Horse Racing News

Mike Hushion truly didn't know what to expect when he ran Gantry in a first-level allowance race at Belmont Park on June 23. After all, Gantry, a 4-year-old gelding, had not run in 227 days, never raced on grass, or faced anything but maidens.

Coming off two graded stakes victories utilizing distinctively different running styles, Banned heads a field of 12 3-year-old turf runners in Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Ramon Dominguez went into the final four days of racing here with a 64-62 lead over Javier Castellano in the battle for leading rider at the meet, a title that likely won't be decided until closing day.

Hippolytus, runner-up in Woodbine's Queen's Plate at 61-1, has been made the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday's $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a decision by the state's racing commission to award $15 million in casino subsidies to the state's Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries, according to a letter Christie sent to the commission.

A five-horse field featuring three millionaires, topped by arch-rivals Havre de Grace and Blind Luck, will contest Saturday's Grade 2 Delaware Handicap.

Garrett Gomez will be at Delaware Park July 16 to ride Blind Luck for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the Grade 2, $750,000 Delaware Handicap in a much anticipated clash with division rival Havre de Grace.

Uncle Mo, expected to depart WinStar Farm July 11 to join trainer Todd Pletcher's string at Saratoga Race Course, could make his return to the races in the Foxwoods King's Bishop Stakes (Grade 1) Aug. 27, Pletcher said on the morning of July 10.

Willcox Inn is two-thirds of the way to a sweep of Arlington's Mid-America Triple, and leg 2, Saturday's American Derby, was no contest.

Fantasia and Wasted Tears both stretched out from middle-distance races to try the 1 3/16-mile, Grade 3 Modesty Handicap on Saturday at Arlington. Fantasia liked the added ground. Wasted Tears, not so much.