Horse Racing News

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.

Bay to Bay ($15.10) raced prominently under Luis Contreras en route to a decisive tally over a quality field in Saturday's Grade 2, $301,200 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine.

The rubber match is set: Preakness winner Shackleford is ready to take on Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom in next Saturday's $1 million Belmont Stakes.

Uncle Mo, last year's 2-year-old champion male, has been found to have cholangiohepatitis, his owner, Mike Repole, announced in a press release Friday.

Jockey Michael Baze, who won nearly 1,000 horse races in a nine-year career, died from an accidental overdose of cocaine and a prescription pain medication before his body was found at Churchill Downs last month, the coroner's office said Friday.