The Handicapper's Edge is a service of brisnet.com, your source for racing information, news, data, and FREE Handicapping software - (C) Copyright 2005 BRIS - All rights reserved http://www.brisnet.com/news/ Grade 2 winners Casino Host and Smart Bid are top contenders in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Dixie Stakes, one of six stakes races on the Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico. The 1 1/8-mile affair will feature a field of 11 turf horseshttp://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28801Zazu was knocked out of Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic contention after developing inflammation in her shoulder last fall, but has been given plenty of time to recover and prepare for her four-year-old debut, which will finally come in Saturday's renamed Marjorie L. Everett Handicap at Hollywood Park.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28810On Wednesday, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) responded to criticism about its Monday appointment of Ellen McCalin as president and Kenneth Handal as secretary by issuing the following statement:http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28805Fillies and mares, both equine and human, will be in the spotlight for the third consecutive year on Friday as The People's Pink Party takes over Pimlico Race Course.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28794Chicagoland enjoyed clear blue skies for Mother's Day 2012 and many families took advantage of that beautiful weather to enjoy mom's special day at Arlington Park. Attendance for Mother's Day at Arlington was 32,137 up 18 percent percent from the 27,246 that attended in 2011.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28783The world's top-ranked horse, Frankel, makes his eagerly-anticipated reappearance in Saturday's Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and is likely to be joined in the field by stablemate Bullet Train.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28779Trainer Aidan O'Brien on Monday paraded Group 1 Derby favorite Camelot at a media morning organized by Epsom Downs Racecourse and Investec at his Ballydoyle Stable in County Tipperary and is counting down the days until the premier classic on June 2. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28776Peter Fuller, who waged an unsuccessful four-year legal battle to get his homebred colt Dancer's Image re-instated as winner of the 1968 Kentucky Derby, has died. Bloodhorse.com reported that Fuller died Monday at age 89 after a lengthy illness.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28764The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has hired Kenneth V. Handal as acting general counsel and chief ethics and compliance officer.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28767John C. Oxley's Dixie Strike returned to winning form with an impressive rally up the rail to overtake Tu Endie Wei in Sunday's Grade 3, $279,833 Selene Stakes, at Woodbine.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28751Edward R. Brown's Dhaamer looked like the horse to beat going into Sunday's $72,950 Round Table Stakes at Hollywood Park, and the even-money favorite more than fulfilled expectations with a smashing 4 1/2-length victory.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28761Mamma Kimbo, In Lingerie and Oaks Lilly were all originally scheduled to contest the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks last Friday, but for various reasons none of the trio made it to the starting gate. Instead, they are part of a nine-strong field entered for the Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes scheduled for this Friday, one day prior to the Preakness Stakes, at Pimlico.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28755Friday's Black-Eyed Susan undercard at Pimlico features a stellar edition of the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes as well as three sprint stakes in the lead-up to Saturday's 137th running of the Preakness Stakes.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28758Hudson River Stable's Arcadius spearheaded a sweep of Saturday's Grade 1, $150,000 Iroquois Steeplechase for Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard, but the elation soon turned to devastation at Percy Warner Park as the winner fatally collapsed. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28748Heart of Destiny, second in last October's Grade 1 Alcibiades and most recently fourth in the Grade 1 Ashland, both over Keeneland's Polytrack, heads a field of 14 fillies entered in Thursday's 8TH race at Churchill Downs and trainer Jimmy Baker is hopeful the race will set her up for the Grade 3 Regret Stakes on June 16 under the Twin Spires.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28731Jockey Inez Karlsson, who became a mother for the first time last July, has decided to put her jockey career on hold -- at least for Arlington's 2012 season -- to pursue the rewards of motherhood.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28734Already an internationally experienced rider that has practiced his trade in the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, jockey Luis Jurado announced Sunday that he will leave the Calder riding colony by month's end to embark on a three-month riding tour through Macau on the Chinese coast.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28746Peachtree Stable's Mamma Kimbo, undefeated in two starts and winner of the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes in her most recent outing, worked a bullet five furlongs at Churchill Downs in :59 3/5 in preparation for an anticipated start in Friday's Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28704Blue skies and balmy temperatures greeted opening day at Monmouth Park Saturday, as the track opened its 67th season of Thoroughbred racing with increases in attendance and wagering over last year.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28728Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Currency Swap captured the $83,300 You and I Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday in wire-to-wire fashion. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28725Stay Thirsty, who marked himself one of the leading three-year-olds of 2011 in winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course, will make his four-year-old debut Thursday at Belmont Park in the $90,000 Vanlandingham, a 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes scheduled as the day's third race with an approximate post of 1:54 p.m. (EDT).http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28719First-time starter Aberfoyle Mill scored a front-running victory in Woodbine's 1ST race on Saturday, becoming the first North American winner sired by multiple Grade 1 star Street Boss. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28708Dale Romans has been training horses for more than 25 years. He has saddled more than 1,500 winners, his runners have earned nearly $70 million and his long list of graded wins include such prestigious races as the Group 1 Dubai World Cup and Preakness Stakes.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28713Australian phenom Black Caviar extended her unbeaten sequence to 21 with another risibly easy victory Saturday, cantering home by a measured 1 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville. Now the planet's top-ranked sprinter will indeed take on the world in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot June 23. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28698Trainer Larry Jones revealed Friday that he will likely point Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can to Belmont Park's Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes, run at 1 1/16 miles on June 23. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28689Pluck, a sensational last-to-first winner of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, will enter stud at Vinery Australia for the upcoming Southern Hemisphere breeding season. Standing alongside his sire, More Than Ready, he will serve for a fee of A$11,000, including GST (goods and services tax). http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28683The Arlington Handicapping Challenge (AHC), a series of innovative, live-money handicapping contests, returns for the 2012 live meet, with the first contest slated for May 26.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28671Trainer Buff Bradley admits to not remembering the early days of every horse foaled on his Indian Ridge Farm near Frankfort, Kentucky; however, Bradley certainly remembers the birthday of Grade 1 Humana Distaff winner Groupie Doll. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28668Next year, Saratoga will go back 150 years to celebrate the birth of Thoroughbred racing at the Spa, with technology and activities that could never have been imagined when Saratoga racing was founded in 1863. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28674Kathleen Kelly has been named Ms. Preakness Pink Warrior for the 137th Preakness Stakeshttp://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28646The Breeders' Cup announced Monday that Robert N. Elliston, President and CEO of Turfway Park since 1999, has been named Chief Operating Officer of Breeders' Cup Ltd. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28630Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Risen Star runner-up Mark Valeski arrived at Belmont Park from Kentucky Sunday afternoon in advance of his next start in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28621Both of Saturday's Grade 3 turf winners at Belmont Park were said to be doing well at their respective barns Sunday morning, with Phipps Stable's Boisterous resting comfortably after taking the $150,000 Fort Marcy, and Phillips Racing Partnership's Winter Memories basking in the glow of her $150,000 Beaugay victory.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28624Trainer Aidan O'Brien completed a Guineas double at Newmarket Sunday, not with hot favorite Maybe, but with unheralded 25-1 shot Homecoming Queen.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28618Xtension gave John Moore a fourth win in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin Sunday when repeating his 2011 success for the trainer, this time under young Kiwi riding sensation, James McDonald.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28627Brereton Jones' homebred Kentucky Oaks heroine Believe You Can came out of the race in great shape, trainer Larry Jones said while accepting congratulations at his barn early on Kentucky Derby Day.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28543After an eventful 24 hours, jockey Rosie Napravnik returned to Belmont Park Saturday afternoon with her first Grade 1 victory and a bit of racing history in tow.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28565Broadway's Alibi was doing fine Saturday morning after her second-place finish behind Believe You Can in Friday's Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Stable manager Anna Ford reported that the three-year-old daughter of Vindication will ship to Belmont Park on Sunday.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28546A history-making 138th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday concluded with record total wagering, near-record attendance of 112,552 and an historic victory by jockey Rosie Napravnik, who rode Brereton C. Jones's Believe You Can to victory to become the first woman to win America's premier race for three-year-old fillies.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28562Jockey Eddie Castro gained 2,000th North American win as Phillips Racing Partnership's Winter Memories captured an easy victory in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28583Multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Student Council got off the mark as a freshman sire Saturday, as Private Tutor was awarded the 6TH race at Pimlico.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28589Morning Line successfully opened the new Southern California phase of his career in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park, rolling to a front-running victory for new trainer John Shirreffs.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28586Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Senorita Stakes at Hollywood Park took a tragic turn when Bobnia crossed under the wire a nose winner only to break down seconds later.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28574Kidwells Petite Stable's Pretension took it to 1-5 favorite My Adonis and beat him, winning Saturday's feature at Pimlico Race Course, the $75,000 Canonero II Stakes for three-year-olds.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28577Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor's unbeaten Camelot lived up to his reputation with a battling victory in Saturday's Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket, fueling already heady hopes that he could be European racing's next superstar. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28540Unbeaten world champion Frankel proved that he's come through his recent injury scare with flying colors, as the Juddmonte Farms homebred looked like his sparkling old self in a racecourse gallop Saturday. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28552Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Stephanie's Kitten pounced to a stakes record-setting victory in Friday's $184,800 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs, setting her up for a bold assault on the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot June 22. http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28521Chicagoland racing fans who annually enjoy the Arlington experience may be unfamiliar with the name of jockey Jeffrey Sanchez, but the 26-year-old native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, has rapidly made a strong, positive impression among the nation's more discerning horsemen on other major league circuits.http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=28527