This Week in Horse Racing

Smiling Tiger Goes Wire to Wire

Smiling Tiger led the field all the way and held off favorite, Concord Point, on his way to victory in the G3 Lazaro Barrera Memorial Stakes. It was Tiger's first graded stakes win. It was Smiling Tiger's first win since dominating in the Lost in the Fog Stakes by eight lengths last June. Smiling Tiger claimed the lead right out of the gate and led by a length over Macias and Concord Point. The trio relaxed into the backstretch with Tiger clicking off fast fractions. Tiger held onto the lead with Macias and Concord Point edging up on him into the backstretch. Concord Point continued to edge into Tiger's lead, but failed to move fast enough and finished second by a half-length. Domonation moved up with a late run to finish third.

Free Fighter Upsets in Louisville Handicap

Free Fighter stole the lead and drew off to post a 12-1 upset in the 1 1/2-mile G3 Louisville Handicap over the Chuchill Downs turf course. Free Fighter stayed just off the pace through the race while moving a little wide while Eagle Poise and the favorite, Telling, battled for the early lead. With three furlongs left to go, Free Fighter moved up on the outside and pulled clear in the stretch. Bearpath made a late run to finish second by two lengths. Brass Hat failed to hold on and finished third.

Treat Gently Gets First U.S. Win

Treat Gently, a group II winner in France, won her first U.S. stakes race in the G2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes over Belmont's turf. The 5-year-old mare swept past the leader going into the stretch and drew away to win by 4 1/2 lengths. She settled in second as Pari clicked off slow fractions. Treat Gently closed in the final turn and took control at the top of the stretch from Pari. Nahantic Kat rallied from last and got up for second in the final strides over Bubbly Jane. Treat Gently made her first American start last July where she defeated an allowance field at Belmont before running sixth in the E.P. Taylor Stakes in Canada. She returned in 2010 to finish second in the G2 San Gorgonio Handicap, seventh in the G2 Santa Ana Handicap, and sixth in the G2 Jenny Wiley Stakes.

Avenue of Flags Euthanized

The 22-year-old stallion, Avenue of Flags, was euthanized after an accident in his paddock May 14. He had been moved to Winners Circle in New Mexico last fall for the 2010 breeding season. Avenue of Flags has sired 500 foals from 18 crops including 20 stakes winners such as last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag. Avenue of Flags made only three starts in his racing career. He broke his maiden first out, ran second to Deposit Ticket in the G2 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes, and then went on to win an allowance in his first and only start as a three-year-old. Avenue of Flags is also the sire of grade I winners, Joey Franco and Notable Career, and grade II winners Belle's Flag, Fleet Lady and Victor Avenue.

Belmont News, Field Uncertain as Third Jewel Approaches

With the third jewel of the Triple Crown only two weeks away, the field is still shifting and changing. Spangled Star has been added to the field while New Madrid has been withdrawn. Spangled Star finished third in the G3 Withers Stakes April 24. New Madrid finished fifth in an allowance May 20 and with skip the Belmont. Make Music for Me, fourth in the Kentucky Derby, arrived at Belmont Park May 17 and is still a possibility. Devil May Care, the lone filly in the Kentucky Derby who finished tenth, will go towards the Mother Goose Stakes instead of the Belmont. Ice Box, second in the Kentucky Derby and probable morning-line favorite for the Belmont, turned in his first work since the Derby. He covered four furlongs in :49.65 at Saturday May 19. Another Zito horse, the Dwyer winner, Fly Down, is also pointing towards the Belmont. Lookin' at Lucky, the Preakness winner, will also be skipping the Belmont along with Kentucky Derby winner, Super Saver. It's the first year since 2006 that neither the Derby nor Preakness winner will compete. Setsuko, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby, is laid up for a couple months because of inflammation in his ankles and will miss the Belmont. Dublin, seventh in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness, will skip the Belmont. Had he gone, Dublin would have been the only 3-year-old to run in all three legs. Stay Put worked six furlongs in 1:14 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Belmont. The probable field is currently at about ten including Ice Box, Fly Down, Drosselmeyer, First Dude, Game on Dude, Make Music for Me, Stately Victor, Spangled Star, and Uptowncharlybrown.

Pure Clan Out Until July

After being diagnosed with a bruised left front food, the five-year-old turf mare will be returning to training in early July. When the mare refused to train, it was feared that her racing career might be coming to an end. After a visit to Rood & Riddle, she was laid off at the farm. Pure Clan hasn't raced since finishing second in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She was turned out for the winter and was working lightly towards her 2010 debut.

Marquetry Pensioned at 23

Marquetry has been pensioned from study duty because of declining fertility at 23 years old. he was standing his first year at Stonewall Farm in Ocala, Florida. Marquetry covered 38 mares this season before being pensioned. He sired 35 stakes winners and45 stakes-placed runners. He also sired two Breeders' Cup Sprint winners: Artax in 1999, and Squirtle in 2001. He's also the sire of graded winners American Freedom, Max's Pal, Mass Market, and Unanme.

Bellamy Road's First Start Wins First Race

Bellamy Road received his first winner as a sire when the filly, Bella Palooza, won her first race, a maiden at Hollywood Park. Bellamy Road won the 2005 Wood Memorial Stakes by over 17 lengths.