Horse Racing News

Longines Kentucky Oaks victress Princess of Sylmar and Unlimited Budget, who recently ran sixth in the June 8 Belmont Stakes, top a quality field of five sophomore fillies for the $300,000 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks July 20 at Saratoga Race Course.

Eblouissante, half sister of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, will return to the races July 20 when she aims for her first career stakes win in the $200,000 84 Lumber Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

Lucayan, Barocci, and Jeranimo vainly chased California's top turf miler, Obviously, earlier this summer at Hollywood Park, but theoretically stand a better chance at success in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Eddie Read at Del Mar in that star's absence.

Defending champion Royal Delta tops a field of six entered in Saturday's $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park for trainer Bill Mott. The 1 ¼-mile contest will carry Grade 1 status for the first time since 1989.

Tim O'Donohue's Bashford Manor winner Debt Ceiling, undefeated in three starts for Maryland-based trainer John Robb, looms large over six others in the 99th running of the $200,000 Sanford Stakes July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.

Consistent filly Unusual Way, a stakes winner in her only try on turf, is part of a well-matched field of 3-year-old fillies set to battle July 21 in the $150,000 San Clemente Stakes on the Del Mar lawn.

After a fifth-place finish in the June 5 RTN True North Handicap at Belmont Park, Michael Dubb and Gary Aisquith's Sage Valley looks to get back to winning ways in the $100,000 James Marvin Handicap on July 19, opening day at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Todd Pletcher, always loaded with 2-year-old talent when the Saratoga Race Course season rolls around, will waste no time testing two promising fillies in the $150,000 Schuylerville Stakes July 19 at the Spa.

Last October at Woodbine in Canada, Chantal Sutherland was on the verge of making the announcement that she was about to ride her last race when fellow jockey Alex Solis offered a word of caution.

Magdalena Racing's War Dancer just withstood the thrust of Charming Kitten in Saturday night's Grade 2, $500,000 Virginia Derby, with the late-running Jack Milton another head away in third, in a climactic conclusion to Colonial Downs' marquee race.