Horse Racing News

With victories last season in the Breeders' Cup Turf, Arlington Million and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, Little Mike plundered three of the country's most significant turf stakes.

On paper many of the entries for this year's $116,000 Jersey Shore Stakes appeared to possess early speed.

After defeating other New York-breds on the lead in his previous start, King Kreesa replicated that front-running effort against open company in the $150,000 Poker Stakes July 4 at Belmont Park to secure the first graded stakes win of his career.

Chief Havoc, enjoying a big tactical advantage over his three rivals, went gate to wire as the odds-on choice to capture the $147,000 Swaps Stakes July 4 at Betfair Hollywood Park.

The $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup July 6 is all about Game On Dude, who goes for a repeat victory against just four opponents in the West Coast classic's final renewal at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Orb, winner of the Kentucky Derby, returned to the worktab July 3 for the first time since his third-place finish in the June 6 Belmont Stakes with a three-furlong breeze at Fair Hill Training Center near Elkton, Md.

Game On Dude zipped four furlongs in :47 4/5 over the artificial surface at Betfair Hollywood Park the morning of July 1 as the gelding worked toward a defense of his title in the July 6 Hollywood Gold Cup.

Debt Ceiling improved his career to a perfect 3-for-3 by taking the $111,400 Bashford Manor Stakes at Churchill Downs in a commanding fashion June 29.

Jim Tafel's homebred Looking Cool certainly kept his cool in the heat of battle down the Prairie Meadows stretch June 29 to prevail by a neck at 17-1 odds in the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

Fiftyshadesofhay made the most of her latest trip from California with a powerful 3 1/2-length victory in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino June 29.