Horse Racing News

Heading into Saturday's Grade 3, $109,300 Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs, favorites Shocktime and Culotte had the highest speed figures and the most eye-catching victories.

Team Valor International and trainer H. Graham Motion employed another surface switch to win a 3-year-old stakes as Summer Soiree dominated the Grade 3, $155,000 Boiling Springs Stakes for fillies on the rain-softened turf at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Court of the Realm upset a tough field under Eurico Da Silva to notch his stakes debut in the $269,200 King Edward at Woodbine on Saturday.

Jockey Rajiv Maragh masterfully slowed the pace, and Giants Play dug in when called upon to win the Grade 2, $150,000 New York Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Grade 1 hero Dialed In will have surgery next week on a chip in his right knee and will be taken out of training for a undetermined period of time, according to Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito.

A possible tornado damaged several horse barns at Churchill Downs, prompting track officials to temporarily halt races Thursday at the famed Kentucky Derby horse track.

A few barns partially collapsed and horses ran loose for a time Wednesday at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, after a powerful storm that spawned tornadoes blew through Louisville.

Hibaayeb and Giants Play, the top two finishers in the Sheepshead Bay, will square off again in Grade 2, $150,000 New York Stakes for fillies and mares June 25 at Belmont Park.

Astrology will be the one to beat in the $250,000, Grade 3 Iowa Derby following his good third in the Preakness.

Led by undefeated Texas-bred Shocktime, a field of eight 2-year-old fillies was drawn for the Grade 3, $100,000 Debutante June 25 at Churchill Downs. It is the first graded race of 2011 for juvenile fillies.