Horse Racing News by David Grening

With several horses aimed at the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin Stable wanted to run Girolamo in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational at Belmont Park to see if they had a contender for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

The Flower Bowl is traditionally a spot for a European-based filly or mare to come to North America and strut her stuff. This year's lone overseas representative didn't come from Europe, but rather Japan.

With the possible exception of Winchester, the older North American turf males entered in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park have been a bit of an inconsistent and uninspiring group.

Persistently is likely to be overlooked when she returns to Belmont Park for Saturday's Grade 1 $350,000 Beldame Invitational run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn.

Grand Couturier, a multiple Grade 1-winning turf horse who earned nearly $1.5 million, has been retired from racing, trainer Robert Ribaudo said Thursday.

Whitney Handicap winner Blame completed preparations for Saturday's Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park with a half-mile workout Monday morning in 48 seconds over Keeneland's Polytrack.

Though all signs point to reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra running in this weekend's Grade 1, $350,000 Beldame at Belmont, her connections have still not officially confirmed that she is running in the 1 1/8-mile race.

After a spring and summer of agonizing defeats in major races for 3-year-olds, trainer Nick Zito finally got to taste the thrill of victory in Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.

Travers Stakes winner Afleet Express will be sidelined for the remainder of the year after suffering a slight tear of the suspensory ligament in his left foreleg, trainer Jimmy Jerkens said Wednesday.

Al Khali came with a flying finish to win the $150,000 Bowling Green Handicap by a neck over 3-5 favorite Winchester,