Horse Racing News by Jack Shinar

Room Service, a game dead-heat winner of the Central Bank Ashland Stakes, squares off with fast-developing Nashoba's Gold in what shapes up as an outstanding renewal of the $350,000 American Oaks on the turf May 31 at Santa Anita Park.

Riposte found the yielding turf at Belmont Park to her liking as she rolled to a front-running victory in the $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes over a good field for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott May 24.

A change in tactics helped Fire With Fire produce a 7-1 upset in the $200,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap May 24 on the grass at Santa Anita Park, giving Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale a record-tying seventh win in the race.

Palace Malice, a prohibitive favorite at odds of 1-20, made easy work of his three opponents in the $142,500 Westchester Stakes May 11 at Belmont Park in his prep race for the Metropolitan Handicap.

Top Fortitude, overlooked by bettors at 30-1 after a poor 2014 debut a month earlier, outfought his challengers in the stretch May 10 to post a huge surprise at 30-1 in the $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

His development slowed by a lung infection, Tonalist showed he can be a major contender in the Belmont Stakes next month when he crushed the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes May 10 on a sloppy track at Belmont Park.

Grade 2 winner Grace Hall hasn't raced in 13 months but she makes her long-awaited return in the $250,000 Ruffian Stakes, part of the Mother's Day stakes bill at Belmont Park May 11.

Embellishing Bob, stepping up into graded stakes company off a maiden win, won the $176,700 Derby Trial on the disqualification of Bayern under the lights on the opening night of the Churchill Downs spring meet April 26.

Chilean-bred Quick Casablanca landed his first North American win when he overcame a slow start to nip Fire With Fire and favored Rookie Sensation in the $100,000 Last Tycoon Stakes on the Santa Anita Park turf April 25.

Imperative pounced on a softened-up Game On Dude rounding the final turn and proved best in the drive to land a $1 million payday at odds of 26-1 in the Charles Town Classic April 19 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.