Horse Racing News

A strong effort in the Blue Grass is still imperative for the Eddie Kenneally trainee as his graded earnings of slightly more than $240,000 is very close to the cut-off point to make the May 7 Run for the Roses.

Instead of being a fringe player in Arkansas, Evening Jewel will be in from California as a solid favorite Thursday at Keeneland in the Vinery Madison, a seven-furlong Polytrack race that carries the same Grade 1 rating as the $500,000 Apple Blossom.

Kentucky racing regulators denied a license to the controversial trainer Richard Dutrow on Wednesday, likely causing the scratch of two horses he has entered in stakes races at Keeneland and signaling that his career has begun to be imperiled.

Evening Jewel and Dr. Zic will each attempt to earn their second top-level score over the Keeneland Polytrack when squaring off in Thursday's Grade 1, $300,000 Madison Stakes over seven furlongs.

Life At Ten, appearing at Gulfstream Park in her first start since a controversial attempt in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic last fall, ran second in an optional claiming allowance April 10.

Joyful Victory solidified her status as one of the top choices for next month's Kentucky Oaks with a seven-length victory over the previously undefeated Arienza in the Grade 2, $300,000 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park on Sunday.

Midnight Interlude, who only beat maidens on March 20 in his third career start, pulled a 13-1 upset in Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Derby, catching pacesetter Comma to the Top in the final 50 yards.

Pace makes Win Willy's race, and when his trainer, Mac Robertson, saw the fractional time for the opening half-mile of the Grade 2, $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap, it made his day.

In the case of Liberian Freighter on Saturday, good things came to those who waited, and waited, and waited some more.

Trainer Todd Pletcher won a Kentucky Derby prep race Saturday. It just wasn't the one everyone expected.