On the day before the Belmont Stakes, very few entrants came out to the track
for the morning gallops. Second choice Casino Drive was expected to gallop as
he has every day this week, but a stone bruise was discovered in his left hind
hoof so trainer Kazuo Fujisawa brought him back to the barn. "He has a small
issue with his left-hind leg, and we were not happy. So we did not go to the
track," Nobutaka Tada, a spokesman for Fujisawa, said. "We have not yet
scratched him from the race. We think it might be a small stone bruise and we
will watch it closely."
This afternoon are the Brooklyn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/2 miles and the Hill Prince Stakes (G3) at 1 mile on the turf for the 3-year-olds, so post them later this evening.
Macho Again galloped and exited the track via the paddock on Friday morning. Here he is walking back through the barn area afterwards.
Big Brown came out on Friday morning for a slow jog once around the track at Belmont Park. First he stood on the track for a while then started his jog. Right is Big Brown on the horse path from his barn to the track. Left is him standing watching the other horses before he starts his jog.
Once Big Brown finished his jog, he walked back to the barn with a hoard of photographers in hot pursuit. Right is him slowing down at the end of his jog. Left is him walking back to the barn on the horse path.
Denis of Cork came out for a gallop Friday morning. Left is him galloping. Right is while he was walking the shedrow to cool down afterwards.
Guadalcanal, the last minute entry to the Belmont Stakes, was out for a gallop as well. Here he is coming off the track.
Manhattan Handicap (G1) and Just a Game Stakes (G1) Results - On the Belmont undercard, Gio Ponti won over Marsh Side and Better Talk Now in the Manhattan Handicap, while Diamondrella beat favorite Forever Together in the Just a Game Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Acorn Stakes (G1), True North Handicap (G2), and Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) Results - Also on the Belmont undercard, Gabby's Golden Gal upset favorite Justwhistledixie in the Acorn, top choice Fabulous Strike beat defending champ Benny the Bull in the True North Handicap, and Munnings won by 5 1/4 lengths in the Woody Stephens Stakes. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Brooklyn Handicap (G2) and Hill Prince Stakes - Eldaafer got up by a nose to win the Brooklyn Handicap over pacesetter Nite Light in the slop, with favorite Rising Moon third. In the Hill Prince Stakes, which was taken off the turf, Despite the Odds drew away to win by 7 1/2 lengths. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
2009 Belmont Stakes Entries - A field of 10 was entered with Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Mine That Bird the 2-1 morning line favorite from post 7. Get the entries, post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Belmont Stakes Friday Workouts - Photos of 5 of the Belmont Stakes horses on the sloppy track in the rain Friday morning, including Mine That Bird. Get the details and photos here.
Belmont Contenders Weekend Workouts - Five of the likely entrants for next weekend's Belmont Stakes had timed works at Belmont Park on May 30-31, including Charitable Man and Dunkirk. Get the details and photos here.
Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness - She led most of the way and was ahead by 4 at the top of the stretch, then held off Mine That Bird by a length. Musket Man was another 1/2 length back in third. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Preakness undercard stakes results - There were 7 other stakes on the card, most of them grade 2 or 3, including the Dixie Stakes (G2) won by Parading.
