Horse Racing News

Kentucky Derby winner Orb has been made the morning-line favorite in a field of 14 horses entered for the Belmont Stakes.

Filly Unlimited Budget will take on males in the Belmont Stakes Sat., June 8 at Belmont Park where she will be saddled by the only living trainer to win the 10.5-mile race with a filly -- Todd Pletcher.

Newmarket-based trainer Gerard Butler will soon be charged by the British Horseracing Authority over his use of the drug Sungate, which contains the banned anabolic steroid stanozolol.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said June 2 that Orb definitely will be pointed toward the Belmont Stakes following the colt's half-mile work in :48.30 at Belmont Park and gallop-out of five furlongs in a sharp 1:00.48.

S.A.Y. Racing LLC's Tiz a Minister put in a furious rally from the back of the field in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,750 Affirmed Handicap to post a one-length win on the Hollywood Park wire under jockey Corey Nakatani.

After finishing second to Game on Dude in three consecutive stakes, Clubhouse Ride relished the opportunity to avoid that top-class rival in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,500 Californian at Hollywood Park.

Jockey Gary Stevens was off his two mounts June 2 after being unseated in a turf race a day earlier at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said in a national teleconference May 30 that jockey Rosie Napravnik was "very likely" to ride Unlimited Budget in the June 8 Belmont Stakes if the filly competes in the third leg of the Triple Crown.

Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow, stablemate Will Take Charge, and Kentucky Derby runner-up Golden Soul all turned in preparations for the June 8 Belmont Stakes on the morning of May 30 at Churchill Downs.

Champion Royal Delta will seek a title defense in the June 15 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs, her connections confirmed May 31.