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Circular Quay colts tops robust OBS session

Hip No. 266, CHEERS OF THUNDER (Circular Quay) whose three-eighths in :33 1/5 at Saturday's Under Tack session was the day's fastest at the distance, was sold to Paul Pompa Jr. for $275,000 to top the first session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2013 June Sale of Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age on Tuesday. Consigned by Blue River Bloodstock, Agent, the bay colt is out of Trail of Cheers (Indian Charlie) and is from the family of multiple Grade 2 winner Crafty Friend (Crafty Prospector).

Cheers of Thunder previously brought $300,000 at the OBS April sale of two-year-olds and $12,000 as an OBS August yearling.

Hip 180, a colt by Smart Strike consigned by All in Line Stables, agent, went to Steven W. Young, agent for Dogwood Stable, for $200,000. The bay colt, who worked an eighth in :10 3/5 at Friday's Under Tack session, is out of Silk Road (Giant's Causeway), a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Summer Colony (Summer Squall).

The colt was previously a $130,000 Keeneland November weanling.

Hip 176, a First Samurai colt whose eighth in :10 flat was co-fastest on Friday, was purchased for $155,000 by EQB, Inc., agent for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Consigned by Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent, the bay colt is out of Shoo In (Dynaformer), a half-sister to stakes winner Promise of War (Lord at War). This is the family of Grade 1 winner Rose's Cantina (Naskra).

The colt was previously a $90,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling.

Gary Young, agent, went to $150,000 for Hip 336, a filly by Dixie Union consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent. The dark bay, who breezed a quarter in :21 2/5 on Saturday, is out of African Sunrise (Tale of the Cat), a half-sister to Group 3 winner Tough Speed (Miswaki).

The filly was led out of the ring unsold following a $70,000 bid at the Keeneland September yearling sale.

For the session, 220 horses grossed $6,695,500, a rise of 31.6 percent compared with 221 horses bringing a total of $5,087,800 at last year's first session. The average was $30,434, up 32.2 percent from $23,022 a year ago, while the median price was $20,000, a gain of 33.3 percent compared with $15,000 last year.

The June Sale continues Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Full results can be found at obssales.com.

Al Kazeem crowned in Prince of Wales's

Al Kazeem (outside) ran down Mukhadram to take the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) Al Kazeem rewarded the patience of his owner John Deer and trainer Roger Charlton by coming through to cut down the front-running Mukhadram by a neck in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday. The victory gave his jockey, James Doyle, a first Royal Ascot success. "It's magical, really -- to get a Royal Ascot winner," Doyle said. "It leaves you speechless in some ways but this is what it is all about. All of those mornings, working hard, going to all of the evening meetings and all of the hard work that you put in. It does pay and it's great when it does. "It is the best feeling in the world -- you dream of Royal Ascot winners when you are growing up and it is amazing to have one." Former champion jockey Paul Hanagan produced an audacious ride aboard Mukhadram that almost pulled off a surprise win in the £500,000, 1 1/4-mile contest over the good going. Hanagan set the pace aboard the William Haggas trainee and then kicked clear on the home turn. Mukhadram four-year-old partner produced a sustained burst for the line that held off all rivals bar one, Al Kazeem, who wore him down to win by a neck. It was another 3 1/4 lengths farther back to The Fugue in third.

"I was only worried for a second, when we turned in," Doyle remarked. "I thought that Paul Hanagan gave his horse (Mukhadram) a fantastic ride -- he got the fractions right, filled his up at the right time and quickened off the turn.

"We settled into a nice rhythm but Mukhadram got a couple of lengths on me turning in and I had to make them up. I could see Paul just getting away from me on the turn and had a bit of work to do but you have to believe in your horse -- I have done nothing but win on this fellow. My confidence with him is amazing.

"Al Kazeem digs deep and is such a hardy, tough horse. He loves to get in a battle and he showed what a good horse he is by quickening up. I am very lucky to be sat on him.

"He is a class act over a mile and a quarter and arguably even better over a mile and a half. But a mile and a quarter is no problem -- he has the tactical speed, quickened and picked up. He is a serious horse over a mile and a quarter."

Al Kazeem earned his fourth straight win and remains perfect in three starts thus far this season. He only raced once as a four-year-old last season, taking the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in May 2012, and didn't reappear until capturing his April 27 debut in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes by a length. The bay son of Dubawi entered the Prince of Wales's off a 1 1/2-length score in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland.

"The name of the game is patience," Charlton stated. "Sir Henry Cecil said 'patience, patience and more patience' and you need the owners to do that. We always thought we had a really good horse, so it was worth waiting for.

"To be fair, we nearly ran him in the autumn (last year) and then decided to give him more time. You can't do it without the horse and, as we saw today, he is a very tough, very genuine horse. I thought for an awful minute that we weren't going to get there but James seemed quite confident, so how do I know anything? I thought James gave him a great ride. For a young guy who hasn't ridden that many good horses, I am so pleased for James. We have asked him big questions and he has delivered. He is going to go forwards."

Charlton was celebrating his biggest success at Royal Ascot with his eighth winner.

"Obviously, it is very thrilling," he added. "It would have been horrible to just miss out with all due to respect to William Haggas' horse. It would have been awful to be in front a stride past the line. It is always nerve-wracking -- I am never complacent. You never take anything for granted until they are past the line."

Al Kazeem has really come on for his connections. Prior to last year's first stakes win in the Jockey Club his best finish against black-type rivals were runner-up efforts in the Group 3 St. Simon Stakes, Group 3 Arc Trial and Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, all in 2011.

"His owner breeder was offered lots of money for this horse and often people accept those offers so I am lucky to have the horse really," Charlton said. "He is a very special horse. He is a very good-looking horse -- he has got that lovely Dubawi head and he clearly stays a mile and a half well and he has all the attributes that make a good horse. He has a fantastic temperament and, apart from the pelvis, has been fantastically sound and he is a real trier."

While Charlton didn't name Al Kazeem's next start, he wasn't shy about stating where he'd like to eventually run.

"I think that there are lots of lovely races for Al Kazeem. I don't know without discussing it with the owner but I have always longed to have a runner in the Arc -- I think he is a horse who is very happy if the ground is on the soft side and he has proved that he probably needs a mile and a half. That would be his end of season target and very exciting to go for," he said.

"I think he needs an Arc preparation -- not run too close to the race -- a bit like Rainbow Quest. I think that it is important not to be too greedy and suddenly think that 'gosh, that race is worth this and that race is worth that.' We have to plan it and, if he was to run in the Arc, maybe we could go for the King George and then to the Arc. It's silly to talk about this but the Eclipse is 17 days away, which he would be favorite for. The horse will tell us."

Mukhadram entered the Prince of Wales's off a first stakes victory in the Group 3 Brigadier General at Sandown on May 30. Despite the close loss on the wire, the four-year-old's jockey was still full of praise for the Shamardal colt.

"Everything went to plan and he's so genuine that when I kicked I thought I had it," Hanagan said. "I knew it would take a very good horse to beat me, and, of course, that is what happened. He went down fighting -- it went to plan, but not that well because we didn't win, but he gave everything."

Mukhadram's trainer was quick to commend both horse and jockey.

"It was a fantastic ride, the horse ran his guts out and the trainer has almost lost his voice," Haggas said. "I'm very proud of the horse. It was jockey and owner planning -- I can't tell you what a marvelous ride (Hanagan) gave him and he nearly nicked it."

Mukhadram is entered in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting on Saturday, but when asked if he might run, Haggas said, "No chance!"

The Fugue was running for the first time since a third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November. Her trainer, John Gosden, said, "She ran a super race and finished very strongly, so I'm delighted with her. The first two set a very high standard and (Hanagan) did a very good job.

"She can race over a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. The Pretty Polly Stakes (on June 30) is probably going to come too soon, but there's the Nassau Stakes, the Coral-Eclipse and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes to consider, but she does like this ground."

Last year's dual Epsom and Irish Derby winner Camelot, who had a colic operation in October last year, could fare no better than fourth in the Prince of Wales's.

"We will wait and see what happens next," trainer Aidan O'Brien said of the 5-2 favorite. "He had a tough enough winter -- they will tell you (surgeons) that a big operation will take at least four months for the wound to heal.

"I have never really chased him (at home) -- we have been letting the racing bring him on but maybe it is time to chase him we have to be very conscious of what he has been through. The runs have been bringing him on but maybe he is at the stage where he should be chased after a little bit.

"There are a lot of options open to him -- races like the Coral-Eclipse and all those races. We have got to where we are now and maybe need to change a few little things."

"Well it is a bit disappointing -- we thought he would get a bit closer to Al Kazeem this time," added Derek Smith, who is one of the co-owners of the dual classic-winning Montjeu colt. "We will just have to go away and think about things. We have no real thoughts about what to do next we will just have to go away and have a chat about it."

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Duntle flies the Irish flag in Duke of Cambridge

Ireland's wonderful record at Royal Ascot 2013 was further embellished when Duntle became the country's sixth winner from eight races with a half-length victory in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes on Wednesday.

The four-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer, trained by David Wachman and ridden by Wayne Lordan, sported the colors of Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd., a Niarchos family interest.

Ladys First led the field under jockey Paul Hanagan, who urged her to go on about three furlongs out. Meanwhile, Lordan had Duntle settled in midpack before setting her down to chase the leader. Duntle took command with a furlong remaining and was ridden out to beat Ladys First with Dank finishing another head back in third.

"The placed horses wouldn't go away, but this filly doesn't do much when she hits the front," Lordan said. "Because we went so slowly I hit the front a little earlier than planned and she idled a bit, but when the fillies came around her she picked up.

"It was tight, but I always knew I was going to the line safe enough. Hopefully this year she will have a change of luck and win that Group 1."

Duntle won last year's Sandringham Handicap at the Royal meeting, and later finished first in the Group 1 Matron Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second in the latter event.

"She did it well and Wayne gave her a very good ride," Wachman remarked. "The filly doesn't want to hit the front too soon and they didn't go a great gallop which didn't help. He was going very easily while trying to hang onto her, and while he got to the front soon enough he still had plenty up his sleeve.

"She's a tough filly who won't win by far. She's a Group 1 winner, although they took it off her in the stewards' room, and she'll be heading back that way again. There is a good program for fillies and mares and plenty of options, but the race at Deauville -- the Prix Jacques Le Marois -- which Maria Niarchos sponsors will be on the agenda.

"I train three for Maria, but a few more as good as this one would be all right."

After battling for second in the Duke of Cambridge, Ladys First could find herself on a plane headed for North America.

"She is really tough and genuine," trainer Richard Fahey stated. "I might take her to America next -- the (Grade 1) Beverly D. (at Arlington Park on August 17). I think a mile and one around two turns is where she wants to be."

Ladys First has finished out of the top three just four times in her 14-race career, but has only managed to fill the winner's spot on two occasions, the last time being in a listed mile event at Haydock Park in August 2012.

"The owner says I have to win before I can go -- though I think he will say yes after that," Fahey added.

"She's one of the gamest fillies -- she fought back all the way, she's run a blinder," Hanagan praised the Dutch Art filly. "It would have been great for her to get her head in front -- she deserves it."

Sir Michael Stoute, who trains third-placer Dank, was also quick to applaud his runner's effort.

"She never lets us down, she's just so consistent," he said. "She is a nine-furlong Group 2 at the Curragh as well as the Falmouth but we will need a little time to go home and see what we do next."

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Al Kazeem crowned in Prince of Wales's

Al Kazeem (outside) ran down Mukhadram to take the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot (Frank Sorge/Horsephotos.com) Al Kazeem rewarded the patience of his owner John Deer and trainer Roger Charlton by coming through to cut down the front-running Mukhadram by a neck in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes on Wednesday. The victory gave his jockey, James Doyle, a first Royal Ascot success. "It's magical, really -- to get a Royal Ascot winner," Doyle said. "It leaves you speechless in some ways but this is what it is all about. All of those mornings, working hard, going to all of the evening meetings and all of the hard work that you put in. It does pay and it's great when it does. "It is the best feeling in the world -- you dream of Royal Ascot winners when you are growing up and it is amazing to have one." Former champion jockey Paul Hanagan produced an audacious ride aboard Mukhadram that almost pulled off a surprise win in the £500,000, 1 1/4-mile contest over the good going. Hanagan set the pace aboard the William Haggas trainee and then kicked clear on the home turn. Mukhadram four-year-old partner produced a sustained burst for the line that held off all rivals bar one, Al Kazeem, who wore him down to win by a neck. It was another 3 1/4 lengths farther back to The Fugue in third.

"I was only worried for a second, when we turned in," Doyle remarked. "I thought that Paul Hanagan gave his horse (Mukhadram) a fantastic ride -- he got the fractions right, filled his up at the right time and quickened off the turn.

"We settled into a nice rhythm but Mukhadram got a couple of lengths on me turning in and I had to make them up. I could see Paul just getting away from me on the turn and had a bit of work to do but you have to believe in your horse -- I have done nothing but win on this fellow. My confidence with him is amazing.

"Al Kazeem digs deep and is such a hardy, tough horse. He loves to get in a battle and he showed what a good horse he is by quickening up. I am very lucky to be sat on him.

"He is a class act over a mile and a quarter and arguably even better over a mile and a half. But a mile and a quarter is no problem -- he has the tactical speed, quickened and picked up. He is a serious horse over a mile and a quarter."

Al Kazeem earned his fourth straight win and remains perfect in three starts thus far this season. He only raced once as a four-year-old last season, taking the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in May 2012, and didn't reappear until capturing his April 27 debut in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes by a length. The bay son of Dubawi entered the Prince of Wales's off a 1 1/2-length score in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland.

"The name of the game is patience," Charlton stated. "Sir Henry Cecil said 'patience, patience and more patience' and you need the owners to do that. We always thought we had a really good horse, so it was worth waiting for.

"To be fair, we nearly ran him in the autumn (last year) and then decided to give him more time. You can't do it without the horse and, as we saw today, he is a very tough, very genuine horse. I thought for an awful minute that we weren't going to get there but James seemed quite confident, so how do I know anything? I thought James gave him a great ride. For a young guy who hasn't ridden that many good horses, I am so pleased for James. We have asked him big questions and he has delivered. He is going to go forwards."

Charlton was celebrating his biggest success at Royal Ascot with his eighth winner.

"Obviously, it is very thrilling," he added. "It would have been horrible to just miss out with all due to respect to William Haggas' horse. It would have been awful to be in front a stride past the line. It is always nerve-wracking -- I am never complacent. You never take anything for granted until they are past the line."

Al Kazeem has really come on for his connections. Prior to last year's first stakes win in the Jockey Club his best finish against black-type rivals were runner-up efforts in the Group 3 St. Simon Stakes, Group 3 Arc Trial and Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, all in 2011.

"His owner breeder was offered lots of money for this horse and often people accept those offers so I am lucky to have the horse really," Charlton said. "He is a very special horse. He is a very good-looking horse -- he has got that lovely Dubawi head and he clearly stays a mile and a half well and he has all the attributes that make a good horse. He has a fantastic temperament and, apart from the pelvis, has been fantastically sound and he is a real trier."

While Charlton didn't name Al Kazeem's next start, he wasn't shy about stating where he'd like to eventually run.

"I think that there are lots of lovely races for Al Kazeem. I don't know without discussing it with the owner but I have always longed to have a runner in the Arc -- I think he is a horse who is very happy if the ground is on the soft side and he has proved that he probably needs a mile and a half. That would be his end of season target and very exciting to go for," he said.

"I think he needs an Arc preparation -- not run too close to the race -- a bit like Rainbow Quest. I think that it is important not to be too greedy and suddenly think that 'gosh, that race is worth this and that race is worth that.' We have to plan it and, if he was to run in the Arc, maybe we could go for the King George and then to the Arc. It's silly to talk about this but the Eclipse is 17 days away, which he would be favorite for. The horse will tell us."

Mukhadram entered the Prince of Wales's off a first stakes victory in the Group 3 Brigadier General at Sandown on May 30. Despite the close loss on the wire, the four-year-old's jockey was still full of praise for the Shamardal colt.

"Everything went to plan and he's so genuine that when I kicked I thought I had it," Hanagan said. "I knew it would take a very good horse to beat me, and, of course, that is what happened. He went down fighting -- it went to plan, but not that well because we didn't win, but he gave everything."

Mukhadram's trainer was quick to commend both horse and jockey.

"It was a fantastic ride, the horse ran his guts out and the trainer has almost lost his voice," Haggas said. "I'm very proud of the horse. It was jockey and owner planning -- I can't tell you what a marvelous ride (Hanagan) gave him and he nearly nicked it."

Mukhadram is entered in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting on Saturday, but when asked if he might run, Haggas said, "No chance!"

The Fugue was running for the first time since a third-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf last November. Her trainer, John Gosden, said, "She ran a super race and finished very strongly, so I'm delighted with her. The first two set a very high standard and (Hanagan) did a very good job.

"She can race over a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half. The Pretty Polly Stakes (on June 30) is probably going to come too soon, but there's the Nassau Stakes, the Coral-Eclipse and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes to consider, but she does like this ground."

Last year's dual Epsom and Irish Derby winner Camelot, who had a colic operation in October last year, could fare no better than fourth in the Prince of Wales's.

"We will wait and see what happens next," trainer Aidan O'Brien said of the 5-2 favorite. "He had a tough enough winter -- they will tell you (surgeons) that a big operation will take at least four months for the wound to heal.

"I have never really chased him (at home) -- we have been letting the racing bring him on but maybe it is time to chase him we have to be very conscious of what he has been through. The runs have been bringing him on but maybe he is at the stage where he should be chased after a little bit.

"There are a lot of options open to him -- races like the Coral-Eclipse and all those races. We have got to where we are now and maybe need to change a few little things."

"Well it is a bit disappointing -- we thought he would get a bit closer to Al Kazeem this time," added Derek Smith, who is one of the co-owners of the dual classic-winning Montjeu colt. "We will just have to go away and think about things. We have no real thoughts about what to do next we will just have to go away and have a chat about it."

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Rizeena wraps up Royal Ascot treble for Doyle in Queen Mary

Clive Brittain, who will celebrate his 80th birthday on December 15, danced to the winner's podium at Royal Ascot after Rizeena swept past the front-running American challenger Sweet Emma Rose to win the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday.

Brittain rates Rizeena, winner of her last three races, alongside one his best horses, Sayyedati, who was successful in five Group 1s including the One Thousand Guineas.

"This victory is not unexpected -- we have known this filly is useful for some time," the Newmarket trainer asserted. "I was as certain as you can be when you have a field of top horses against you that she would run a big race. She has been working extremely well and improved from work to work.

"Thanks go to Rosina, the girl who looks after Rizeena and practically lives with her and to Miblish. She had a tendency to cut her action off -- she was wanting to go too quickly -- and for the last three months she has had Miblish (who ran fifth in the Prince of Wales's earlier on the Royal Ascot card) as a lead horse -- he is a great walker and mover. He has taught her how to walk and get rhythm. And that rhythm has injected a bit of speed."

Rizeena took up position in midpack as Sweet Emma Rose set the pace under jockey Joel Rosario. James Doyle was a late choice to ride the two-year-old filly after Ryan Moore was named aboard Bye Bye Birdie, and sent the bay daughter of Iffraaj after the longtime leader in the final furlong. Rizeena and Doyle were in command with a 100 yards left and easily pulled away to finish two lengths in front of Sweet Emma Rose.

"I lost Ryan Moore. He was going to ride the filly until 24 hours before the race when he was claimed," Brittain explained the late jockey switch. "I rang James's agent and said that I wanted someone who could come and sit on the filly beforehand to see she was something special.

"I had to have a jockey who knew he had a chance and was not on a donkey. If you fill a jockey's mind that he has a chance then he goes out and rides with confidence. My usual Royal Ascot runner is a 33-1 chance and 500-1 if it is the Derby!

"James rode Rizeena in steady exercise with Miblish up Warren Hill and they quickened up from three to the four furlong markers and she picked him up like that. I chose the horse and the jockey!"

Doyle, who celebrated an astonishing treble Wednesday after not having a Royal Ascot winner previously, was smiling broadly afterward.

"It is just amazing. I have not really taken it all in to be honest. It is what you aspire too," he beamed. "I am very happy and thanks to all the connections who have given me the chance today -- without them it would be tough.

"I thought coming today that I would definitely have one winner -- Al Kazeem -- and I thought this filly had an outstanding chance. The Royal Hunt Cup is a bit of a lottery but it worked out. I am loving every minute."

Rizeena ran fifth in her maiden debut at Newmarket in mid-April, but got her initial win next out at Ascot. She added a three-length triumph in the National Stakes at Sandown prior to her Royal Ascot victory.

"When we saw the speed we knew she would be good enough to come here," Brittain said. "She took on the colts last time and I had no fears about that. I think she would have been a danger to the colts in the Coventry Stakes but we came here.

"If the owner agrees, the next race will be the (Group 1) Moyglare (at the Curragh), following the same route I took with Sayyedati. She will stay seven furlongs. Then she will come back for the (Group 1) Cheveley Park Stakes (at Newmarket).

"Today has proved she has got class -- she has had to make up five lengths on a very fast horse. She has had to stick her neck out and race. You don't have to win your race in the first four furlongs, rather the last one."

American trainer Wesley Ward and Newmarket-based Tim Pitt had good reason to feel a sense of relief after their fillies placed in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Ward's journey across the Atlantic would have proved rather disappointing had he not gone home with some prize money, and after Ogermeister's 15th place in Tuesday's Windsor Castle Stakes he needed a tonic. Sweet Emma Rose provided it by blitzing from the stalls and clinging on to second.

"The plan was to go like a bullet from the gate and we wanted this fast ground. That helped her, and what she lacks in talent she gains in her heart," Ward said. "She loves turf and I hope she's going on to bigger things in the future. Where that might be depends on what happens with No Nay Never (who runs in Thursday's Norfolk Stakes), because if he wins I would like to take him to France for the Prix Morny, and then I would look for another race on the card for this filly.

"We wanted to win today, but this is Royal Ascot and to have a good showing is important. After yesterday's showing by Ogermeister I was scratching my head, but this filly has got me excited again."

Pitt had a slightly different pressure, for he is still rebuilding his career after a brilliant summer with sprinter Les Arcs in 2006 was followed by a split from owner Willie McKay, who owned his training base near Doncaster. One Chance's third-place, a length behind Sweet Emma Rose, was vindication of Pitt's judgment when buying the filly for 120,000 guineas at the yearling sales last autumn.

"That is very sweet, because this filly is owned by a proper man -- Tom Burridge -- who has put a lot of faith in me," Pitt remarked. "She's not better than a Group 2 filly, but he gave me the check book and we went and bought her. He wanted an Invincible Spirit filly and she fitted the bill.

"She looked quick at the sales, and we knew that if she didn't work out as a two-year-old we would be scratching our heads. That's not to say she won't get better, but she's done the deed today by finishing placed at Royal Ascot.

"The race went as planned -- there was pace on our side and our filly is quick into her stride. Now we'll have a look at the program, but I doubt she wants to go any further. We'll probably avoid the Molecomb and look at races like the Cornwallis Stakes. With a bit more cut she would be better."

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Duntle flies the Irish flag in Duke of Cambridge

Ireland's wonderful record at Royal Ascot 2013 was further embellished when Duntle became the country's sixth winner from eight races with a half-length victory in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes on Wednesday.

The four-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer, trained by David Wachman and ridden by Wayne Lordan, sported the colors of Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd., a Niarchos family interest.

Ladys First led the field under jockey Paul Hanagan, who urged her to go on about three furlongs out. Meanwhile, Lordan had Duntle settled in midpack before setting her down to chase the leader. Duntle took command with a furlong remaining and was ridden out to beat Ladys First with Dank finishing another head back in third.

"The placed horses wouldn't go away, but this filly doesn't do much when she hits the front," Lordan said. "Because we went so slowly I hit the front a little earlier than planned and she idled a bit, but when the fillies came around her she picked up.

"It was tight, but I always knew I was going to the line safe enough. Hopefully this year she will have a change of luck and win that Group 1."

Duntle won last year's Sandringham Handicap at the Royal meeting, and later finished first in the Group 1 Matron Stakes, but was disqualified and placed second in the latter event.

"She did it well and Wayne gave her a very good ride," Wachman remarked. "The filly doesn't want to hit the front too soon and they didn't go a great gallop which didn't help. He was going very easily while trying to hang onto her, and while he got to the front soon enough he still had plenty up his sleeve.

"She's a tough filly who won't win by far. She's a Group 1 winner, although they took it off her in the stewards' room, and she'll be heading back that way again. There is a good program for fillies and mares and plenty of options, but the race at Deauville -- the Prix Jacques Le Marois -- which Maria Niarchos sponsors will be on the agenda.

"I train three for Maria, but a few more as good as this one would be all right."

After battling for second in the Duke of Cambridge, Ladys First could find herself on a plane headed for North America.

"She is really tough and genuine," trainer Richard Fahey stated. "I might take her to America next -- the (Grade 1) Beverly D. (at Arlington Park on August 17). I think a mile and one around two turns is where she wants to be."

Ladys First has finished out of the top three just four times in her 14-race career, but has only managed to fill the winner's spot on two occasions, the last time being in a listed mile event at Haydock Park in August 2012.

"The owner says I have to win before I can go -- though I think he will say yes after that," Fahey added.

"She's one of the gamest fillies -- she fought back all the way, she's run a blinder," Hanagan praised the Dutch Art filly. "It would have been great for her to get her head in front -- she deserves it."

Sir Michael Stoute, who trains third-placer Dank, was also quick to applaud his runner's effort.

"She never lets us down, she's just so consistent," he said. "She is a nine-furlong Group 2 at the Curragh as well as the Falmouth but we will need a little time to go home and see what we do next."

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Rizeena wraps up Royal Ascot treble for Doyle in Queen Mary

Clive Brittain, who will celebrate his 80th birthday on December 15, danced to the winner's podium at Royal Ascot after Rizeena swept past the front-running American challenger Sweet Emma Rose to win the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday.

Brittain rates Rizeena, winner of her last three races, alongside one his best horses, Sayyedati, who was successful in five Group 1s including the One Thousand Guineas.

"This victory is not unexpected -- we have known this filly is useful for some time," the Newmarket trainer asserted. "I was as certain as you can be when you have a field of top horses against you that she would run a big race. She has been working extremely well and improved from work to work.

"Thanks go to Rosina, the girl who looks after Rizeena and practically lives with her and to Miblish. She had a tendency to cut her action off -- she was wanting to go too quickly -- and for the last three months she has had Miblish (who ran fifth in the Prince of Wales's earlier on the Royal Ascot card) as a lead horse -- he is a great walker and mover. He has taught her how to walk and get rhythm. And that rhythm has injected a bit of speed."

Rizeena took up position in midpack as Sweet Emma Rose set the pace under jockey Joel Rosario. James Doyle was a late choice to ride the two-year-old filly after Ryan Moore was named aboard Bye Bye Birdie, and sent the bay daughter of Iffraaj after the longtime leader in the final furlong. Rizeena and Doyle were in command with a 100 yards left and easily pulled away to finish two lengths in front of Sweet Emma Rose.

"I lost Ryan Moore. He was going to ride the filly until 24 hours before the race when he was claimed," Brittain explained the late jockey switch. "I rang James's agent and said that I wanted someone who could come and sit on the filly beforehand to see she was something special.

"I had to have a jockey who knew he had a chance and was not on a donkey. If you fill a jockey's mind that he has a chance then he goes out and rides with confidence. My usual Royal Ascot runner is a 33-1 chance and 500-1 if it is the Derby!

"James rode Rizeena in steady exercise with Miblish up Warren Hill and they quickened up from three to the four furlong markers and she picked him up like that. I chose the horse and the jockey!"

Doyle, who celebrated an astonishing treble Wednesday after not having a Royal Ascot winner previously, was smiling broadly afterward.

"It is just amazing. I have not really taken it all in to be honest. It is what you aspire too," he beamed. "I am very happy and thanks to all the connections who have given me the chance today -- without them it would be tough.

"I thought coming today that I would definitely have one winner -- Al Kazeem -- and I thought this filly had an outstanding chance. The Royal Hunt Cup is a bit of a lottery but it worked out. I am loving every minute."

Rizeena ran fifth in her maiden debut at Newmarket in mid-April, but got her initial win next out at Ascot. She added a three-length triumph in the National Stakes at Sandown prior to her Royal Ascot victory.

"When we saw the speed we knew she would be good enough to come here," Brittain said. "She took on the colts last time and I had no fears about that. I think she would have been a danger to the colts in the Coventry Stakes but we came here.

"If the owner agrees, the next race will be the (Group 1) Moyglare (at the Curragh), following the same route I took with Sayyedati. She will stay seven furlongs. Then she will come back for the (Group 1) Cheveley Park Stakes (at Newmarket).

"Today has proved she has got class -- she has had to make up five lengths on a very fast horse. She has had to stick her neck out and race. You don't have to win your race in the first four furlongs, rather the last one."

American trainer Wesley Ward and Newmarket-based Tim Pitt had good reason to feel a sense of relief after their fillies placed in the Queen Mary Stakes.

Ward's journey across the Atlantic would have proved rather disappointing had he not gone home with some prize money, and after Ogermeister's 15th place in Tuesday's Windsor Castle Stakes he needed a tonic. Sweet Emma Rose provided it by blitzing from the stalls and clinging on to second.

"The plan was to go like a bullet from the gate and we wanted this fast ground. That helped her, and what she lacks in talent she gains in her heart," Ward said. "She loves turf and I hope she's going on to bigger things in the future. Where that might be depends on what happens with No Nay Never (who runs in Thursday's Norfolk Stakes), because if he wins I would like to take him to France for the Prix Morny, and then I would look for another race on the card for this filly.

"We wanted to win today, but this is Royal Ascot and to have a good showing is important. After yesterday's showing by Ogermeister I was scratching my head, but this filly has got me excited again."

Pitt had a slightly different pressure, for he is still rebuilding his career after a brilliant summer with sprinter Les Arcs in 2006 was followed by a split from owner Willie McKay, who owned his training base near Doncaster. One Chance's third-place, a length behind Sweet Emma Rose, was vindication of Pitt's judgment when buying the filly for 120,000 guineas at the yearling sales last autumn.

"That is very sweet, because this filly is owned by a proper man -- Tom Burridge -- who has put a lot of faith in me," Pitt remarked. "She's not better than a Group 2 filly, but he gave me the check book and we went and bought her. He wanted an Invincible Spirit filly and she fitted the bill.

"She looked quick at the sales, and we knew that if she didn't work out as a two-year-old we would be scratching our heads. That's not to say she won't get better, but she's done the deed today by finishing placed at Royal Ascot.

"The race went as planned -- there was pace on our side and our filly is quick into her stride. Now we'll have a look at the program, but I doubt she wants to go any further. We'll probably avoid the Molecomb and look at races like the Cornwallis Stakes. With a bit more cut she would be better."

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Gale Force Ten continues the O'Briens' Royal Ascot run in Jersey

Gale Force Ten gave trainer Aidan O'Brien his third winner of Royal Ascot 2013, while the trainer's son Joseph enjoyed his second victory at the meeting, when posting a head score in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes on Wednesday.

Gale Force Ten chased the pacesetting Dont Bother Me before grabbing command with two furlongs remaining. Once in front, though, the bay son of the Oasis Dream began idling until Montiridge suddenly appeared and took a slim margin advantage. Gale Force Ten fought back to just prevail by a head on the line.

"He's a very tough horse. I was praying that someone would come to me before I got to the line because he wasn't doing a stroke (in front)," Joseph O'Brien said. "Richard (Hughes on Montiridge) actually headed me and, as soon as my horse saw him, he put his head down and fought. He was being very idle and I got to the front a mile too soon on him but he has been brave.

"He got a mile very well at the Curragh and that's why I didn't want to get back too far -- I had to keep my rhythm going. He's small but he has a big heart. He's fairly uncomplicated and you could drop him back to six furlongs. He has been running consistently well."

Gale Force Ten, the 9-2 Jersey favorite, came into the seven-furlong affair on the back of a classic second in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas behind stablemate Magician.

"He fought back well. Joseph said in an ideal world Gale Force Ten does not want to be in front as long as he was. It suited us for the horse to be challenged," Aidan O'Brien commented. "He is a very hardy horse, loves the fast ground and has plenty of pace. He had two very good runs in classics so he was entitled to win this.

"He can step back to a mile or go over six furlongs, which is unusual. Over six furlongs, he would not get to the front so early which might suit him. There are a lot of options. Mozart (2001) won this race by the same sort of distance (a neck) after being second in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas."

Magician was unable to duplicate his classic success at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, winding up ninth and last in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes.

"Magician is sore after yesterday -- he was in the wars and lost his rhythm totally," the trainer added. "He had a hard week and for him to turn up was the big thing."

Gale Force Ten's only prior win of 2013 came in the Patton Stakes at Dundalk to open his three-year-old campaign on April 5. In addition to the Guineas, he's also run fourth this season in the Group 1 French Two Thousand Guineas. Last season, Gale Force Ten finished third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.

Michael Tabor, the lead Coolmore partner in Gale Force Ten, was obviously happy with Wednesday's first group success.

"We fancied him. Obviously, he was drawn the far side, which was not a positive, but we thought that he would be good enough even though he was drawn poorly," Tabor declared. "Aidan's horses are fit and they come again and this horse had run well previously. It's been a fantastic week, a great two days so far and hopefully there is more to come."

While the Ballydoyle camp was celebrating, former champion trainer Richard Hannon and champion jockey Richard Hughes continued suffering a frustrating Royal Ascot. There is plenty of time for that to change, and their horses are running well, but they have yet to reach the winner's spot.

Toronado's very close second in Tuesday's James's Palace sums up their luck, and Montiridge matched that in the Jersey.

"We're hitting the crossbar," Hannon said with a sense of exasperation.

"He wanted more give in the ground, but he's shown today he's pretty good," he added of Montiridge. "There are a couple of group races in France we can look at, including the Prix Jean Prat. That is on June 30, only 10 days away, but he's a pretty tough horse."

Of Toronado, Hannon said, "We led him out this morning and he's fine. He lost about ten kilos, but it was a tough race. The Sussex Stakes is the obvious next race and probably the Prix Jacques Le Marois."

Hughes was suspended for one day following his ride on Montiridge, after being found guilty of careless riding. According to the ruling, he allowed Montiridge to maneuver left before being sufficiently clear of unplaced Well Acquainted. The ban is set to take place on July 3.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor was unsure about running Tawhid in the Jersey, fearing the ground would be too quick, yet the Godolphin-owned colt ran a fine race to take third while just 1 1/2 lengths behind the top two.

"He ran a huge race," bin Suroor said. "He finished the race really well, but I'm sure that on a softer surface he would have run even better. We'll look for another group race for him. He's entered in the Sussex Stakes, but we'll look at all options if it is soft enough for him."

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Gale Force Ten continues the O'Briens' Royal Ascot run in Jersey

Gale Force Ten gave trainer Aidan O'Brien his third winner of Royal Ascot 2013, while the trainer's son Joseph enjoyed his second victory at the meeting, when posting a head score in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes on Wednesday.

Gale Force Ten chased the pacesetting Dont Bother Me before grabbing command with two furlongs remaining. Once in front, though, the bay son of the Oasis Dream began idling until Montiridge suddenly appeared and took a slim margin advantage. Gale Force Ten fought back to just prevail by a head on the line.

"He's a very tough horse. I was praying that someone would come to me before I got to the line because he wasn't doing a stroke (in front)," Joseph O'Brien said. "Richard (Hughes on Montiridge) actually headed me and, as soon as my horse saw him, he put his head down and fought. He was being very idle and I got to the front a mile too soon on him but he has been brave.

"He got a mile very well at the Curragh and that's why I didn't want to get back too far -- I had to keep my rhythm going. He's small but he has a big heart. He's fairly uncomplicated and you could drop him back to six furlongs. He has been running consistently well."

Gale Force Ten, the 9-2 Jersey favorite, came into the seven-furlong affair on the back of a classic second in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas behind stablemate Magician.

"He fought back well. Joseph said in an ideal world Gale Force Ten does not want to be in front as long as he was. It suited us for the horse to be challenged," Aidan O'Brien commented. "He is a very hardy horse, loves the fast ground and has plenty of pace. He had two very good runs in classics so he was entitled to win this.

"He can step back to a mile or go over six furlongs, which is unusual. Over six furlongs, he would not get to the front so early which might suit him. There are a lot of options. Mozart (2001) won this race by the same sort of distance (a neck) after being second in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas."

Magician was unable to duplicate his classic success at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, winding up ninth and last in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes.

"Magician is sore after yesterday -- he was in the wars and lost his rhythm totally," the trainer added. "He had a hard week and for him to turn up was the big thing."

Gale Force Ten's only prior win of 2013 came in the Patton Stakes at Dundalk to open his three-year-old campaign on April 5. In addition to the Guineas, he's also run fourth this season in the Group 1 French Two Thousand Guineas. Last season, Gale Force Ten finished third in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes.

Michael Tabor, the lead Coolmore partner in Gale Force Ten, was obviously happy with Wednesday's first group success.

"We fancied him. Obviously, he was drawn the far side, which was not a positive, but we thought that he would be good enough even though he was drawn poorly," Tabor declared. "Aidan's horses are fit and they come again and this horse had run well previously. It's been a fantastic week, a great two days so far and hopefully there is more to come."

While the Ballydoyle camp was celebrating, former champion trainer Richard Hannon and champion jockey Richard Hughes continued suffering a frustrating Royal Ascot. There is plenty of time for that to change, and their horses are running well, but they have yet to reach the winner's spot.

Toronado's very close second in Tuesday's James's Palace sums up their luck, and Montiridge matched that in the Jersey.

"We're hitting the crossbar," Hannon said with a sense of exasperation.

"He wanted more give in the ground, but he's shown today he's pretty good," he added of Montiridge. "There are a couple of group races in France we can look at, including the Prix Jean Prat. That is on June 30, only 10 days away, but he's a pretty tough horse."

Of Toronado, Hannon said, "We led him out this morning and he's fine. He lost about ten kilos, but it was a tough race. The Sussex Stakes is the obvious next race and probably the Prix Jacques Le Marois."

Hughes was suspended for one day following his ride on Montiridge, after being found guilty of careless riding. According to the ruling, he allowed Montiridge to maneuver left before being sufficiently clear of unplaced Well Acquainted. The ban is set to take place on July 3.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor was unsure about running Tawhid in the Jersey, fearing the ground would be too quick, yet the Godolphin-owned colt ran a fine race to take third while just 1 1/2 lengths behind the top two.

"He ran a huge race," bin Suroor said. "He finished the race really well, but I'm sure that on a softer surface he would have run even better. We'll look for another group race for him. He's entered in the Sussex Stakes, but we'll look at all options if it is soft enough for him."

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Belgian Bill, Annecdote triumph in Royal Ascot handicaps

Wiltshire trainer George Baker and Upper Lambourn conditioner Jonathan Portman each earned their first Royal Ascot win on Wednesday when Belgian Bill landed the Royal Hunt Cup and Annecdote captured the Sandringham Handicap.

Belgian Bill not only gave Baker his first Royal Ascot score, but continued jockey James Doyle's remarkable success with a second Royal meeting victory just 35 minutes after his first aboard Al Kazeem in the Group 1 Princes of Wales's.

Baker was actually visiting the Royal Hunt Cup winner's enclosure again after making an appearance seven years ago while working as a reporter for the defunct Sportsman newspaper. Now based at Manton, which is also home to his training colleague Brian Meehan, his training career is proving rather more durable.

"I was in this spot six or seven years ago -- but who won this race on that occasion? I can't remember, but I'm sure I wrote a brilliant article about it!" Baker laughed.

"He's been a fantastic old handicapper and has taken us to all the right places," the trainer continued about Belgian Bill. "You dream of winning a big one, and while it's a cliche that is often said of these horses, he deserved to win one.

"He's been around the world for us and a great standard bearer for the yard. I've only been training for four and a half to five years and to have a horse like this is what you dream of."

Doyle kept Belgian Bill held up toward the rear before allowing his mount to close with two furlongs remaining in the mile contest. The duo just got up in the final furlong to pull out the three-quarter length victory over Premio Loco.

"I was nervous when they split into two (Belgian Bill raced with a small group on the far side), but at halfway the side-on shot showed we were just ahead and still traveling," Baker said. "This horse just loves getting into a bit of trouble in running and when he was stopped a couple of times that would have suited him. A race like that for old horses is a bit of fun and they seem to thrive on it.

"Being dropped in the handicap has clearly helped and at a competitive level he had a big one in him. Where do we go now? I don't care! This is a career highlight -- the move to Manton has taken us to the next level and you want horses on the bigger stages. To do this at a place like this is beyond your wildest, but it hasn't sunk in yet."

"He was well-fancied for this race last year -- he was nearly favorite -- and he has dropped down the weights a lot," Doyle said. "He ran some good races out in Dubai and I thought if he reproduced that form, we would have a chance of getting in the frame.

"The race worked out perfectly. I was able to keep him interested the whole way through, putting him in little gaps and helping him travel. He quickened up well and I was a little bit unlucky because I got stopped a little bit but I think he probably enjoyed it.

"I was happy with my draw. I know that the bulk of the field merged over towards the stands' rail but I was happy where I was."

Portman will never forget the filly Annecdote, who became his first Royal Ascot winner when taking the Sandringham with Richard Kingscote aboard.

Annecdote prevailed in a tight finish, beating Auction and Woodland Aria by a neck apiece. The winner is owned by 94-year-old Tom Edwards and partners, who had turned down a number of offers to buy the filly in order to be with her at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. The partners include the Pertemps Group, which bought a quarter-share in the filly when she was offered at a Starlight Foundation Charity auction last year.

"This feels rather nice. She's a very gutsy filly," said Portman, who moved to his current yard last autumn. "When we looked at the program book back in February this race was the plan, but she ran rather disappointingly at Goodwood first time out this season over a mile, so we ditched the plan temporarily because it looked as though she didn't stay. However, my horses were not quite right, she had a bad draw and ran a bit freely.

"We took her to Newbury over seven furlongs and she scooted up in a very good time looking as if she would stay so we said let's give the Sandringham a go -- and here we are. It's extraordinary.

"When we first moved to Upper Lambourn we went about eight months without a winner, but the idea of moving to a bigger yard was to raise our profile and attract some more owners, and this hopefully might just help.

"We could go to Goodwood with her, but any thoughts I had of going for a nice handicap have probably been blown."

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Gold Cup draws 18 to go 2 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot

Despite Andre Fabre's significant haul of big-race wins, the Group 1 Gold Cup is missing at present, and Khalid Abdullah's Last Train could relieve that burden in Thursday's wide-open renewal at Royal Ascot.

Always highly thought of by connections, the Rail Link homebred was a head second in his black-type bow in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and just over a length third in the Group 2 Prix Niel going 12 furlongs at Longchamp in July and September, respectively. He is ground-dependant, as he showed when flopping in third in that track's Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier on soft ground last out on May 26, and may be better judged by his previous win in the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville there four weeks earlier.

"If the going remains good or better, I think Last Train has a great chance," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said of the half-brother to Frankel's dam. "It was bottomless last time and we know he goes much better on fast ground. He's always looked like a stayer and although two and a half miles finds everybody out, he was second in a Grand Prix de Paris and I think he's got a bit of class."

Past Gold Cup champions have a fine record when returning of late and 2010 hero Rite of Passage demands the utmost respect. Despite being a nine-year-old, Dr. Ronan Lambe's dual-purpose performer has only made the track a dozen times under both codes and is a shining example of Dermot Weld's ability as a trainer. The son of Giant's Causeway made only one outing last year, and it turned out to be a dramatic victory in the Group 3 British Champions Long Distance Cup going two miles at Asoct so the demands of this 2 1/2-mile trip will hold no fears for him.

Another who has conquered before is Godolphin's Colour Vision and his subsequent five-race winless sequence sees him wearing a visor for the first time.

There is no doubt that success for The Queen's Estimate would be a momentous occasion, and Sir Michael Stoute has brought her along with this one target in mind. Beating the colts in the Group 3 Queen's Vase 12 months ago, the Monsun half-sister to 1999 Gold Cup hero Enzeli looked in rude health when returning to capture the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over the same track and trip last out on May 1.

In an edition with a true European flavor, another French contender is Jorge Vasicek's Top Trip, who is sent across by the wily Francois Doumen and looked in need of farther when second in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup going 14 furlongs last out on May 17.

"I think the (soft) ground was the reason he ran so cool during the race at York," his trainer told PA Sport. "It shows how good he is that he was still nearly able to win. He should run a proper race, he has improved a lot since York, his rating has gone up a long way anyway. I think he will stay, he's so relaxed he should stay forever."

German representation is few and far between at this meeting, but Andreas Wohler has two live shots to aim at the race in Altano and Earl of Tinsdal. Despite finishing third behind his stablemate in the Group 3 Oleander-Rennen going two miles at Hoppegarten last out on May 19, Earl of Tinsdal is four pounds better off here for a 1 3/4-length defeat and has a touch of class as a dual Group 1 winner.

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Belgian Bill, Annecdote triumph in Royal Ascot handicaps

Wiltshire trainer George Baker and Upper Lambourn conditioner Jonathan Portman each earned their first Royal Ascot win on Wednesday when Belgian Bill landed the Royal Hunt Cup and Annecdote captured the Sandringham Handicap.

Belgian Bill not only gave Baker his first Royal Ascot score, but continued jockey James Doyle's remarkable success with a second Royal meeting victory just 35 minutes after his first aboard Al Kazeem in the Group 1 Princes of Wales's.

Baker was actually visiting the Royal Hunt Cup winner's enclosure again after making an appearance seven years ago while working as a reporter for the defunct Sportsman newspaper. Now based at Manton, which is also home to his training colleague Brian Meehan, his training career is proving rather more durable.

"I was in this spot six or seven years ago -- but who won this race on that occasion? I can't remember, but I'm sure I wrote a brilliant article about it!" Baker laughed.

"He's been a fantastic old handicapper and has taken us to all the right places," the trainer continued about Belgian Bill. "You dream of winning a big one, and while it's a cliche that is often said of these horses, he deserved to win one.

"He's been around the world for us and a great standard bearer for the yard. I've only been training for four and a half to five years and to have a horse like this is what you dream of."

Doyle kept Belgian Bill held up toward the rear before allowing his mount to close with two furlongs remaining in the mile contest. The duo just got up in the final furlong to pull out the three-quarter length victory over Premio Loco.

"I was nervous when they split into two (Belgian Bill raced with a small group on the far side), but at halfway the side-on shot showed we were just ahead and still traveling," Baker said. "This horse just loves getting into a bit of trouble in running and when he was stopped a couple of times that would have suited him. A race like that for old horses is a bit of fun and they seem to thrive on it.

"Being dropped in the handicap has clearly helped and at a competitive level he had a big one in him. Where do we go now? I don't care! This is a career highlight -- the move to Manton has taken us to the next level and you want horses on the bigger stages. To do this at a place like this is beyond your wildest, but it hasn't sunk in yet."

"He was well-fancied for this race last year -- he was nearly favorite -- and he has dropped down the weights a lot," Doyle said. "He ran some good races out in Dubai and I thought if he reproduced that form, we would have a chance of getting in the frame.

"The race worked out perfectly. I was able to keep him interested the whole way through, putting him in little gaps and helping him travel. He quickened up well and I was a little bit unlucky because I got stopped a little bit but I think he probably enjoyed it.

"I was happy with my draw. I know that the bulk of the field merged over towards the stands' rail but I was happy where I was."

Portman will never forget the filly Annecdote, who became his first Royal Ascot winner when taking the Sandringham with Richard Kingscote aboard.

Annecdote prevailed in a tight finish, beating Auction and Woodland Aria by a neck apiece. The winner is owned by 94-year-old Tom Edwards and partners, who had turned down a number of offers to buy the filly in order to be with her at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. The partners include the Pertemps Group, which bought a quarter-share in the filly when she was offered at a Starlight Foundation Charity auction last year.

"This feels rather nice. She's a very gutsy filly," said Portman, who moved to his current yard last autumn. "When we looked at the program book back in February this race was the plan, but she ran rather disappointingly at Goodwood first time out this season over a mile, so we ditched the plan temporarily because it looked as though she didn't stay. However, my horses were not quite right, she had a bad draw and ran a bit freely.

"We took her to Newbury over seven furlongs and she scooted up in a very good time looking as if she would stay so we said let's give the Sandringham a go -- and here we are. It's extraordinary.

"When we first moved to Upper Lambourn we went about eight months without a winner, but the idea of moving to a bigger yard was to raise our profile and attract some more owners, and this hopefully might just help.

"We could go to Goodwood with her, but any thoughts I had of going for a nice handicap have probably been blown."

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The Lark seeking first stakes win in Ribblesdale; Coach House tops Coventry

While the Group 1 Gold Cup is the highlight of Royal Ascot on Thursday, three other group contests will have their turn in the spotlight as well.

The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes comes quickly after the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, and several who took part in that classic have failed when seeking compensation, so The Lark is up against it on the stats.

Third after meeting typical traffic in that May 31 classic, Lady Bamford's Pivotal relative of the brilliant Sariska had previously finished third behind the re-opposing Winsili and subsequent black-type winner Cruck Realta in Newbury's listed Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial on May 17.

Winsili carries the Juddmonte second colors here despite that win, with Lady Cecil's Riposte sporting the pink cap. The latter is by Dansili and out of Rainbow Lake, making her a three-parts sister to Kind and therefore immensely significant to Khalid Abdullah's operation. She is not just about her pedigree, however, and showed talent when beating subsequent winner Auld Alliance in a 12-furlong maiden at Newmarket on May 17.

It is surprising that Aidan O'Brien is stepping Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier's Group 3 winner and Group 1 Irish One Thousand Guineas third Just Pretending up so markedly in trip, but there is stamina in the Giant's Causeway filly's pedigree and the move must be respected.

"The Giant's Causeways just get better and better if you give them time, and she was hard to load at first but has matured and stepped up a lot when the hood went on," her conditioner said. "She ran a great race in the Guineas, and while a mile and a half might be a bit far, we'll find out."

Also from Ireland is Sue-Ann Foley's listed Salsabil Stakes winner Alive Alive Oh, and her six-length dismissal of Magical Dream in that 10-furlong Navan contest was made to look better after the runner-up went close to winning Sunday's Group 3 Noblesse Stakes.

"She's the main stable hope at the meeting and is in good order, so all being well she should run a big race," trainer Tommy Stack's son Fozzy commented.

If the Group 2 Coventry Stakes is anything to go by, O'Brien obviously has a deep pool of juvenile talent again in 2013 and Thursday's Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot offers more opportunity for Ballydoyle to enjoy extra time in the limelight.

Magnier, Tabor and Smith's Coach House fits the bill as clear favorite for this year's edition, having followed an impressive May 2 Tipperary maiden win with a battling score in The Curragh's listed Marble Hill Stakes over Thursday's five-furlong trip 23 days later. The runner-up that day, Club Wexford, has since boosted the form, and the Irish two-year-olds look strong again this season.

Of the home-trained colts, William Haggas saddles a live one in Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Saayerr, who beat subsequent listed-placed Sacha Park in his May 23 debut at Salisbury before following up at Windsor on June 3 from Lilbourne, who has boosted that form by winning in the interim.

As usual, Richard Hannon has strong chances with Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's dual winner Legend Rising and Lord Vestey's impressive Leicester maiden scorer Coulsty.

"Lord Vestey asked us to buy him one for Royal Ascot, so let's hope the plan works out," he said. "Legend Rising drops back in trip, having won easily over six at Chepstow last week, but this is a stiff five and he is not short of pace."

Two others who impressed on debut are David Armstrong's May 18 Doncaster maiden scorer Eccleston, and Paul Shanahan and Ice Wine Stable's No Nay Never, another from Wesley Ward's raiding party who dominated a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over Keeneland's Polytrack on April 26.

Thursday's Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot offers the opportunity for a pair of classic also-rans to re-establish their reputations in Van Der Neer and Chopin.

Off the board in the Group 1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas at The Curragh on May 25 and Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 1, respectively, they had previously shone when third in the Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket on May 4 and when successful in Krefeld's Group 3 Dr Busch-Memorial on April 21, respectively.

Hannon is hopeful that Van Der Neer will come into his own over this extra distance, and put his experience of the top level to maximum effect against some unexposed colts on the rise.

"Van der Neer did not do a tap in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and he has also been hanging back in his subsequent gallops at home, so we have decided he needs an alarm call," he explained. "We did not go for the full blinkers as they could set him alight running downhill, but the cheek pieces might just wake him up. We know he has the class, and we think that this step up to 10 furlongs is what he wants."

One of the potential top-notchers lurking in the field is Khalid Abdullah's Remote, a son of the 2002 Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda, who put subsequent listed winner Baltic Knight to the sword in a mile handicap at Doncaster last out on June 1.

"Remote is a much-improved horse who won really nicely at Doncaster, and I really like his chance," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Elkaayed is another with blue blood coursing through his veins, and the Distorted Humor son of the high-class Habibti is ready to start building a formidable reputation of his own based on his impressive success in a conditions event over an extended 10 furlongs at Doncaster last out on June 1.

"Elkaayed has done nothing wrong and is a colt on the up," trainer Roger Varian remarked. "He continues to do well and I have been very pleased with his work since Doncaster. The race looks very competitive, but I hope Elkaayed will prove that he is up to this level."

O'Brien puts a hood on Smith, Magnier and Tabor's Indian Chief after he appeared to hang fire at the finish of the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York last out on May 16. The form of that Derby trial has been significantly boosted by the subsequent exploits of Libertarian and Trading Leather, and the Ballydoyle representative will be a major player if the headgear works the oracle.

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Gold Cup draws 18 to go 2 1/2 miles at Royal Ascot

Despite Andre Fabre's significant haul of big-race wins, the Group 1 Gold Cup is missing at present, and Khalid Abdullah's Last Train could relieve that burden in Thursday's wide-open renewal at Royal Ascot.

Always highly thought of by connections, the Rail Link homebred was a head second in his black-type bow in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and just over a length third in the Group 2 Prix Niel going 12 furlongs at Longchamp in July and September, respectively. He is ground-dependant, as he showed when flopping in third in that track's Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier on soft ground last out on May 26, and may be better judged by his previous win in the Group 3 Prix de Barbeville there four weeks earlier.

"If the going remains good or better, I think Last Train has a great chance," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said of the half-brother to Frankel's dam. "It was bottomless last time and we know he goes much better on fast ground. He's always looked like a stayer and although two and a half miles finds everybody out, he was second in a Grand Prix de Paris and I think he's got a bit of class."

Past Gold Cup champions have a fine record when returning of late and 2010 hero Rite of Passage demands the utmost respect. Despite being a nine-year-old, Dr. Ronan Lambe's dual-purpose performer has only made the track a dozen times under both codes and is a shining example of Dermot Weld's ability as a trainer. The son of Giant's Causeway made only one outing last year, and it turned out to be a dramatic victory in the Group 3 British Champions Long Distance Cup going two miles at Asoct so the demands of this 2 1/2-mile trip will hold no fears for him.

Another who has conquered before is Godolphin's Colour Vision and his subsequent five-race winless sequence sees him wearing a visor for the first time.

There is no doubt that success for The Queen's Estimate would be a momentous occasion, and Sir Michael Stoute has brought her along with this one target in mind. Beating the colts in the Group 3 Queen's Vase 12 months ago, the Monsun half-sister to 1999 Gold Cup hero Enzeli looked in rude health when returning to capture the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes over the same track and trip last out on May 1.

In an edition with a true European flavor, another French contender is Jorge Vasicek's Top Trip, who is sent across by the wily Francois Doumen and looked in need of farther when second in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup going 14 furlongs last out on May 17.

"I think the (soft) ground was the reason he ran so cool during the race at York," his trainer told PA Sport. "It shows how good he is that he was still nearly able to win. He should run a proper race, he has improved a lot since York, his rating has gone up a long way anyway. I think he will stay, he's so relaxed he should stay forever."

German representation is few and far between at this meeting, but Andreas Wohler has two live shots to aim at the race in Altano and Earl of Tinsdal. Despite finishing third behind his stablemate in the Group 3 Oleander-Rennen going two miles at Hoppegarten last out on May 19, Earl of Tinsdal is four pounds better off here for a 1 3/4-length defeat and has a touch of class as a dual Group 1 winner.

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Dreaming of Julia faces four in Mother Goose

Dreaming of Julia will try to return to the form that saw her dominate the GP Oaks (Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos) Dreaming of Julia rolled to an eye-popping 21 3/4-length victory in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks to earn a 107 BRIS Speed figure, which is by far and away tops among the field of five entered in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. Off her scintillating Gulfstream Park victory, the daughter of A.P. Indy was made the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, but endured a nightmare trip and finished fourth behind stablemate Princess of Sylmar. It was the first time in seven career starts that the Todd Pletcher trainee had been off the board, and she'll look to regain the winning thread as the 1-2 morning-line favorite in the 57th edition of the Mother Goose. "I don't really think she lost any credibility in the Oaks because she was annihilated at the start, and if that wasn't bad enough, she got stopped later in the race," Pletcher asserted. "I thought she ran very well in the race, considering everything she tried to overcome, and we're hoping to get her back on course." A winner of both her starts at Belmont -- the overnight Meadow Star Stakes by 16 1/4 lengths and the Frizette by a head as a two-year-old -- Dreaming of Julia drew post position 2 for the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose. Her regular jockey, Hall of Famer John Velazquez, will ride.

Heading the challengers is Close Hatches, second in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont last out following a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks. Unraced at two, the First Defence filly won her initial three starts, including the Gazelle at Aqueduct over Princess of Sylmar, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Joel Rosario will ride Close Hatches, who is the 7-2 second choice on the Mother Goose morning line, from post position 3.

Trainer Tom Albertrani, who won last year's Mother Goose with Zo Impressive, returns Saturday with Toasting. The Florida-bred daughter of Congrats is 1-0-2 from three starts this year, including a third-place finish in the Black-Eyed Susan on May 17 at Pimlico when outfitted with blinkers.

"She ran a good race (in the Black-Eyed Susan), she was a good third," said Albertrani, who sent Toasting out Wednesday morning for a four-furlong breeze in :49 4/5 over Belmont's fast main track. "It looked like the blinkers helped a little bit and put her a little closer into the race, and she seems to have bounced back OK."

At 12-1 on the morning line, Toasting will leave from post position 4 with Luis Saez aboard.

Marathon Lady will be shipping in as she seeks her first graded stakes score after a third and a pair of seconds, including a neck loss in the Black-Eyed Susan last out.

"I think she's progressing and moving forward with each race," trainer Steve Hobby said of the Graeme Hall filly. "She's maturing all the time, and getting bigger and stronger. Of course, beating Dreaming of Julia is going to take some doing -- she'll probably have to beat herself -- but it's a Grade 1 race and a small field, so why not take a chance?"

Robby Albarado will ride Marathon Lady, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line, from the rail.

Completing the field is Sister State, who is 1-1-0 in four races this year. The A.P. Indy filly, who broke her maiden on May 3, will be making her first start on Lasix after finishing eighth by 22 1/4 lengths in an optional claimer most recently.

"Her last race looks worse on paper than it actually was," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin stated. "We think she'll improve off that. We'd be over the moon to hit the board, and this is too good of an opportunity to pass up."

Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for Sister State's maiden score and takes back the mount on the 20-1 morning-line longshot from post position 5.

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The Lark seeking first stakes win in Ribblesdale; Coach House tops Coventry

While the Group 1 Gold Cup is the highlight of Royal Ascot on Thursday, three other group contests will have their turn in the spotlight as well.

The Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes comes quickly after the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, and several who took part in that classic have failed when seeking compensation, so The Lark is up against it on the stats.

Third after meeting typical traffic in that May 31 classic, Lady Bamford's Pivotal relative of the brilliant Sariska had previously finished third behind the re-opposing Winsili and subsequent black-type winner Cruck Realta in Newbury's listed Swettenham Stud Fillies' Trial on May 17.

Winsili carries the Juddmonte second colors here despite that win, with Lady Cecil's Riposte sporting the pink cap. The latter is by Dansili and out of Rainbow Lake, making her a three-parts sister to Kind and therefore immensely significant to Khalid Abdullah's operation. She is not just about her pedigree, however, and showed talent when beating subsequent winner Auld Alliance in a 12-furlong maiden at Newmarket on May 17.

It is surprising that Aidan O'Brien is stepping Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier's Group 3 winner and Group 1 Irish One Thousand Guineas third Just Pretending up so markedly in trip, but there is stamina in the Giant's Causeway filly's pedigree and the move must be respected.

"The Giant's Causeways just get better and better if you give them time, and she was hard to load at first but has matured and stepped up a lot when the hood went on," her conditioner said. "She ran a great race in the Guineas, and while a mile and a half might be a bit far, we'll find out."

Also from Ireland is Sue-Ann Foley's listed Salsabil Stakes winner Alive Alive Oh, and her six-length dismissal of Magical Dream in that 10-furlong Navan contest was made to look better after the runner-up went close to winning Sunday's Group 3 Noblesse Stakes.

"She's the main stable hope at the meeting and is in good order, so all being well she should run a big race," trainer Tommy Stack's son Fozzy commented.

If the Group 2 Coventry Stakes is anything to go by, O'Brien obviously has a deep pool of juvenile talent again in 2013 and Thursday's Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot offers more opportunity for Ballydoyle to enjoy extra time in the limelight.

Magnier, Tabor and Smith's Coach House fits the bill as clear favorite for this year's edition, having followed an impressive May 2 Tipperary maiden win with a battling score in The Curragh's listed Marble Hill Stakes over Thursday's five-furlong trip 23 days later. The runner-up that day, Club Wexford, has since boosted the form, and the Irish two-year-olds look strong again this season.

Of the home-trained colts, William Haggas saddles a live one in Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Saayerr, who beat subsequent listed-placed Sacha Park in his May 23 debut at Salisbury before following up at Windsor on June 3 from Lilbourne, who has boosted that form by winning in the interim.

As usual, Richard Hannon has strong chances with Mohamed Saeed Al Shahi's dual winner Legend Rising and Lord Vestey's impressive Leicester maiden scorer Coulsty.

"Lord Vestey asked us to buy him one for Royal Ascot, so let's hope the plan works out," he said. "Legend Rising drops back in trip, having won easily over six at Chepstow last week, but this is a stiff five and he is not short of pace."

Two others who impressed on debut are David Armstrong's May 18 Doncaster maiden scorer Eccleston, and Paul Shanahan and Ice Wine Stable's No Nay Never, another from Wesley Ward's raiding party who dominated a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over Keeneland's Polytrack on April 26.

Thursday's Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot offers the opportunity for a pair of classic also-rans to re-establish their reputations in Van Der Neer and Chopin.

Off the board in the Group 1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas at The Curragh on May 25 and Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 1, respectively, they had previously shone when third in the Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket on May 4 and when successful in Krefeld's Group 3 Dr Busch-Memorial on April 21, respectively.

Hannon is hopeful that Van Der Neer will come into his own over this extra distance, and put his experience of the top level to maximum effect against some unexposed colts on the rise.

"Van der Neer did not do a tap in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and he has also been hanging back in his subsequent gallops at home, so we have decided he needs an alarm call," he explained. "We did not go for the full blinkers as they could set him alight running downhill, but the cheek pieces might just wake him up. We know he has the class, and we think that this step up to 10 furlongs is what he wants."

One of the potential top-notchers lurking in the field is Khalid Abdullah's Remote, a son of the 2002 Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Zenda, who put subsequent listed winner Baltic Knight to the sword in a mile handicap at Doncaster last out on June 1.

"Remote is a much-improved horse who won really nicely at Doncaster, and I really like his chance," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe said.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Elkaayed is another with blue blood coursing through his veins, and the Distorted Humor son of the high-class Habibti is ready to start building a formidable reputation of his own based on his impressive success in a conditions event over an extended 10 furlongs at Doncaster last out on June 1.

"Elkaayed has done nothing wrong and is a colt on the up," trainer Roger Varian remarked. "He continues to do well and I have been very pleased with his work since Doncaster. The race looks very competitive, but I hope Elkaayed will prove that he is up to this level."

O'Brien puts a hood on Smith, Magnier and Tabor's Indian Chief after he appeared to hang fire at the finish of the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York last out on May 16. The form of that Derby trial has been significantly boosted by the subsequent exploits of Libertarian and Trading Leather, and the Ballydoyle representative will be a major player if the headgear works the oracle.

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Iotapa, Ciao Bella Luna meet again in Hollywood Oaks

A winner in three of four starts, Iotapa is seeking her first graded victory (Benoit Photo) The seven-furlong Railbird Stakes on May 19 serves as a key prep for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Hollywood Oaks, with top two finishers Iotapa and Ciao Bella Luna highlighting a short field of five in the 1 1/16-mile contest. Iotapa, who was claimed for $50,000 from a winning debut last June at Hollywood, returned from a lengthy layoff with an optional claiming win at Santa Anita in mid-February and then sustained her first setback with a respectable second to Beholder in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 6, finishing one spot better than subsequent Black-Eyed Susan winner Fiftyshadesofhay. The daughter of Afleet Alex cutback in trip for the Railbird and posted a comfortable 1 1/4-length score as the 7-5 favorite. Trained by John Sadler, who captured the 2010 and 2011 editions with Switch and Zazu, Iotapa will retain the services of Joe Talamo.

Ciao Bella Luna will look to improve upon her Railbird effort after getting off to a tardy beginning and closing belatedly for runner-up honors. The sophomore daughter of Tribal Rule did not show much when making her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the March 9 China Doll on turf, but the bay lass stamped herself as one to watch when shipping to Keeneland for a convincing score in the Grade 2 Beaumont on April 14. Corey Nakatani has the assignment.

Hollendorfer will also send out Doinghardtimeagain, who exits a pair of victories over California-bred rivals in the Melair and Evening Jewel. The dark bay filly possesses a three for three mark on the Cushion Track and the services of Rafael Bejarano.

Ondine will look to stretch her win skein to three while making her stakes debut for Bob Baffert, taking an April 12 maiden special weight event at Santa Anita and a May 11 entry-level allowance at Hollywood, and recent maiden winner Unbridled Wee rounds out the field.

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Dreaming of Julia faces four in Mother Goose

Dreaming of Julia will try to return to the form that saw her dominate the GP Oaks (Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos) Dreaming of Julia rolled to an eye-popping 21 3/4-length victory in the March 30 Gulfstream Park Oaks to earn a 107 BRIS Speed figure, which is by far and away tops among the field of five entered in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park. Off her scintillating Gulfstream Park victory, the daughter of A.P. Indy was made the favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, but endured a nightmare trip and finished fourth behind stablemate Princess of Sylmar. It was the first time in seven career starts that the Todd Pletcher trainee had been off the board, and she'll look to regain the winning thread as the 1-2 morning-line favorite in the 57th edition of the Mother Goose. "I don't really think she lost any credibility in the Oaks because she was annihilated at the start, and if that wasn't bad enough, she got stopped later in the race," Pletcher asserted. "I thought she ran very well in the race, considering everything she tried to overcome, and we're hoping to get her back on course." A winner of both her starts at Belmont -- the overnight Meadow Star Stakes by 16 1/4 lengths and the Frizette by a head as a two-year-old -- Dreaming of Julia drew post position 2 for the 1 1/16-mile Mother Goose. Her regular jockey, Hall of Famer John Velazquez, will ride.

Heading the challengers is Close Hatches, second in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont last out following a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks. Unraced at two, the First Defence filly won her initial three starts, including the Gazelle at Aqueduct over Princess of Sylmar, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

Joel Rosario will ride Close Hatches, who is the 7-2 second choice on the Mother Goose morning line, from post position 3.

Trainer Tom Albertrani, who won last year's Mother Goose with Zo Impressive, returns Saturday with Toasting. The Florida-bred daughter of Congrats is 1-0-2 from three starts this year, including a third-place finish in the Black-Eyed Susan on May 17 at Pimlico when outfitted with blinkers.

"She ran a good race (in the Black-Eyed Susan), she was a good third," said Albertrani, who sent Toasting out Wednesday morning for a four-furlong breeze in :49 4/5 over Belmont's fast main track. "It looked like the blinkers helped a little bit and put her a little closer into the race, and she seems to have bounced back OK."

At 12-1 on the morning line, Toasting will leave from post position 4 with Luis Saez aboard.

Marathon Lady will be shipping in as she seeks her first graded stakes score after a third and a pair of seconds, including a neck loss in the Black-Eyed Susan last out.

"I think she's progressing and moving forward with each race," trainer Steve Hobby said of the Graeme Hall filly. "She's maturing all the time, and getting bigger and stronger. Of course, beating Dreaming of Julia is going to take some doing -- she'll probably have to beat herself -- but it's a Grade 1 race and a small field, so why not take a chance?"

Robby Albarado will ride Marathon Lady, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line, from the rail.

Completing the field is Sister State, who is 1-1-0 in four races this year. The A.P. Indy filly, who broke her maiden on May 3, will be making her first start on Lasix after finishing eighth by 22 1/4 lengths in an optional claimer most recently.

"Her last race looks worse on paper than it actually was," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin stated. "We think she'll improve off that. We'd be over the moon to hit the board, and this is too good of an opportunity to pass up."

Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard for Sister State's maiden score and takes back the mount on the 20-1 morning-line longshot from post position 5.

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Atigun the one to beat in Colonial Turf Cup; Channel Lady heads All Along

Channel Lady invades Colonial Downs for top trainer Todd Pletcher (Courtney Heeney/Adam Conglianese Photo) Atigun returned to the turf two starts back, defeating a salty group of optional claiming rivals on the Kentucky Derby undercard, and just missed with a rallying second in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap on May 25. The Kenny McPeek-trained colt will seek his first stakes victory when he lines up for Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs. A four-year-old son of Istan, Atigun displayed decent class on the main track last season, finishing third in both the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Marathon, and filled the same spot when making his second start of 2013 in the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn Park. However, his form has improved noticeably since switching to turf, registering BRIS Speed ratings 110 and 106 in his last two starts, and Saturday's 1 3/16-mile distance looks like a perfect fit for the long-winded bay.

In the 1 1/2-mile Louisville, Atigun dropped too far back during the early stages and lost plenty of ground on the far turn while the winner was perfectly positioned throughout.

"He had a terrible trip," McPeek said of narrow runner-up finish. "I think he was several lengths the best horse."

Julien Leparoux, who missed the Louisville after riding Atigun two starts back, will be in for the mount aboard the likely favorite.

Swift Warrior exits a dead-heat seventh in the Grade 2 Dixie on the Preakness undercard, but the chestnut recorded consecutive wins in the Grade 3 John B. Connelly and Grade 3 Tampa Bay prior to that setback and merits respect Saturday for trainer John Terranova. Jose Espinoza, who missed the Dixie, regains the mount on the five-year-old.

Air Support likes the turf at Colonial Downs, winning the 2011 Virginia Derby and finishing second in last year's Turf Cup, and the well-bred son of Smart Strike will be making his third start off the layoff for trainer Shug McGaughey. He's lost both attempts this season but did not run poorly when finishing third and fourth against solid allowance/optional claiming fields at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, respectively. Javier Castellano rides.

Two Notch Road, third in the 2010 Colonial Turf Cup, made it back from a 2 1/2-year layoff this spring and the six-year-old gelding will look to capitalize upon an encouraging third in the Grade 2 Monmouth last out. Other runners include General Logan, who will return to stakes company for Graham Motion following a convincing allowance tally at Pimlico in his 2013 bow; and Hyper, who exits a runner-up in the May 15 Good Reward at Belmont for Chad Brown.

Colonial Downs will also offer the Grade 3, $100,000 All Along for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf and trainer Todd Pletcher will send out the leading candidate, Channel Lady. After recording her first stakes tally at Aqueduct last fall, the English Channel filly opened her four-year-old season with a close second in the Grade 3 Marshua's River and then captured the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park. She's been facing better rivals in her last two starts, finishing fourth each time behind Centre Court and Stephanie's Kitten, and Channel Lady figures to appreciate class relief against six challengers on Saturday.

Castellano rides the 124-pound top weight.

Adjacent, Appealing Cat and Embarr are the main rivals.

The stakes action kicks off with the $75,000 Da Hoss at a mile on turf and Hudson Steele is the top draw in the seven-horse field. A Grade 2 winner last season, the six-year-old gelding will be making his first start for Pletcher since a sixth in the Grade 1 Man 'o War 11 months ago.

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Iotapa, Ciao Bella Luna meet again in Hollywood Oaks

A winner in three of four starts, Iotapa is seeking her first graded victory (Benoit Photo) The seven-furlong Railbird Stakes on May 19 serves as a key prep for Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Hollywood Oaks, with top two finishers Iotapa and Ciao Bella Luna highlighting a short field of five in the 1 1/16-mile contest. Iotapa, who was claimed for $50,000 from a winning debut last June at Hollywood, returned from a lengthy layoff with an optional claiming win at Santa Anita in mid-February and then sustained her first setback with a respectable second to Beholder in the Santa Anita Oaks on April 6, finishing one spot better than subsequent Black-Eyed Susan winner Fiftyshadesofhay. The daughter of Afleet Alex cutback in trip for the Railbird and posted a comfortable 1 1/4-length score as the 7-5 favorite. Trained by John Sadler, who captured the 2010 and 2011 editions with Switch and Zazu, Iotapa will retain the services of Joe Talamo.

Ciao Bella Luna will look to improve upon her Railbird effort after getting off to a tardy beginning and closing belatedly for runner-up honors. The sophomore daughter of Tribal Rule did not show much when making her first start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the March 9 China Doll on turf, but the bay lass stamped herself as one to watch when shipping to Keeneland for a convincing score in the Grade 2 Beaumont on April 14. Corey Nakatani has the assignment.

Hollendorfer will also send out Doinghardtimeagain, who exits a pair of victories over California-bred rivals in the Melair and Evening Jewel. The dark bay filly possesses a three for three mark on the Cushion Track and the services of Rafael Bejarano.

Ondine will look to stretch her win skein to three while making her stakes debut for Bob Baffert, taking an April 12 maiden special weight event at Santa Anita and a May 11 entry-level allowance at Hollywood, and recent maiden winner Unbridled Wee rounds out the field.

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Kay named president and CEO of NYRA

Christopher Kay was named president and CEO of The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) following unanimous approval by its Board of Directors at a meeting on Tuesday. The appointment is effective as of July 1.

Kay, 60, most recently served as COO for The Trust for Public Land, where he oversaw the operations of the land conservation organization's headquarters and 37 field offices. Prior to that, Kay was a consultant to Universal Parks & Resorts, serving as its Managing Director of International Business Development.

From 2001-2006, Kay served as the Chief Operating Officer for Toys 'R' Us, a Fortune 200 international company, and prior to that he was the retailer's Executive Vice President of Operations and General Counsel. Kay was also a minority owner of Orlando's AA baseball team and a member of the ownership group that sought to obtain the first MLB franchise in Florida.

Kay is a graduate of the University of Missouri and of the Duke University School of Law.

"After a careful search involving many highly qualified candidates, we are delighted to select Chris as our new president and CEO," NYRA Chair David J. Skorton said. "His wide range of expertise and skills -- including experience in the legal, regulatory and corporate governance environments -- will serve him extremely well in his new position at NYRA."

"Chris's unique blend of experience in retail, theme parks, sports and legal helped set him apart during this extensive search," NYRA Board member and Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee Michael Del Giudice said. "We look forward to working with him as NYRA moves forward in the months and years ahead."

"I am confident that we have found the right person to lead NYRA forward," said Board Member Stuart S. Janney III, who was also a member of the search committee for the vacant CEO position.

"Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated the type of leadership and strategic vision so crucial to NYRA's future success."

"Chris has a thorough understanding of the need to develop and drive brand strategies in a competitive and ever-changing environment," said Board member Jane Rosenthal, who was also a member of the CEO search committee. "He supported and enhanced the Toys ‘R' Us brand in every country in which it did business and sought to introduce the Universal Studios theme park brand to new countries as its Managing Director."

"Though he has had no direct involvement with Thoroughbred racing, Chris is familiar with the sport and will make great use of the outstanding team in place that has successfully guided NYRA through the past month and a half -- a period that included the 145th Belmont Stakes," Board and search committee member Bobby Flay said. "Chris's arrival will bring new ideas and synergies to our organization that will benefit NYRA, horsemen and fans, alike."

"We were fortunate to choose from an abundance of fine candidates, but Chris's business and leadership skills stamped him as our first preference," Board and search committee member Earle Mack said. "I know the Board and others will enjoy working with Chris once he takes over."

"I'm honored by the confidence expressed in me today by the NYRA Board," Kay said. "Thoroughbred racing is an important part of the lives of so many -- including the hundreds of thousands of fans who have loyally supported us through the years. I will work hard to earn their trust and respect as we embark upon an extremely important chapter of NYRA's history. Working with the talented professionals at NYRA and its dedicated and experienced Board, I anticipate an exciting and successful future for our sport."

The NYRA Board retained the services of the executive search firm RSR Partners to assist in the filling of the president and CEO position.

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Atigun the one to beat in Colonial Turf Cup; Channel Lady heads All Along

Channel Lady invades Colonial Downs for top trainer Todd Pletcher (Courtney Heeney/Adam Conglianese Photo) Atigun returned to the turf two starts back, defeating a salty group of optional claiming rivals on the Kentucky Derby undercard, and just missed with a rallying second in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap on May 25. The Kenny McPeek-trained colt will seek his first stakes victory when he lines up for Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs. A four-year-old son of Istan, Atigun displayed decent class on the main track last season, finishing third in both the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Marathon, and filled the same spot when making his second start of 2013 in the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn Park. However, his form has improved noticeably since switching to turf, registering BRIS Speed ratings 110 and 106 in his last two starts, and Saturday's 1 3/16-mile distance looks like a perfect fit for the long-winded bay.

In the 1 1/2-mile Louisville, Atigun dropped too far back during the early stages and lost plenty of ground on the far turn while the winner was perfectly positioned throughout.

"He had a terrible trip," McPeek said of narrow runner-up finish. "I think he was several lengths the best horse."

Julien Leparoux, who missed the Louisville after riding Atigun two starts back, will be in for the mount aboard the likely favorite.

Swift Warrior exits a dead-heat seventh in the Grade 2 Dixie on the Preakness undercard, but the chestnut recorded consecutive wins in the Grade 3 John B. Connelly and Grade 3 Tampa Bay prior to that setback and merits respect Saturday for trainer John Terranova. Jose Espinoza, who missed the Dixie, regains the mount on the five-year-old.

Air Support likes the turf at Colonial Downs, winning the 2011 Virginia Derby and finishing second in last year's Turf Cup, and the well-bred son of Smart Strike will be making his third start off the layoff for trainer Shug McGaughey. He's lost both attempts this season but did not run poorly when finishing third and fourth against solid allowance/optional claiming fields at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, respectively. Javier Castellano rides.

Two Notch Road, third in the 2010 Colonial Turf Cup, made it back from a 2 1/2-year layoff this spring and the six-year-old gelding will look to capitalize upon an encouraging third in the Grade 2 Monmouth last out. Other runners include General Logan, who will return to stakes company for Graham Motion following a convincing allowance tally at Pimlico in his 2013 bow; and Hyper, who exits a runner-up in the May 15 Good Reward at Belmont for Chad Brown.

Colonial Downs will also offer the Grade 3, $100,000 All Along for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf and trainer Todd Pletcher will send out the leading candidate, Channel Lady. After recording her first stakes tally at Aqueduct last fall, the English Channel filly opened her four-year-old season with a close second in the Grade 3 Marshua's River and then captured the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream Park. She's been facing better rivals in her last two starts, finishing fourth each time behind Centre Court and Stephanie's Kitten, and Channel Lady figures to appreciate class relief against six challengers on Saturday.

Castellano rides the 124-pound top weight.

Adjacent, Appealing Cat and Embarr are the main rivals.

The stakes action kicks off with the $75,000 Da Hoss at a mile on turf and Hudson Steele is the top draw in the seven-horse field. A Grade 2 winner last season, the six-year-old gelding will be making his first start for Pletcher since a sixth in the Grade 1 Man 'o War 11 months ago.

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Kay named president and CEO of NYRA

Christopher Kay was named president and CEO of The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) following unanimous approval by its Board of Directors at a meeting on Tuesday. The appointment is effective as of July 1.

Kay, 60, most recently served as COO for The Trust for Public Land, where he oversaw the operations of the land conservation organization's headquarters and 37 field offices. Prior to that, Kay was a consultant to Universal Parks & Resorts, serving as its Managing Director of International Business Development.

From 2001-2006, Kay served as the Chief Operating Officer for Toys 'R' Us, a Fortune 200 international company, and prior to that he was the retailer's Executive Vice President of Operations and General Counsel. Kay was also a minority owner of Orlando's AA baseball team and a member of the ownership group that sought to obtain the first MLB franchise in Florida.

Kay is a graduate of the University of Missouri and of the Duke University School of Law.

"After a careful search involving many highly qualified candidates, we are delighted to select Chris as our new president and CEO," NYRA Chair David J. Skorton said. "His wide range of expertise and skills -- including experience in the legal, regulatory and corporate governance environments -- will serve him extremely well in his new position at NYRA."

"Chris's unique blend of experience in retail, theme parks, sports and legal helped set him apart during this extensive search," NYRA Board member and Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee Michael Del Giudice said. "We look forward to working with him as NYRA moves forward in the months and years ahead."

"I am confident that we have found the right person to lead NYRA forward," said Board Member Stuart S. Janney III, who was also a member of the search committee for the vacant CEO position.

"Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated the type of leadership and strategic vision so crucial to NYRA's future success."

"Chris has a thorough understanding of the need to develop and drive brand strategies in a competitive and ever-changing environment," said Board member Jane Rosenthal, who was also a member of the CEO search committee. "He supported and enhanced the Toys ‘R' Us brand in every country in which it did business and sought to introduce the Universal Studios theme park brand to new countries as its Managing Director."

"Though he has had no direct involvement with Thoroughbred racing, Chris is familiar with the sport and will make great use of the outstanding team in place that has successfully guided NYRA through the past month and a half -- a period that included the 145th Belmont Stakes," Board and search committee member Bobby Flay said. "Chris's arrival will bring new ideas and synergies to our organization that will benefit NYRA, horsemen and fans, alike."

"We were fortunate to choose from an abundance of fine candidates, but Chris's business and leadership skills stamped him as our first preference," Board and search committee member Earle Mack said. "I know the Board and others will enjoy working with Chris once he takes over."

"I'm honored by the confidence expressed in me today by the NYRA Board," Kay said. "Thoroughbred racing is an important part of the lives of so many -- including the hundreds of thousands of fans who have loyally supported us through the years. I will work hard to earn their trust and respect as we embark upon an extremely important chapter of NYRA's history. Working with the talented professionals at NYRA and its dedicated and experienced Board, I anticipate an exciting and successful future for our sport."

The NYRA Board retained the services of the executive search firm RSR Partners to assist in the filling of the president and CEO position.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com

NEW NYRA PRESIDENT & CEO THEY SAID IT

JUNE 19, 2013

Q: What made this job attractive to you?

"There were a number of factors. Number one was the fact we have some of the finest racetracks in America under NYRA. Number two, as you heard today, a tremendous Board. Number three, the locations are fantastic. Saratoga is beautiful and New York City is the best city in the world. And, number four, strong, passionate fans. So when you say 'what do you need going forward?' those are the four fundamental, foundational blocks for great success, so that was very attractive to me."

—New NYRA President & CEO Chris Kay

Q: Can you talk about your background and/or experience in racing as a fan or otherwise?

"I first went to a racetrack (Cahokia Downs, Alorton, Illinois) when I was 19 years old and fell in love with it, and went there every summer, frequently. I loved the experience. Later in life, as an attorney, I was part of a firm that represented people that owned stables in South Carolina and in Kentucky. And, in fact, I also developed a relationship with a friend of mine who owned a couple of horses, actually several very good ones -- Don Dizney -- who was suggesting I become the minority owner in some of those horses, like Wekiva Springs. I instead chose to go the baseball route, hoping we would land a major league team (in Orlando, Florida) with a minor league team. But I have enjoyed the racing experience for decades."

—Kay

Q: Were there any apprehensions about taking the job?

"No. Number one, it's a challenge, and the opportunity to do better, and those are two very important things. I kid you not...this is a world-class Board, and the opportunity to work with them to create new solutions was very attractive. I want to learn from mistakes of the past, but there is so much talent around that table that we can create a future for decades to come for success in horse racing in this state, and that was a very compelling reason for me to express interest in the job."

—Kay

Q: Any top priorities?

"Well, I haven't even started yet, but I think number one, the Board has provided us with a three-year strategic plan, so I'm going to follow that strategic plan, and execute it. And, to summarize that, number one is going to be to enhance the guest experience for our racing fans and to recruit others to become new racing fans. The second is the re-privatization; to work with the kind of people we have at the table and with state government, and the third is just to improve the quality of racing and purses at every racetrack we operate."

—Kay

Q: The future of casino gaming at New York tracks?

"I'm aware of the conversations (in Albany). I do not have a position to express today. I am comforted by the fact that Governor Cuomo has selected a great Board and has expressed an interest in making sure that horse racing is very successful today and for years to come. I look forward to working with this Board and with state government to make sure that happens."

—Kay

"We looked at three big categories of candidates. Some were people who were extraordinarily experienced directly in Thoroughbred racing. Some were turnaround specialists. Third were people who were very, very talented leaders and managers. At the end of the day, the search committee, number one, unanimously, thought it was very important to have someone with leadership and management experience. I'd like to say that a lot of problems NYRA has experienced in the past have not been because of lack of racing savvy, but because of lack of government savvy. That's my point of view."

—Board Chair David J. Skorton on the selection of Chris Kay

"Chris was a dream candidate for us because he cared about racing. He loves it. He's been doing it since he was a young person and wants it to succeed, but basically he is a very strong manager and leader from different types of organizations – for profit, not-for-profit, [he's worked in] organizations that had to deal in the governmental sector. We wanted someone who is experienced in making that connection, in the public-private partnership as opposed to the public-private war, and I think we're going to go in the right direction."

—Skorton

"I've mentioned before the two huge, mega jobs of the new Board: One was to get new leadership and management, and I emphasize both leadership and management. And then secondly, to look toward re-privatization, however long that takes. That's going to take some long-term vision."

—Skorton

Q: How bonuses will be determined?

"We have a balanced score card that we've developed. If you're not familiar with that term, it's a way to assess performance based on some quantitative metrics, like finances and things like that, there's also qualitative metrics. I want to be very public about this: this is not a guaranteed extra $250,000. We made that very clear to Chris during the recruitment process. This is going to be performance-based and I'm a hard grader."

—Skorton

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com

In brief

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. reports that Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron) is expected to be sidelined at least four months with an injury in his pelvic area. An early Kentucky Derby favorite following smashing victories in the Holy Bull (G3) and Gulfstream Park Derby, Itsmyluckyday finished second to Orb (Malibu Moon) in the Florida Derby but struggled over the muddy track at Churchill Downs when 15th in the Kentucky Derby. The dark bay colt rebounded with a runner-up in the Preakness, but Itsmyluckyday was pulled up during Sunday's Pegasus (G3) at Monmouth Park by jockey Mike Smith and tests revealed a slight fracture of the ilium. Plesa expects his charge to make a full recovery...

Godolphin has purchased Derby (Eng-G1) runner-up Libertarian (New Approach), it was announced Wednesday. Due to be supplemented for the Irish Derby (Ire-G1) at The Curragh next Saturday, the Dante S. (Eng-G2) scorer will race for Elaine Burke's stable in that classic, after which he will be transferred to the operation's Newmarket establishment. "We are delighted to have acquired Libertarian," Godolphin's Racing Manager Simon Crisford said. "His form is excellent and it is great to have a new addition to our team. We look forward to seeing him run in the Irish Derby on Saturday week."...

Cirrus des Aigles (Even Top), currently the world's highest-ranked racehorse, will make his seasonal return in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) en route to a tilt at next month's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot, according to trainer Corine Barande-Barbe. The seven-year-old finished second in the 2011 renewal of the 12-furlong contest, but was sidelined with a ligament injury and will return to action coming off a runner-up finish to Frankel in last year's Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot. "Cirrus is very well, although he'll definitely need the run," Barande-Barbe told Racing Post...

ORC Manager of Veterinary Services Dr. Adam Chambers announced that the restrictions on horses stabled in Woodbine's Barn 3 are lifted. In addition, horses not stabled in Barn 1 are now allowed to exit Woodbine. There have been two negative tests for EHV-1 for all horses in Barn 3 and as a result these horses may now train during normal training hours and race. While no horse in Barn 3 had at any time tested positive for EHV-1, the restrictions were initiated as a pony with direct contact with horses in Barn 1 was stabled in Barn 3. The three horses from Barn 1 that had tested positive for EHV-1 are not allowed to leave their barn. All other Barn 1 horses will be allowed to train on the training track after the track closes to training for all other horses. If there is a second negative test for EHV-1 for all of the horses in Barn 1, their restrictions on racing and training will be lifted on June 26. After two negative tests for EHV-1 are received, the horses that had been stabled in isolation due to preliminary concerns will be allowed back to their respective barns. The ORC will continue to closely monitor the situation and any further developments will be reported. For more information, or to speak with Dr. Duncan or Chambers, please call 416-213-0520...

Teardrop (Tapit), an impressive debut winner on May 23 at Churchill Downs, heads a competitive field of 11 two-year-old fillies entered for Saturday's 113th running of the $100,000 Debutante under the Twin Spires. The six-furlong contest is the highlight of the 11-race "Downs After Dark" nighttime racing program which will feature a "Boots, Brew & BBQ" theme. Teardrop, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and $1.6 million earner Pyro (Pulpit), broke slowly in her May 23 career debut and raced nearly eight wide throughout, but found her best stride in the stretch and kicked on to win by 3 3/4 lengths under Rosie Napravnik, who will be back aboard Saturday. "She had never made a mistake in the morning and didn't do anything right in the afternoon," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "That's how it can go. Obviously, she has a tremendous amount of talent." Teardrop is one of two entrants in the Debutante for Asmussen, who will also saddle Del Mar Holiday (Sharp Humor), a two-length winner in her second start on May 16 at Churchill Downs. Teardrop's main rivals in the Debutante could be Fiftyshadesofgold (My Golden Song) and More Than Beauty (More Than Ready). The former soundly defeated fellow Texas-bred fillies by 10 lengths in her lone start on May 24 at Lone Star Park for trainer Bret Calhoun. Her win came under Cliff Berry, but Corey Lanerie will be in the irons Saturday. More Than Beauty enters the Debutante off a 5 1/4-length victory in her career debut at Churchill Downs on May 9. Trained by Cecil Borel, the bay miss will be guided Saturday by Hall of Fame inductee Calvin Borel...

Glamour Puss (Catienus) and Apropos (First Samurai) highlight a field of nine fillies and mares entered for Saturday's fourth running of the $65,000 Roxelana on the Debutante undercard. The six-furlong test -- which is named for the "Blackie" Huffman-trained filly who notched an 11 3/4-length victory in the 2000 La Troienne (now known as the Eight Belles) -- is a rematch of Glamour Puss and Apropos who finished one-two in an optional claiming at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day. Glamour Puss, trained by Wesley Ward, enters the Roxelana off back-to-back wins and has not been out of the exacta in six career starts. Apropos, who has gone favored in all five of her career starts, rebounded from her runner-up effort to Glamour Puss and scored an easy victory in a Churchill optional claimer on May 26 for trainer Al Stall Jr. Other top contenders in the Roxelana include stakes winner Burban (Speightstown), runner-up in the Humana Distaff (G1) two back; Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) queen Funnys Approval (Outrageouslyfunny); and Grade 2-placed Livi Makenzie (Macho Uno), a two-length optional claiming winner at Churchill on May 16...

Dual stakes winner Candyman E (Candy Ride) will try to get back on the winning track Saturday when facing nine rivals in the $100,000 Donald Levine Memorial H. at Parx Racing. The Tony Dutrow trainee finished third in his past two races, the Penn Dash on June 1 and Commonwealth (G3) in mid-April. Though he finished third in the Penn Dash, Candyman E wasn't allowed to keep the placing as he was disqualified to fourth. Prior to those two, though, the six-year-old gelding recorded a nice win over the track in the Bensalem. Joe Bravo was aboard for that score and takes back the mount Saturday. Among those lining up against Candyman E are Grade 2 victor Travelin Man (Trippi), who defended his title in the Sir Shackleton two back but was a last-out fourth in the Decathlon; Pass You Bye Bye (Rock Slide) and Luckysdream (Will He Shine), the respective top two in the Decathlon; and Hello Lover (Not for Love), who is 10-1-2 in 16 starts at Parx and posted a two-length win at Pimlico in his seven-year-old bow on May 18...

Juveniles will take center stage at Calder on Saturday as a field of 11 colts and geldings go in the $100,000 Frank Gomez Memorial and nine fillies line up in the $100,000 J J'sdream. The girls will go first in their 5 1/2-furlong test, and Scandalous Act (Act of Duty) will attempt to capitalize on her 6 1/2-length romp in her May 18 career debut over the track. Liberty Fuze (Mass Media) is the only one in the group to have competed, and won, at the distance, getting the job done in a June 9 maiden at Calder, while Proverbs Thirtyone (Hear No Evil) will be getting first-time Lasix added off a three-quarter length maiden win on June 2. Five of the 11 entered in the Frank Gomez are first-time starters, and Brothersofthetime (Bob and John) will try to use the experience he gained from taking his May 17 debut at Calder by 5 1/4 lengths to remain undefeated against the newcomers.

NEW NYRA PRESIDENT & CEO THEY SAID IT

JUNE 19, 2013

Q: What made this job attractive to you?

"There were a number of factors. Number one was the fact we have some of the finest racetracks in America under NYRA. Number two, as you heard today, a tremendous Board. Number three, the locations are fantastic. Saratoga is beautiful and New York City is the best city in the world. And, number four, strong, passionate fans. So when you say 'what do you need going forward?' those are the four fundamental, foundational blocks for great success, so that was very attractive to me."

—New NYRA President & CEO Chris Kay

Q: Can you talk about your background and/or experience in racing as a fan or otherwise?

"I first went to a racetrack (Cahokia Downs, Alorton, Illinois) when I was 19 years old and fell in love with it, and went there every summer, frequently. I loved the experience. Later in life, as an attorney, I was part of a firm that represented people that owned stables in South Carolina and in Kentucky. And, in fact, I also developed a relationship with a friend of mine who owned a couple of horses, actually several very good ones -- Don Dizney -- who was suggesting I become the minority owner in some of those horses, like Wekiva Springs. I instead chose to go the baseball route, hoping we would land a major league team (in Orlando, Florida) with a minor league team. But I have enjoyed the racing experience for decades."

—Kay

Q: Were there any apprehensions about taking the job?

"No. Number one, it's a challenge, and the opportunity to do better, and those are two very important things. I kid you not...this is a world-class Board, and the opportunity to work with them to create new solutions was very attractive. I want to learn from mistakes of the past, but there is so much talent around that table that we can create a future for decades to come for success in horse racing in this state, and that was a very compelling reason for me to express interest in the job."

—Kay

Q: Any top priorities?

"Well, I haven't even started yet, but I think number one, the Board has provided us with a three-year strategic plan, so I'm going to follow that strategic plan, and execute it. And, to summarize that, number one is going to be to enhance the guest experience for our racing fans and to recruit others to become new racing fans. The second is the re-privatization; to work with the kind of people we have at the table and with state government, and the third is just to improve the quality of racing and purses at every racetrack we operate."

—Kay

Q: The future of casino gaming at New York tracks?

"I'm aware of the conversations (in Albany). I do not have a position to express today. I am comforted by the fact that Governor Cuomo has selected a great Board and has expressed an interest in making sure that horse racing is very successful today and for years to come. I look forward to working with this Board and with state government to make sure that happens."

—Kay

"We looked at three big categories of candidates. Some were people who were extraordinarily experienced directly in Thoroughbred racing. Some were turnaround specialists. Third were people who were very, very talented leaders and managers. At the end of the day, the search committee, number one, unanimously, thought it was very important to have someone with leadership and management experience. I'd like to say that a lot of problems NYRA has experienced in the past have not been because of lack of racing savvy, but because of lack of government savvy. That's my point of view."

—Board Chair David J. Skorton on the selection of Chris Kay

"Chris was a dream candidate for us because he cared about racing. He loves it. He's been doing it since he was a young person and wants it to succeed, but basically he is a very strong manager and leader from different types of organizations – for profit, not-for-profit, [he's worked in] organizations that had to deal in the governmental sector. We wanted someone who is experienced in making that connection, in the public-private partnership as opposed to the public-private war, and I think we're going to go in the right direction."

—Skorton

"I've mentioned before the two huge, mega jobs of the new Board: One was to get new leadership and management, and I emphasize both leadership and management. And then secondly, to look toward re-privatization, however long that takes. That's going to take some long-term vision."

—Skorton

Q: How bonuses will be determined?

"We have a balanced score card that we've developed. If you're not familiar with that term, it's a way to assess performance based on some quantitative metrics, like finances and things like that, there's also qualitative metrics. I want to be very public about this: this is not a guaranteed extra $250,000. We made that very clear to Chris during the recruitment process. This is going to be performance-based and I'm a hard grader."

—Skorton

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com

On the New York worktab

Multiple Grade 1 winner Flat Out (Flatter), third as the favorite in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), breezed a half-mile in a bullet :48 4/5 over the fast Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Wednesday. The Suburban Handicap (G2) on July 6 might be next.

Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie), elevated to first in the off-the-turf Jaipur, breezed four furlongs in :50 on the fast track at Belmont.

Black-Eyed Susan (G2) third-placer Toasting (Congrats) exercised in :49 4/5 in advance of Saturday's Mother Goose (G1).

Multiple New York-bred stakes scorer Uncle T Seven (Freud), winner of the recent George W. Barker at Finger Lakes, logged a half-mile in :51 1/5 on the fast track at Aqueduct.

In brief

Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. reports that Itsmyluckyday (Lawyer Ron) is expected to be sidelined at least four months with an injury in his pelvic area. An early Kentucky Derby favorite following smashing victories in the Holy Bull (G3) and Gulfstream Park Derby, Itsmyluckyday finished second to Orb (Malibu Moon) in the Florida Derby but struggled over the muddy track at Churchill Downs when 15th in the Kentucky Derby. The dark bay colt rebounded with a runner-up in the Preakness, but Itsmyluckyday was pulled up during Sunday's Pegasus (G3) at Monmouth Park by jockey Mike Smith and tests revealed a slight fracture of the ilium. Plesa expects his charge to make a full recovery...

Godolphin has purchased Derby (Eng-G1) runner-up Libertarian (New Approach), it was announced Wednesday. Due to be supplemented for the Irish Derby (Ire-G1) at The Curragh next Saturday, the Dante S. (Eng-G2) scorer will race for Elaine Burke's stable in that classic, after which he will be transferred to the operation's Newmarket establishment. "We are delighted to have acquired Libertarian," Godolphin's Racing Manager Simon Crisford said. "His form is excellent and it is great to have a new addition to our team. We look forward to seeing him run in the Irish Derby on Saturday week."...

Cirrus des Aigles (Even Top), currently the world's highest-ranked racehorse, will make his seasonal return in Sunday's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) en route to a tilt at next month's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot, according to trainer Corine Barande-Barbe. The seven-year-old finished second in the 2011 renewal of the 12-furlong contest, but was sidelined with a ligament injury and will return to action coming off a runner-up finish to Frankel in last year's Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot. "Cirrus is very well, although he'll definitely need the run," Barande-Barbe told Racing Post...

ORC Manager of Veterinary Services Dr. Adam Chambers announced that the restrictions on horses stabled in Woodbine's Barn 3 are lifted. In addition, horses not stabled in Barn 1 are now allowed to exit Woodbine. There have been two negative tests for EHV-1 for all horses in Barn 3 and as a result these horses may now train during normal training hours and race. While no horse in Barn 3 had at any time tested positive for EHV-1, the restrictions were initiated as a pony with direct contact with horses in Barn 1 was stabled in Barn 3. The three horses from Barn 1 that had tested positive for EHV-1 are not allowed to leave their barn. All other Barn 1 horses will be allowed to train on the training track after the track closes to training for all other horses. If there is a second negative test for EHV-1 for all of the horses in Barn 1, their restrictions on racing and training will be lifted on June 26. After two negative tests for EHV-1 are received, the horses that had been stabled in isolation due to preliminary concerns will be allowed back to their respective barns. The ORC will continue to closely monitor the situation and any further developments will be reported. For more information, or to speak with Dr. Duncan or Chambers, please call 416-213-0520...

Teardrop (Tapit), an impressive debut winner on May 23 at Churchill Downs, heads a competitive field of 11 two-year-old fillies entered for Saturday's 113th running of the $100,000 Debutante under the Twin Spires. The six-furlong contest is the highlight of the 11-race "Downs After Dark" nighttime racing program which will feature a "Boots, Brew & BBQ" theme. Teardrop, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner and $1.6 million earner Pyro (Pulpit), broke slowly in her May 23 career debut and raced nearly eight wide throughout, but found her best stride in the stretch and kicked on to win by 3 3/4 lengths under Rosie Napravnik, who will be back aboard Saturday. "She had never made a mistake in the morning and didn't do anything right in the afternoon," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "That's how it can go. Obviously, she has a tremendous amount of talent." Teardrop is one of two entrants in the Debutante for Asmussen, who will also saddle Del Mar Holiday (Sharp Humor), a two-length winner in her second start on May 16 at Churchill Downs. Teardrop's main rivals in the Debutante could be Fiftyshadesofgold (My Golden Song) and More Than Beauty (More Than Ready). The former soundly defeated fellow Texas-bred fillies by 10 lengths in her lone start on May 24 at Lone Star Park for trainer Bret Calhoun. Her win came under Cliff Berry, but Corey Lanerie will be in the irons Saturday. More Than Beauty enters the Debutante off a 5 1/4-length victory in her career debut at Churchill Downs on May 9. Trained by Cecil Borel, the bay miss will be guided Saturday by Hall of Fame inductee Calvin Borel...

Glamour Puss (Catienus) and Apropos (First Samurai) highlight a field of nine fillies and mares entered for Saturday's fourth running of the $65,000 Roxelana on the Debutante undercard. The six-furlong test -- which is named for the "Blackie" Huffman-trained filly who notched an 11 3/4-length victory in the 2000 La Troienne (now known as the Eight Belles) -- is a rematch of Glamour Puss and Apropos who finished one-two in an optional claiming at Churchill on Kentucky Derby Day. Glamour Puss, trained by Wesley Ward, enters the Roxelana off back-to-back wins and has not been out of the exacta in six career starts. Apropos, who has gone favored in all five of her career starts, rebounded from her runner-up effort to Glamour Puss and scored an easy victory in a Churchill optional claimer on May 26 for trainer Al Stall Jr. Other top contenders in the Roxelana include stakes winner Burban (Speightstown), runner-up in the Humana Distaff (G1) two back; Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) queen Funnys Approval (Outrageouslyfunny); and Grade 2-placed Livi Makenzie (Macho Uno), a two-length optional claiming winner at Churchill on May 16...

Dual stakes winner Candyman E (Candy Ride) will try to get back on the winning track Saturday when facing nine rivals in the $100,000 Donald Levine Memorial H. at Parx Racing. The Tony Dutrow trainee finished third in his past two races, the Penn Dash on June 1 and Commonwealth (G3) in mid-April. Though he finished third in the Penn Dash, Candyman E wasn't allowed to keep the placing as he was disqualified to fourth. Prior to those two, though, the six-year-old gelding recorded a nice win over the track in the Bensalem. Joe Bravo was aboard for that score and takes back the mount Saturday. Among those lining up against Candyman E are Grade 2 victor Travelin Man (Trippi), who defended his title in the Sir Shackleton two back but was a last-out fourth in the Decathlon; Pass You Bye Bye (Rock Slide) and Luckysdream (Will He Shine), the respective top two in the Decathlon; and Hello Lover (Not for Love), who is 10-1-2 in 16 starts at Parx and posted a two-length win at Pimlico in his seven-year-old bow on May 18...

Juveniles will take center stage at Calder on Saturday as a field of 11 colts and geldings go in the $100,000 Frank Gomez Memorial and nine fillies line up in the $100,000 J J'sdream. The girls will go first in their 5 1/2-furlong test, and Scandalous Act (Act of Duty) will attempt to capitalize on her 6 1/2-length romp in her May 18 career debut over the track. Liberty Fuze (Mass Media) is the only one in the group to have competed, and won, at the distance, getting the job done in a June 9 maiden at Calder, while Proverbs Thirtyone (Hear No Evil) will be getting first-time Lasix added off a three-quarter length maiden win on June 2. Five of the 11 entered in the Frank Gomez are first-time starters, and Brothersofthetime (Bob and John) will try to use the experience he gained from taking his May 17 debut at Calder by 5 1/4 lengths to remain undefeated against the newcomers.

On the New York worktab

Multiple Grade 1 winner Flat Out (Flatter), third as the favorite in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), breezed a half-mile in a bullet :48 4/5 over the fast Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Wednesday. The Suburban Handicap (G2) on July 6 might be next.

Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie), elevated to first in the off-the-turf Jaipur, breezed four furlongs in :50 on the fast track at Belmont.

Black-Eyed Susan (G2) third-placer Toasting (Congrats) exercised in :49 4/5 in advance of Saturday's Mother Goose (G1).

Multiple New York-bred stakes scorer Uncle T Seven (Freud), winner of the recent George W. Barker at Finger Lakes, logged a half-mile in :51 1/5 on the fast track at Aqueduct.

On the Kentucky worktab

Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Little Mike (Spanish Steps), who also collared the Arlington Million (G1) and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) last season, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 over the fast track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Unplaced in two Dubai starts this winter, the Dale Romans-trained gelding is targeting the United Nations (G1) on July 6.

Multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Prayer for Relief (Jump Start), second in both starts this year, the Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) and Texas Mile (G3), was timed in 1:01 1/5.

Grade 2 scorer Flashpoint (Pomeroy), third as the favorite in the May 24 Prairie Express, drilled the bullet in :59 4/5.

Troilus (Speightstown), unraced since a second in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (G2), clocked 1:00 1/5.

Illinois Derby (G3) winner Departing (War Front), sixth in the Preakness (G1), completed four furlongs in :51 4/5.

On the California worktab

Grade 1 winner Book Review (Giant's Causeway), unraced since a close second in the Santa Maria (G2) in February, completed five furlongs in 1:00 over the fast track at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

Multiple Grade 2 hero Slim Shadey (Val Royal), trailer in the recent Charles Whittingham (G2), recorded four furlongs in :50.

Stakes winner Judy in Disguise (Elusive City), a close second in the June 8 Manhattan Beach, toured the same distance in :50 1/5.

Lightly-raced Roman Threat (Roman Ruler) worked a half-mile in :48 3/5 on the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. A half-brother to multiple champion Indian Blessing, the five-year-old gelding has not started since winning the 2012 Los Angeles Handicap (G3) in his third career outing 13 months ago.

On the Kentucky worktab

Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Little Mike (Spanish Steps), who also collared the Arlington Million (G1) and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) last season, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 over the fast track at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Unplaced in two Dubai starts this winter, the Dale Romans-trained gelding is targeting the United Nations (G1) on July 6.

Multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire Prayer for Relief (Jump Start), second in both starts this year, the Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) and Texas Mile (G3), was timed in 1:01 1/5.

Grade 2 scorer Flashpoint (Pomeroy), third as the favorite in the May 24 Prairie Express, drilled the bullet in :59 4/5.

Troilus (Speightstown), unraced since a second in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship (G2), clocked 1:00 1/5.

Illinois Derby (G3) winner Departing (War Front), sixth in the Preakness (G1), completed four furlongs in :51 4/5.

On the California worktab

Grade 1 winner Book Review (Giant's Causeway), unraced since a close second in the Santa Maria (G2) in February, completed five furlongs in 1:00 over the fast track at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

Multiple Grade 2 hero Slim Shadey (Val Royal), trailer in the recent Charles Whittingham (G2), recorded four furlongs in :50.

Stakes winner Judy in Disguise (Elusive City), a close second in the June 8 Manhattan Beach, toured the same distance in :50 1/5.

Lightly-raced Roman Threat (Roman Ruler) worked a half-mile in :48 3/5 on the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. A half-brother to multiple champion Indian Blessing, the five-year-old gelding has not started since winning the 2012 Los Angeles Handicap (G3) in his third career outing 13 months ago.

For Thursday or Next Raceday

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

JUNE 20, 2013

by John Mucciolo

A pair of Grade 3 tests highlighted the weekend at Belmont Park.

Hill Prince S. (G3): Repole Stable's NOTACATBUTALLAMA (Harlan's Holiday) put in a strong run in the lane to overcome the 12 post and gamely register a neck victory. The New York-bred sophomore colt endured one mile on the "good" turf in 1:34 4/5 for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez.

Bed o' Roses H. (G3): Susan Wantz's DANCE TO BRISTOL (Speightstown) swept to the lead nearing midstretch and was not bothered all the way to the line in posting a convincing 2 3/4-length win. The Ollie Figgins III trainee blasted seven furlongs on the fast main oval in a wicked 1:20 4/5, just four ticks off the stakes mark.

Track Stats

A total of 47 races were held at the Elmont, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 38 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 55 percent of the wins during the week. From 34 races on the main oval, seven animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent), while six of the 13 races on the lawn were taken all the way on the front (46 percent).

We thought the main track was pretty balanced and the best place to be was stalking the pace a few lengths off the rail as the week progressed.

Six grassy winners led at every call this week, including four on Sunday from six turf races. Of the six, four came on the outer lawn (3 routes, 1 sprint), while two came on the inner lawn (1 sprint, 1 route).

Meet Totals

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (6/12)

5TH -- TWO SUSANS (Purge) overcame a slow start and a bit of traffic to rally home and get up in a very nice debut win for conditioner Charlton Baker. The sophomore filly finished off six furlongs in a very sharp 1:09 4/5 for the level, and could be a nice one with more seasoning.

CARTLA SWEETREVENGE (Stephen Got Even) finished seven lengths clear of third in this runner-up spot and ran as well as one can expect in defeat. This filly will be graduating in the very near future with similar performances.

7TH -- PEACE AND JUSTICE (War Front) left quite an impression at first asking in here when wiring the field for John Shirreffs, who is not know for horses with speed or winning at first asking. The well-bred colt was always clear and gave the impression he could thrive with more ground to work with under Junior Alvarado.

Thursday (6/13)

3RD -- MY HAPPY FACE (Tiz Wonderful) was very professional in winning this one in her first start since January and first under the care of Chad Brown. The ultra-talented three-year-old filly looks all set to step back up to graded foes in her subsequent outing.

Friday (6/14)

2ND -- ASSURED (Empire Maker) tracked the leader, took over in early stretch and cruised home a fine 4 3/4-length winner. The well-bred Bill Mott pupil really looked good from a visual standpoint today and she should loom large with winners in an allowance spot next time.

3RD -- SAN PABLO (Jump Start) settled in third early and put in a powerful run on the turn and into the lane to dust a very good field in here by 3 ½ lengths for Pletcher. The five-year-old win machine made pretty easy work of a pair of Grade 1 types and could move into the higher rungs of the handicap division with another move forward off of this.

8TH -- MOMENT IN DIXIE (Dixieland Band) made a nice late run to be second behind a fine winner on this occasion in her first run in 2013. The Jimmy Toner charge should be much more fit next time and very dangerous if back with this kind.

Saturday (6/15)

5TH -- CATRON (Distorted Humor) pressed the pace to the top of the lane and took over in the stretch to post a sharp debut score in this dash for Pletcher. The three-year-old colt came home in a blistering 1:08 4/5 on the fast main oval and obviously could have a nice future ahead of him.

Sunday (6/16)

7TH -- Pacesetter and eventual runner-up MARIEL N KATHY (Corinthian) made the favored winner work for everything she got in a great second-place outing on this occasion. The three-year-old miss will be picking up a lot of checks with similar efforts and expected improvement for Dominick Schettino.

A Look Ahead

The Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes on Saturday is the lone graded race upcoming at Belmont Park.

NORTH AMERICAN NON-GRADED STAKES RESULTS

UPCOMING STAKES

NORTH AMERICAN ALLOWANCE RESULTS

RACING DATES

BELMONT NOTEBOOK

JUNE 20, 2013

by John Mucciolo

A pair of Grade 3 tests highlighted the weekend at Belmont Park.

Hill Prince S. (G3): Repole Stable's NOTACATBUTALLAMA (Harlan's Holiday) put in a strong run in the lane to overcome the 12 post and gamely register a neck victory. The New York-bred sophomore colt endured one mile on the "good" turf in 1:34 4/5 for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez.

Bed o' Roses H. (G3): Susan Wantz's DANCE TO BRISTOL (Speightstown) swept to the lead nearing midstretch and was not bothered all the way to the line in posting a convincing 2 3/4-length win. The Ollie Figgins III trainee blasted seven furlongs on the fast main oval in a wicked 1:20 4/5, just four ticks off the stakes mark.

Track Stats

A total of 47 races were held at the Elmont, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 38 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 55 percent of the wins during the week. From 34 races on the main oval, seven animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent), while six of the 13 races on the lawn were taken all the way on the front (46 percent).

We thought the main track was pretty balanced and the best place to be was stalking the pace a few lengths off the rail as the week progressed.

Six grassy winners led at every call this week, including four on Sunday from six turf races. Of the six, four came on the outer lawn (3 routes, 1 sprint), while two came on the inner lawn (1 sprint, 1 route).

Meet Totals

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (6/12)

5TH -- TWO SUSANS (Purge) overcame a slow start and a bit of traffic to rally home and get up in a very nice debut win for conditioner Charlton Baker. The sophomore filly finished off six furlongs in a very sharp 1:09 4/5 for the level, and could be a nice one with more seasoning.

CARTLA SWEETREVENGE (Stephen Got Even) finished seven lengths clear of third in this runner-up spot and ran as well as one can expect in defeat. This filly will be graduating in the very near future with similar performances.

7TH -- PEACE AND JUSTICE (War Front) left quite an impression at first asking in here when wiring the field for John Shirreffs, who is not know for horses with speed or winning at first asking. The well-bred colt was always clear and gave the impression he could thrive with more ground to work with under Junior Alvarado.

Thursday (6/13)

3RD -- MY HAPPY FACE (Tiz Wonderful) was very professional in winning this one in her first start since January and first under the care of Chad Brown. The ultra-talented three-year-old filly looks all set to step back up to graded foes in her subsequent outing.

Friday (6/14)

2ND -- ASSURED (Empire Maker) tracked the leader, took over in early stretch and cruised home a fine 4 3/4-length winner. The well-bred Bill Mott pupil really looked good from a visual standpoint today and she should loom large with winners in an allowance spot next time.

3RD -- SAN PABLO (Jump Start) settled in third early and put in a powerful run on the turn and into the lane to dust a very good field in here by 3 ½ lengths for Pletcher. The five-year-old win machine made pretty easy work of a pair of Grade 1 types and could move into the higher rungs of the handicap division with another move forward off of this.

8TH -- MOMENT IN DIXIE (Dixieland Band) made a nice late run to be second behind a fine winner on this occasion in her first run in 2013. The Jimmy Toner charge should be much more fit next time and very dangerous if back with this kind.

Saturday (6/15)

5TH -- CATRON (Distorted Humor) pressed the pace to the top of the lane and took over in the stretch to post a sharp debut score in this dash for Pletcher. The three-year-old colt came home in a blistering 1:08 4/5 on the fast main oval and obviously could have a nice future ahead of him.

Sunday (6/16)

7TH -- Pacesetter and eventual runner-up MARIEL N KATHY (Corinthian) made the favored winner work for everything she got in a great second-place outing on this occasion. The three-year-old miss will be picking up a lot of checks with similar efforts and expected improvement for Dominick Schettino.

A Look Ahead

The Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes on Saturday is the lone graded race upcoming at Belmont Park.

UPCOMING STAKES

RACING DATES

AT A GLANCE SCHEDULE

For Thursday

*all times Eastern

SPOT PLAYS

For Thursday

HANDICAPPER'S EDGE is compiled by Bloodstock Research Information Services. This newsletter may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Copyright 2011, Bloodstock Research Information Services. Information as to the races, race results and earnings was obtained from Equibase Company LLC and is utilized herein with the permission of the copyright owner, Equibase Company LLC.

HIGHLIGHTS

For Thursday

*all times Eastern

HANDICAPPER'S EDGE is compiled by Bloodstock Research Information Services. This newsletter may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Copyright 2011, Bloodstock Research Information Services. Information as to the races, race results and earnings was obtained from Equibase Company LLC and is utilized herein with the permission of the copyright owner, Equibase Company LLC.

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