Let's Go To The Races: May 24-26

Note: This blog is non-commercial and was developed for my own personal use to organize my racing viewing activity. Your comments as to its usefulness to you would be appreciated. Thanks!

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RACING HAS AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR THIS WEEKEND!

IRISH GUINEAS AND TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP, THE CURRAGH:

NOBLE MISSION, a full brother to undefeated champion Frankel, looks for his group I breakthrough against Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner MAGICIAN in the Tattersalls Gold Cup May 25 at the Curragh.

Trainer Jane Cecil believes 5-year-old Noble Mission is ready to step up since posting consecutive wins in the Betfair 365 Gordon Richards Stakes April 25 at Sandown and the Betfair Price Rush Huxley Stakes May 8 at Chester, both group III events. Noble Mission finished second by a neck in his 2014 bow in the John Porter Stakes (Eng-III) April 12. He was supplemented last week to the Gold Cup and is the 2-1 second choice with bookmakers Paddy Power. Read more

LONGCHAMP - FRANCE

Elite runners CIRRUS DES AIGLES and OLYMPIC GLORY make for an exciting clash in a compact field of six for the PRIX d'ISPAHAN (Fr-I) on Sunday at Longchamp. CIRRUS WINS!

The race is one of two group I events on the card, joining the POUR MOI COOLMORE PRIX SAINT-ALARY for 3-year-old fillies.

After finishing a good second to Gentildonna in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) March 29 in his season debut, French-based 8-year-old CIRRUS DES AIGLES served it up to Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Treve in the Prix Ganay (Fr-I) April 24 at Longchamp. Read more More...

JAPANESE OAKS - Sunday, May 25
Harp Star upset by Nuovo Record - Race replay

This Sunday, May 25, all eyes will be on Tokyo Racecourse as the spring slew of G1 races continues. In fact, all eyes will be focused primarily on one filly – Harp Star – as she attempts to capture the second jewel in the fillies' Triple Crown.

The Yushun Himba, or Japanese Oaks, follows the April 13 mile Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) as the second leg of the fillies' Triple Crown and 17 other 3-year-old females will be looking to topple Harp Star this Sunday afternoon at Fuchu.

Harp Star, a daughter of Triple Crown champion Deep Impact, went to the gate of her past two races with overwhelming support and rock-bottom odds as racing fans pinned their hopes on her. They were not disappointed.

But, one, let alone two racing jewels are indeed rare gems to acquire and, if Harp Star can win the Oaks, she will become only the 14th Oka Sho winner in the Oaks' long history to win both events, the eighth to win since 1984, when the Japan Racing Association introduced the graded race system. Read more 4-13-14 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) Replay - Harp Star (Write up on her Oka Sho win)

QUEEN'S PLATE PREP RACES

Jeremy Plonk's Countdown to the Crown includes coverage for the Queen's Plate, Canada's first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

GRADE 1 IN THE U.S. GAMELY STAKES on Monday at Santa Anita have Emollient, Miss Serendipity and Stormy Lucy meeting 6 other foes.

IITSMYLUCKYDAY, the runner-up in the 2013 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) who was sidelined with a pelvic injury for the later part of that season, has made the move back to New Jersey for the May 24 Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park. Read more

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Time ordered races with cards below. Come back here after a particular race, click on the CARD to watch a replay.

FEATURED RACES

Ann Maree's Time Ordered Races / Entries - printable format

SATURDAY