Horse Racing News by Claire Novak

Champion Royal Delta will seek a title defense in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs, her connections confirmed May 31.

The $100,000 Aristides Stakes may be the feature worth the most June 1 at Churchill Downs, but a familiar cast of characters makes the $65,000 Opening Verse a more intriguing contest.

Grade 2 winner Kauai Katie will stretch out to take on Longines Kentucky Oaks also-rans Midnight Lucky and Close Hatches while those two turn back in distance in the $300,000 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on Monday, May 27.

Summer Applause ground her way to the lead in the stretch in the $148,500 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes Presented by Toyota, then held off Sea Island for a two-length win May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.

Running for the first time in 2013, Michael Dubb's Sage Valley earned his fourth straight victory in a row when he took the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap at Pimlico Race Course May 18.

Joel Rosario's remarkable run continued May 17 when he brought Fiftyshadesofhay from off the pace to win the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Up-and-comer Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride Departing in Preakness on Saturday

Freedom Child has enjoyed an eventful career for a sophomore runner who only had one win, but everything finally went right for the Malibu Moon ridgling May 11 at rain-whipped Belmont Park.

Fear the Kitten, shut out of the May 4 Kentucky Derby by eleventh-hour entrant Giant Finish, is one of 11 sophomores entered for the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes May 11 at Belmont Park.

Stephanie's Kitten came back off the layup and got the job done May 4 in the $288,750 Distaff Turf Mile presented by Longines at Churchill Downs.