the imposing 5-year-old mare rallied from fourth at the top of the stretch under jockey Mike Smith to draw off in the final sixteenth en route to a 2 1/2-length victory over the pacesetter Briecat on Hollywood's Cushion Track. She was the 3-10 favorite in the field of six older fillies and mares.

Zenyatta became the fifth repeat winner of the Vanity, joining Azeri in 2002-03. The others are Annie-Lu-San (1957-58), Convenience (1972-73), and It’s In The Air (1979-80). The 129 pounds was the highest impost of any Vanity victor since Cascapedia won under the same weight in 1977.

Winner of the Eclipse Award last year as the nation's best older female and top contender for Horse of the Year honors this season, the 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry is trained by John Shirreffs for owners Jerry and Ann Moss. Zenyatta is now six-for-six on her home track.

The winning time was 1:48.15. Briecat, who had a 15-pound weight advantage against Zenyatta, edged Dawn After Dawn for second.
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Shane Sellers to Return to Riding July 2

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Shane Sellers

Jockey Shane Sellers is set to make his return to racing July 2 after a 4 1/2- year hiatus from the sport when he’ll be aboard Ide Ball – trained by former rider Mark Guidry – in the first race at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino.

The 42-year-old native of Erath, La., retired from racing on Dec. 15, 2004 after amassing 4,069 wins and riding earners of nearly $130 million. He is best known for his memorable rides on Skip Away and his Breeder’s Cup wins aboard Buck’s Boy and Countess Diana. He also rode in 14 consecutive runnings of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). His best finish in the spring was a third with Wild Gale in 1993. The two took third again that year in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I).

Sellers was one of the first top jockeys to wear advertising on his britches and was an advocate for better pay, health insurance, and weight issues for riders. His intentions for coming out of retirement are signified by his return to the south Louisiana track.

“It’s no secret to why I’ve decided to come back and why I decided to come back to Evangeline,” Sellers said in a release. “I rode my first winner here in 1983, and it’s time for me to get back to my roots and what I love. I still believe in what I was fighting for back then, but over time I realized that my method or message was not always delivered in a respectable way.

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“If I offended anyone, I apologize and want everyone to know that I am through with all of those causes,” he said. “With my renewed commitment to God and my family, I just want to continue to do what I know and love – that’s ride. I am so thankful for the open armed response that I have received on my comeback and look forward to rekindling old friendships and relationships.”

Sellers will be represented by agent Anthony Martin, and plans on finishing the meet at Evangeline Downs before moving his tack to Louisiana Downs and the Fair Grounds.

Hollywood Gets Full Alliance Accreditation

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Hollywood Park, whose future is in serious doubt after 2009, has received full accreditation from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance.

Hollywood Park in Southern California underwent an on-site review May 20-21, alliance officials said. The on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing facility, and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards, regulators, and fans.

The inspection team led by NTRA president and chief executive officer Alex Waldrop included Dr. Celeste Kunz and Dan Fick, executive vice president and executive director of The Jockey Club. Alliance executive director Mike Ziegler observed the review.

“Having participated in the review process for the first time as an inspector, I was highly impressed by the tremendous onsite effort required by a racetrack in order to conform to the alliance code of standards,” Waldrop said June 26 in a statement. “The state of California also deserves high praise for its aggressive medication and testing policies and mandatory necropsy program.”

“The safety of our athletes—both equine and human—is of the utmost importance to everyone at Hollywood Park,” track president Jack Liebau said. “We take great pride in providing the safest conditions possible, which has been illustrated by the inspection process. Hollywood Park not only meets the standards of the alliance, it exceeds them in many categories.”

The alliance said noteworthy findings at Hollywood Park included best practices in areas including equine ambulance services and equipment; participation in a groundbreaking training injury study coordinated by Drs. Jeff Blea and Wayne McIlwraith; and participation in track surface studies coordinated by Dr. Mick Peterson.

Thus far, five tracks have been alliance-accredited: Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Delaware Park, Hollywood Park, and Keeneland. Pimlico Race Course was granted provisional accreditation.

Hollywood Park is in line for a major redevelopment project. Whether it requests racing dates for 2010 remains to be seen.

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'Rachel' Gallops, All Set For Mother Goose

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Rachel Alexandra schooling at Belmont Park.

Preakness (gr. I) and Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra galloped about a mile and a quarter on Belmont’s fast main track early June 26, well in advance of a 9:30 a.m. EDT downpour.

On June 27, racing’s hottest star will be a heavy favorite against four rivals in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I). Admission is free for all women and pink bracelets with Rachel Alexandra’s name will be given away to the first 10,000 customers in support of owner Jess Jackson’s decision to donate a percentage of the filly’s future earnings to the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer.

“We send her out with the second set,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “We don’t want her to be a guinea pig and we don’t want to send her out there when the track’s all torn up.”

The Mother Goose will be the second start that Asmussen has trained Rachel Alexandra for and already he is completely enamored with everything the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro does.

“She is a great pleasure to be around,” Asmussen said. “She’s very endearing in the way she looks and acts.”

While Rachel Alexandra has been installed as the 1-5 morning line favorite for the Mother Goose after beating Mine That Bird in the Preakness, the presence of the speedy Malibu Prayer and Flashing could make things slightly tricky for jockey Calvin Borel aboard the eight-time winner.

“I think it’s an extremely respectable race,” Asmussen said. “That said, our only concerns are what we can control. We have to take her over there in the right state of mind and right condition and hope she runs her race.”

In other news from Belmont, Charitable Man, fourth in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), is a possible starter in the $200,000 Dwyer (gr. II) on July 4. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he wants to discuss the colt’s plan with owner William K. Warren.

“He’s just flying,” McLaughlin said of Charitable Man, winner of the Futurity (gr. II) and Peter Pan (gr. II)—both at Belmont. “He’s doing so well that it’s going to be hard to pass, but he’s already won two grade IIs, so what is there to gain? We want to have him at his best for the Travers (gr. I) and we have to figure out the best way to do that.”

McLaughlin said he was most likely to use the $500,000 Jim Dandy (gr. II) on Aug. 1 as a prep for the $1 million Shadwell Travers on Aug. 29, both at Saratoga.

Also, the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) is setting up as a huge rematch between millionaire Fabulous Strike and New York-bred Driven by Success. The two met in the Carter Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct, dueling from the start with Fabulous Strike holding on for second and Driven by Success third behind a perfect trip winner in Kodiak Kowboy .

Fabulous Strike was not originally being pointed to the Tom Fool, but now the 6-year-old gelding is likely to run.

“As long as he keeps acting well we’re looking at the Tom Fool,” trainer Todd Beattie said of the True North (gr. III) winner. “I don’t see any reason not to go. I’m not thrilled about the race being seven furlongs, but there is not another choice going six.”

Beattie added that Fabulous Strike, winless in three starts at seven furlongs, will work either June 28 or 29 at Penn National.

With Ramon Dominguez likely to ride Fabulous Strike in the Tom Fool, Driven by Success will need a new rider. Mike Luzzi was aboard for the Carter, but trainer Bruce Levine said he would look into John Velazquez’s availability.

Driven by Success comes off a game third-place finish in the Shadwell Met Mile (gr. I). After setting a quick pace, the 4-year-old was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Bribon.

“If he could have slowed down a little bit more between the half and three-quarters, he might have won.” Levine said of the gelding’s Met effort. “He had a rough trip in the Toboggan, but all his other races for us have been great.”

If Fabulous Strike does indeed run in the Tom Fool, that could have an impact on Woody Stephens (gr. II) winner Munnings, who was nominated to both the Tom Fool and Dwyer. His connections have yet to make a decision on his next start.

The Tom Fool is likely to include Riley Tucker, Sixthirteen and Two Step Salsa, in addition to Driven by Success and Fabulous Strike.
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Fourteen Invited to July 5 American Oaks

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Gozzip Girl, winner of the Sands Point, is among 14 invitees to the American Oaks at Hollywood Park.

Five fillies with graded stakes wins on turf and a pair from renowned European trainer Dermot Weld are among 14 invitees to the $700,000 American Oaks (gr. I) at Hollywood Park July 5.

The race is run over 10 furlongs on the turf.

The U.S. contingent includes Gozzip Girl, winner of the Sands Point (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park; Afternoon Stroll, winner of the Appalachian (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland; Acting Lady, winner of the Providencia (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita; and a pair of Hollywood Park graded winners — Senorita (gr. IIIT) winner Mrs Kipling and Honeymoon (gr. IIT) winner Well Monied.

Among the others:

The Best Day Ever was beaten a neck in the grade III Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs, the race Pure Clan used as a springboard to a victory in the 2008 American Oaks.

Century Park, fourth in the Honeymoon, won the grade III Santa Ysabel on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface in January.

Maidens Dance Pass and Rare Ransom are conditioned by Weld, who sent Dimitrova from abroad to win the 2003 Oaks. Another European invitee, three-time winner Apple Charlotte, is trained by Henry Cecil.

Puttanesca, a winner of one of three starts in New Zealand, is another foreign invitee to the Oaks.

The list also includes Honeymoon third-place finisher Lexlenos, Sands Point fourth-place finisher Magical Affair, and Santa Anita Oaks and Hollywood Oaks runner-up Third Dawn.

The complete list of American Oaks invitees follows: Acting Lady, trained by Doug O’Neill; Afternoon Stroll, Timothy Hamm; Apple Charlotte, Henry Cecil; Century Park, Bob Baffert; Dance Pass, Dermot Weld; Gozzip Girl, Thomas Albertrani; Lexlenos, Patrick Gallagher; Magical Affair, Michael Matz; Mrs Kipling, Neil Drysdale; Puttanesca, Wayne Hillis; Rare Ransom, Dermot Weld; The Best Day Ever, Ken McPeek; Third Dawn, John Sadler; and Well Monied, Howard Zucker.

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