Horse Racing News on July 27, 2011

Shackleford arrived at Monmouth Park at about 7:30 a.m. Eastern Wednesday following an overnight van ride from Kentucky in his quest to add the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational to what trainer Dale Romans hopes will be a champion's resume.

The time was slow, the track was dark, and Amazombie was well under the radar in an early-morning workout Wednesday at Del Mar. He may be under-noticed again Sunday as third horse in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby.

Breeders' Cup will conduct the post-position draw for its 15 races on the Monday prior to the two-day event this year, one day earlier than in previous years, the organization announced on Wednesday.

A field of 10 older fillies and mares was drawn Wednesday for Saturday's $500,000 Diana, at least one of whom will achieve a career milestone by posting her first Grade 1 win.

There will certainly be many richer and more important races decided over the final five weeks of the 2011 Saratoga session than Monday's $150,000 Lake George Stakes.

J C's Pride established a Saratoga track record for five furlongs on the main track in the third race July 27, lowering the previous mark by 0.17 seconds with a final time of 56.54 seconds.

While Shackleford and Ruler On Ice battle for divisional supremacy in Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, seven lesser accomplished but not necessarily inferior 3-year-olds will clash in Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.

It was billed as a two-horse 'duel on the downs', but it quickly turned into a brilliant one-horse display of sheer talent as Frankel took the lead from the start and never looked back, flying home to take the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.