Horse Racing News

In what is easily the most wide-open field of all the final Kentucky Derby preps, the $500,000 Illinois Derby drew a full field of 14 for the April 7 event at Hawthorne Race Course.

Undefeated Gemologist drew post 6 in a field of eight 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday's $1 million Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Casino Host, getting a textbook ride under John Velazquez, surged past a stubborn Papaw Bodie in the final 70 yards to post a 10-1 upset Sunday in the 20th running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Mervin Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Hero of Order pulled a huge upset Sunday when sent away at 109-1 before narrowly holding off Mark Valeski to win the 99th running of the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Windy Hill Farm's Nates Mineshaft opened his stakes account with a 2 3/4-length win in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap on February 25 at Fair Ground.

Corporate Jungle, who has blossomed this winter at Gulfstream Park, captured the Grade 3, $100,000 Appleton Stakes on Saturday in his stakes debut.

It was close, but Hit It Rich prevailed in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes March 31 at South Florida's Gulfstream Park.

Believe You Can bounced back from a disappointing performance last month in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, holding up through a taxing pace to win the Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Ground Oaks by a head late Saturday afternoon.

Favored Grace Hall stamped herself as the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) when she romped to a 6 1/2-length victory in the $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks March 31 at Gulfstream Park.

Take Charge Indy took charge from the start and outgamed a stubborn Reveron through the stretch to post a one-length victory in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.