Six fillies and mares will brave it out to face reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in Saturday’s $400,000 Lady’s Secret S. at Monmouth Park. The Steve Asmussen gem was a dominant, 10 ½-length romper of the G2 Fleur de Lis Handicap in her latest and looks tons the best in here. A winner of the G1 Haskell Invitational on this oval in 2009, the dark bay will have Calvin Borel along for the ride.
Yes She’s A Lady, Fabulous Babe, Hark, Ask the Moon, Queen Martha and Stage Trick comprise the overmatched group.
COACHING CLUB STARTS SPA SEASON IN STYLE
Two-time Grade 1 queen Devil May Care leads a standout field of eight in Saturday’s G1 $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks during the opening weekend at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the sparkling filly exits a fine score in the G1 Mother Goose Stakes and returns to the site where she broke her maiden. The two-turn lover will have John Velazquez in the irons.
G2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes upsetter Acting Happy should have no trouble with the distance and has been freshened for this affair by conditioner Richard Dutrow. The daughter of Empire Maker has a ton of ability and a lot of room to grow, so she can be tough in here from the wide post. Grade 3 heroine Biofuel was third in the Mother Goose and could improve in her second dirt try for Reade Baker. G3 Iowa Oaks queen Seeking the Title, Mother Goose runner-up Connnie and Michael and the unbeaten and untested Lisa’s Booby Trap all could factor in here.
The Sunday feature is the G2 $150,000 Sanford Stakes.
EDDIE READ HEADLINES DEL MAR OPENING WEEKEND
An outstanding field of seven will vie in the G1 $300,000 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar on Saturday. G1 Hollywood Derby winner The Usual Q T might be the one to beat in this nine-furlong feature for conditioner James Cassidy. Perfect from two starts over this strip in 2009, the California-bred gelding returned from a Dubai an allowance winner last out and should be all set with Victor Espinoza.
A solid cast awaits the bay four-year-old, including Euro import Crowded House from the barn of the ever-dangerous Brian Meehan. The 2008 Racing Post (Eng-G1) star has not won since but has faced some of Europe’s best and is a serious threat with his top showing. Recent G1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes upsetter Victor’s Cry, Grade 1 hero and likely pacesetter Acclamation and the high-class Loup Breton also make sense in this deep field.
Sunday’s marquee event is the G2 $150,000 San Clemente Handicap for fillies and mares.
BLUE-COLLAR STARS CONVERGE FOR CLAIMING CROWN
Just six will vie in the feature race of the Claiming Crown card at Canterbury Park on Saturday, the $150,000 Jewel. Trainer Mike Maker looks to have a strong presence in here with talented allowance runner Headache. The son of Tapit exits a strong second and Churchill and is enhanced by the presence of jockey Julien Leparoux in this test.
G2 Cornhusker Handicap second Racing Bran should vie for favoritism with the aforementioned. The five-year-old son of Awesome Again took an Illinois-bred stakes event two prior and has won six of his last nine overall, signaling his good current form. Recent stakes hero My Friend Nev could be a player for the high-percentage Jamie Ness.
Also part of the big day of racing that highlights previous claiming runners are the $100,000 Emerald, $100,000 Lady Canterbury S., $75,000 Glass Slipper, $75,000 Rapid Transit, $50,000 Express, $50,000 Iron Horse, $25,000 Sprint S.
BIG MIKE GOES FOR ANOTHER IN PRINCE OF WALES
Big Red Mike drew post four to lead an eight-horse contingent in Sunday’s $500,000 Prince of Wales S at Fort Erie. The recent Queen’s Plate winner has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line choice.
The Mark Frostad-trained Hotep is the 5-2 second choice on the board with pilot Patrick Husbands. Mobthewarrior, Captain Canuck, Golden Moka, Mobil Unit, Dark Cloud Dancer and Who We Gunna Call round out the order for this Canadian classic.