Horse Racing News on June 2, 2010

Considering how well he ran on the front end when finishing second in the Preakness Stakes three weeks ago after drawing post 11, there is little doubt what the strategy will be for First Dude in the 142nd Belmont Stakes.

There is a scene in the popular movie "Hoosiers" when the players on the underdog Hickory High basketball team walk into Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana for the first time and look in awe at the humongous setting on which they will play for the first time.

Texas racing has been losing ground to tracks in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, all of which have varying forms of gaming to supplement purses.

Martin Garcia is the new jockey for St Trinians, the 5-year-old mare expected to provide Zenyatta her main challenge June 13 in the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Favorites are running amok at Hollywood Park, winning at a 41 percent clip and slowing pick-six carryovers to a mere trickle -- the bet carried over only four times the first 28 days of the spring meet.

Mine That Bird had his second workout for trainer D. Wayne Lukas when he breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds over a fast track shortly after the renovation break Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

For the second straight year, the Brooklyn Handicap is a battle of Diane vs. Goliath.

Oak Tree Racing Association officials are hoping to reach a resolution in coming days with executives from Magna International Development.

The return of dual Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Manhattan and a near-capacity field of 13 in the Grade 1 Acorn for 3-year-old fillies highlight Saturday's Belmont Stakes undercard at Belmont Park.

Jockey Richard Migliore announced his retirement on Wednesday morning at Belmont Park, saying doctors have told him he can not safely return to riding due to neck and spine fractures suffered in a January racing accident.