This Week in Horse Racing

Devil May Care Returns in Mother Goose

Devil May Care returned in style to capture the G1 Mother Goose at Belmont in her first start since finishing tenth as the only filly in this year's Kentucky Derby. Straight out of the gate, Katy Now secured the lead and set fast fractions in her stakes debut. Connie and Michael stalked the pace a length behind in second. Devil May Care settled in third on the far outside, staying out of trouble. Ailalea trailed in fourth with slow-breaking Biofuel just in behind her. There was no change in the positions as the field of five moved down the backstretch and into the far turn. At the top of the lane, Devil May Care cruised up on the outside to challenge Katy Now and secure the lead, moving to an easy length victory. Connie and Michael dropped back to fourth at the top of the lane, but re-rallied to take second. Biofuel closed well on the outside and took third.

Shadowbdancing Scores in This Year's Cornhusker

Shadowbdancing captured the G2 Cornhusker Handicap by a length after finishing second in the same race last year. It was the 5-year-old's first graded stakes victory. Shadowbdancing broke third and settled there on the outside early in the race. He moved up three wide on the far turn, dueled briefly with Racing Bran, and then pulled away to drift in and win by a length. Racing Bran broke quickly and secured the lead going into the first turn, setting moderate fractions. He gave way to Shadowbdancing but held on for second. Golden Yank was far back in the field early on, but rallied on the outside to finish a driving third.

Concord Point Dominates and Sets Track Record in Iowa Derby

Concord Point cruised to an 8 1/2-length victory in the G3 Iowa Derby, setting a new track record of 1:40.37 in his first graded stakes victory. The former track record was 1:40.82, set by Excessivepleasure on July 5, 2003. Concord Point broke from the far outside post and settled in second just behind pacesetter, Forestry Type. He moved up to pressure into the far turn and then stole the lead, drawing away and never looking back. Thiskyhasnolimit was far back in the strung-out field of six early on, but rallied into the far turn. He was taken wide by Winslow Homer in the far turn, but moved up to take second. Winslow Homer was third in behind Concord Point early on, moved wide into the turn, and held on to take third.

Seeking the Title Grabs Iowa Oaks

Seeking the Title swung to the outside and rallied to win by a half-length in the G3 Iowa Derby. It was Seeking the Title's first graded stakes win and came after a couple of rough races for the mare. She dropped jockey Kent Desormeaux in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes May 14 and finished sixth after an extremely wide efford in the Acorn Stakes June 5. It was her first win since breaking her maiden back in February. Seeking the Title broke first out of the gate and shuffled back, settling in fourth on the ral in the backstretch. She moved up on the rail into the far turn, pulled hard to the outside entering the stretch, and rallied quickly to match up with Harissa and pull away at the wire to win. Harissa was fast out of the gate and second on the outside going into the first turn. She moved up into the far turn, dueling with All Due Respect into the backstretch and pulled away, but didn't have enough to hold off Seeking the Title. All Due Respect broke third and moved up on the outside to take the lead by a length going into the turn, setting moderate fractions. She continued on the lead through the backstretch and the far turn, but gave way to Harissa and faded to third in the stretch.

Just Louise Hot in Debutante

Three fillies looked to be very special in the G3 Debutante won by Just Louise in the final jump at the wire. The two-year-old filly is now undefeated in two starts. Salty Strike dueled on the inside with Big Sweets early on setting blazing hot fractions. Just Louise was behind them in third with Tristanme four or five lengths back in fourth. Just Louise moved up to challenge entering the turn while Tristanme made her move on the outside. Big Sweets faded fast, but Salty Strike held on to duel as Just Louise took the lead into the turn. It looked like Salty Strike would draw away to win in the stretch, but Just Louise came back on to win by a neck at the wire. Tristanme rallied quickly in deep stretch, gaining with every stride, but ran out of ground and finished second. Salty Strike gave way for third. It was seven and three-quarter lengths back to Internet Cafe in fourth.