Horse Racing News

Gio Ponti will oblige his loyal fans with his presence for a third consecutive year in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Manhattan Handicap, a 1 1/4-mile inner turf heat which precedes the classic Belmont Stakes on a 13-race program.

Kentucky Derby favorite Animal Kingdom has been made the 2-1 favorite in a field of 12 for the Belmont Stakes.

On Thursday, more than a half-dozen jockeys from Belmont Park will ride into the hearts of families at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island as part of the annual Jockey Day event.

Trainer Christophe Clement probably picked out Friday's Grade 3, $100,000 Poker Stakes at Belmont Poker as a way to ease his French-bred gelding Right One into North American graded stakes competition.

Denied last year from becoming the first back-to-back winner of the Brooklyn Handicap since Waquoit (1987-88), Eldaafer can still make a little history with a second career win in Friday's 1 1/2-mile marathon over one lap of Belmont Park's hallowed oval.

The older he gets, the more intriguing Twirling Candy becomes.

Caleb's Posse came through as the favorite Saturday when rolling past longshot Marco's Fling to capture the 77th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in the Cleveland suburb of North Randall, Ohio.

Noble's Promise had the lead with a quarter-mile to go in the 2010 Kentucky Derby, only to fade to fifth. Saturday, the colt found the front at a more opportune time before edging away in the final 100 yards to win the 23rd running of the Aristides.

Hilda's Passion reasserted herself as one of the leaders of the filly and mare sprint division with an authoritative, front-running 5 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park.

Salty Strike surged to her first stakes victory Saturday, getting a perfect stalking trip under Manny Cruz in the 37th running of the Grade 3, $109,300 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs.