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Time Ordered Races and Entries - Printiable file
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 8:30-10pm EDT
Stephen Foster/Fleur de Lis
Churchill Downs
Videos interviewing Bob Baffert where he basically just talks about the horse like a fan!
"To me, I feel more pressure training him now. I feel like wrapping him in bubble wrap.
"What I want to do is just want to share him with everyone. When we go back to California they'll probably have something for him there and then when we go to Del Mar, they'll have something for him there. "I wish I was around Secretariat. As a kid, I would have loved to pet him and touch him and get close to him. I got to go up to him and touch him and I'll always remember greatness like that. "I'm his trainer but at the same time I'm like a little kid. I knew he was great but he really had to show it."
Your Belmont experience is not complete without reading Steve Haskin's Belmont recap.
Belmont Recap: Phait Accompli!
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| It's all about the horse - Photo ESPN |
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Robert
Kiekheffer - UPI Weekend Preview
WASHINGTON,
June 12 (UPI) -- With the Triple Crown in the rear-view mirror, weekend racing
action shifts back to Churchill Downs, where three graded stakes are headed by
the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap.
Beholder returns to action in California while Belmont Park
and Santa Anita both have important grass mile races.
Churchill Downs
The $500,000, GRADE I STEPHEN FOSTER is the highlight of the
Churchill Downs post-Derby season and, fittingly, Triple Crown-winning trainer
Bob Baffert will saddle one of the favorites for Saturday's renewal, Hoppertunity.
The 4-year-old colt by Any Given Saturday won the Grade I Clark Handicap over
the course last November but finished third -- behind Shared Belief and California
Chrome -- in his last outing, the Grade II San Antonio on Feb. 7. He has been
working well at Churchill Downs for his comeback. It won't be easy. Rivals
include Dubai World Cup third-place finisher Lea, dual graded stakes
winner Commissioner and a rapidly improving Noble Bird.
As if that weren't enough for Baffert, his charge Fame
and Power seems to stand head and shoulders over seven rivals in the
$100,000, GRADE III MATT WINN 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The First Defence colt ran a good third in the Grade III Lexington at Keeneland
two starts back, then returned to win the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico. Bold
Conquest was third in the Sir Barton and seems to be improving but would
have to make up several lengths to catch Fame and Power.
The $200,000, GRADE II FLEUR DE LIS HANDICAP for fillies and
mares drew a field of nine to tackle 9 furlongs on the main track. Sheer
Drama and Gold Medal Dancer bounce back from their second- and
third-place finishes in last month's Grade I La Troienne over the course. My
Sweet Addiction exits a victory in the Grade I Vanity at Santa Anita. America,
Yahilwa, Tiz Windy, Pearl Turn and Frivolous all have credentials
for this.
Seven 3-year-old fillies are on board for the $100,000,
GRADE III REGRET STAKES at 9 furlongs on the turf. Lady Zuzu, Return
to Grace and Don't Leave Me seem best equipped although recent
Arlington Park maiden winner America Mon Ami is coming along.
Turf Mile
Bal a Bali and Talco finished 1-2, separated
by just 1 length, in the Grade III American Stakes last month and they are back
for Saturday's $400,000, GRADE I SHOEMAKER MILE at Santa Anita. Also on tap in
the five-horse field is Winning Prize, who finished fourth in the
American after a very slow start. Midnight Storm has won three straight
races, including last summer's Grade II Del Mar Derby. Seek Again won
the Grade I Hollywood Derby two years ago and has had some good moments.
Distaff
Two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder returns to
action Saturday at Santa Anita in the $100,000, GRADE III ADORATION STAKES
going 1 1/16 miles against a half dozen foes. The 5-year-old Henny Hughes mare
missed the chance to defend her Breeders' Cup crown last fall with an ill-timed
illness. She won her comeback race in convincing fashion in April and has been
working fairly steadily since then for trainer Richard Mandella. Warren's
Veneda has been racing with distinction at the top level and is dangerous
here if Beholder isn't yet fully cranked. The others appear to be more
allowance types.
France
Queen's Jewel, undefeated in three starts including
the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary last month, is among 18 still in for Sunday's
GROUP 1 PRIX DIANE-LONGINES at Longchamp. Many of these have shown talent and
the race should be hard fought. Queen's Jewel, a Pivotal filly trained
by Freddy Head, will have Maxime Guyon up seeking her fourth and most important
victory. John Gosden sends out Star of Seville, who had a three-race
winning skein snapped when she finished ninth in the Oaks at Epsom in her last
start. Sound of Freedom finished second against colts in her last
outing, the Group II Derby Italiano. Katania steps up after three wins
against lesser foes.
Woodbine - Canada
Woodbine on Sunday has both the $150,000 (CANADIAN) PLATE
TRIAL and the $500,000 (CANADIAN) WOODBINE OAKS. Read more at source...Dick Powell's Belmont wrap
"Winning the Triple Crown has to be an amazing achievement and to do it three years after lying in a hospital bed in Dubai from a major heart attack has to be even more remarkable."
"As he has shown many times, once he makes the lead, American Pharoah will switch off and use his cruising speed for as long as he needs to. Whatever doubts I had about the dam-side of his pedigree were more than offset by his ability to cruise along and conserve energy. Maybe in a fast-paced race, genetic deficiencies would be exposed, but not on Saturday."
"California clocker Gary Young said before the Derby that American Pharoah was the best horse he had clocked in 35 years. Many scoffed at his opinion and dismissed it. Now, it shows that Young was right all along. I give him a lot of credit for going out on a limb like he did. There was no equivocation in what he said and he looks like a genius now."
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FEATURED RACES
SATURDAY
3:24 ET Poker H G3 Bel Jun 13 $300,000 g 4+ 1 mi T R5 CARD
4:45 ET Bold Ruckus S WO Jun 13 $125,000 3yo S 6f T R8 CARD
5:30 ET Shoemaker Mile G1 BC SA Jun 13 $400,000 3+ 1 mi T R5 CARD
7:00 ET Adoration S G3 SA Jun 13 $100,000 3+ f/m 1 1/16 mi R8 CARD
8:32 ET Regret S G3 CD Jun 13 $100,000 3yo f 1 1/8 mi T R6 CARD
9:08 ET Fleur de Lis H G2 BC CD Jun 13 $200,000 3+ f/m 1 1/8 mi R7 CARD
9:42 ET Stephen Foster H G1 BC CD Jun 13 $500,000 3+ 1 1/8 mi R8 CARD
10:13 ET Matt Winn S G3 CD Jun 13 $100,000 3yo 1 1/16 mi R9 CARD
More on today's races:
Bal a Bali to try Grade 1 in Shoemaker Mile
Beholder, Warren's Veneda meet in Adoration
SUNDAY
4:57 ET Wild Applause
Bel Jun 14 $100,000 3yo f
1 mi T R8 CARD5:10 ET Plate Trial S WO Jun 14 $150,000 3yo R 1 1/8 mi AW R9 CARD
5:45 ET Woodbine Oaks S WO Jun 14 $500,000 3yo f S 1 1/8 mi AW R10 CARD
International - France
10:45 a.m. ET Prix de Diane G1, R4, 3yo f, 1 1/4 mi 96y R4 CARD
Note: The time quoted at the CARD is London time. France is 1 hour ahead of London, and France is 6 hours ahead New York.
More on today's races
Queen's Jewel, a chestnut gem in Prix de Diane field
Queen's Jewel marooned in Post 17 in Prix de Diane
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