Earlier this year The Factor was considered a possibly contender for the Kentucky Derby–a speed horse in a three year old crop devoid of speed.  After undergoing throat surgery he missed that race and won’t be entered in the May 21 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
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Amid the festivity and anticipation of the 2011 Kentucky Derby is a bit of tragic news–Devil May Care, the filly who ran in the 2010 Derby was euthanized on Wednesday.  The 3 time Grade 1 stakes race winner was diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer known as lymphosarcoma.
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The Maryland Jockey Club is now free of the legal entanglements from their failed bid to obtain a slot license at Arundel Mills Outlet Mall, but recently submitted financial statements suggest that there’s plenty of red ink to go around.  The organization that provides oversight for horse racing in Maryland lost money at both major tracks in the state including Preakness Stakes host facility Pimlico.
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As late as last week there were only a few horses committed to run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at Fairgrounds Park, but as it turns out the race attracted a large field of 13 three year olds including morning line favorite Mucho Macho Man.  Putting a million dollars on the table tends to have that effect.
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The highlight of Saturday’s racing card will be a key prep race for the Preakness Stakes and the other Triple Crown races as several top three year olds face off in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.  The Factor, JD’s Gusto and Sway Away will compete in the 1 1/16 Grade 2 event with the outcome largely dependent on the pace of the race.
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The Maryland Jockey Club, owner and operator of Preakness Stakes venue Pimlico Race Course as well as other facilities, has dropped their legal challenge of a slots licensing ruling that went against them.  The move should help facilitate the sale of casino management company Penn National’s stake in the organziation.
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Uncle Mo may not have faced an exceptional level of opposition in Saturday’s Stately Writer at Gulfstream, but he was impressive enough in victory to further solidify his claim as the top contender for the Triple Crown races. He’s now the favorite after the second day of pool #2 in the official Kentucky Derby Futures betting at Churchill Downs.
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Mere days after Rachel Alexandra’s owners announced that she was pregnant, Zenyatta was also confirmed to be ‘in foal’. The 7 year old Zenyatta was bred to 2006 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini two weeks ago and the pregnancy was discovered on Thursday morning after a routine ultrasound.
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The connections of Dialed In had been trying to figure out the best prep race schedule for their three year old prospect, but when they took the ‘safe’ option of an optional claiming race at Gulfstream they certainly didn’t expect what transpired. Heavily favored Dialed In finished second to stablemate Equestrio in the 1 1/8 mile race.
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Casino operations company Penn National is considering a sale of their financial stake in the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns and operates several Maryland racetracks including Preakness host Pimlico and Laurel Park.  The company had hoped to obtain a slots concession for Anne Arundel County but was not successful and is now looking to concentrate its efforts in the state on a recently acquired harness racing facility.
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