Trainer:Kazuo Fujisawa Jockey:Edgar Prado Foaling Date: 3-7-2005 Pedigree: Mineshaft - Better Than Honour by Deputy Minister Dosage Profile: 10-6-12-0-0 Dosage Index/CD: 3.67 0.93 2007 Record: unraced Best Beyer Figure: 101 Note: $950,000 Keeneland yearling purchase was exported to Japan where he won his only start there in February. Shipped back to the US to win the Peter Pan Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths. Considered the only serious competition for Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes, but still is terribly inexperience. His dam has already produced two Belmont Stakes winners, half brother Jazil (by Seeking the Gold) and 3/4 sister Rags to Riches (by A.P. Indy, sire of Mineshaft).
Casino Drive was scratched the morning of the Belmont due to a stone bruise on his left hind hoof. Spokesman Nobutaka Tada said, "This morning, he was feeling well, so we took him to the track for a canter. He came back well to the stable, but later he started favoring his left hind again. It's not serious, just a small stone bruise, and he will be fine. But the timing is terrible."
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.
