Horse Racing News

Saturday's $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup added a veteran Wednesday when defending champion Awesome Gem joined the field on the day entries were taken.

Dublin, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful in 2009, suffered a fractured sesamoid in his right foreleg and has been retired from racing, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Wednesday.

Noble's Promise made headlines when he finished a close third in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and fifth in the 2010 Kentucky Derby.

A road win Saturday in the Grade 1, $350,000 Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder would greatly enhance Sassy Image's prospects for an Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter.

The Grade 2 Carry Back Stakes for 3-year-olds during Calder Casino and Race Course's Summit of Speed program July 9 is a big opportunity for someone to step forward.

Making his first start on turf in his 10th time out. Morton Fink's homebred Wise Dan made a powerful stretch move en route to a 2 3/4-length win in the Grade 2, $203,000 Firecracker Handicap July 4 at Churchill Downs.

Well beaten in her last two tries, Bobby Flay's Her Smile became a Grade 1 winner July 4 when she rallied from last to score in the $250,000 Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Uncle Mo, last year's 2-year-old champion who missed the Kentucky Derby because of a rare liver disease, has recently started galloping and is expected to ship to Saratoga next Monday, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

That Millionreasonswhy won her debut by four lengths was an indication to her trainer, Ignacio "Nacho" Correas, that the 2-year-old filly had talent. That Millionreasonswhy won Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park was the confirmation.

In a weekend full of surprises in stakes races at Belmont Park, the biggest one came in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Bed o' Roses Handicap when 15-1 shot Tamarind Hall rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory over Kid Kate.