Horse Racing News

Aikenite was up in the final jump to nail Apriority on the wire in the 77th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard Saturday.

Crown of Thorns won his first race in 39 months in Saturday's $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park, ending a series of frustrating events for owner B. Wayne Hughes and trainer Richard Mandella that lasted about that long.

Aviate, under Kent Desormeaux, came flying down the center of the Churchill Downs turf course and outfinished Aruna to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile by about two lengths at Churchill Downs.

Sassy Image, the longest shot in the field of seven at 16-1 because she had not won since January of 2010, rallied strongly on the outside to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Humana Distaff Stakes by open lengths.

Off a step or two behind the field and fourth early, Regally Ready kicked into gear down the stretch, wearing down front-running Bridgetown to score going away under Corey Nakatani.

Going into the first turn of Friday's $237,400 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs, Banned was only in front of three of the 11 rivals he was facing in the Grade 2 event. His jockey, Garrett Gomez, was a little concerned.

Plum Pretty took charge at the top of the stretch and then held off a late bid from St. John's River to win the $1 million Kentucky Oaks on Friday at Churchill Downs.

First Dude won the Grade 3, $300,000 Alysheba Stakes by the slimmest of noses over Regal Ransom at Churchill Downs May 6.

Taking advantage of a fast and contested pace, Victoria's Wildcat rallied from well back on the outside through the stretch to post a going-away victory in the $100,000 Eight Belles Stakes.

Favored Blind Luck overcame a bad stumble at the start to collar Unrivaled Belle in the final strides for a half-length victory in the $333,900, Grade 2 La Troienne May 6, the first of five graded stakes on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs.