This Week in Horse Racing

Happy Belmont week! I'm going to kick off today's post with a look at how this year's Belmont contenders are doing and then we'll see what the rest of the horse racing world is up to.

Belmont News

Stately Victor -- Was a few hours behind schedule but arrived safely at Belmont Park May 27. The colt galloped at easy 1 1/4 miles the day of the trip in preparation. He's entering the Belmont after finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby. On May 25 he worked five furlongs in :59.40 over Churchill Down's training track. He then galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.20.

Stay Put -- arrived on the sam flight as Victor and is adjusting well to his new surroundings. The colt's entering the Belmont off an allowance victory on the Kentucky Derby card.

Ice Box --worked a half-mile in :46 3/5 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga May 27 in preparation for the Belmont. The work was the fastest of 22 at the distance and was only a 1/5 of a second slower than the work he turned in before finishing a closing second in the Derby. Ice Box is scheduled to arrive at Belmont Park June 2.

Dave in Dixie -- may also be joining the field of Belmont starters. Worked a mile at Hollywood Park in 1:39.60 May 27. Was fifth in his first start on dirt, the G3 Illinois Derby, last out and has not won a race yet this year.

Uptowncharlybrown -- joined Kiaran McLaughlin's barn earlier this month and is targeting the Belmont. In addition to the trainer change, the colt will not go to the post with blinkers as he has in his last two races including a fast-closing third in the Lexington Stakes last out. Went five furlongs in 1:01.34 May 29.

Make Music for Me -- breezed after arriving at Belmont Park May 23 covering a mile in 1:43.65. Finished fourth after rallying from last in the Kentucky Derby last out. He breezed four furlongs in :48 3/5 May 10 and five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 May 16 over Keeneland's synthetic surface.

Drosselmeyer -- worked six furlongs in 1:14.10 at Belmont May 23. Has never been off the board in eight starts.

First Dude -- breezed five furlongs in 1:01.12 May 29. Was the Preakness runner-up.

Hour Glass Slips Through, Holds On to Take Vagrancy

Hour Glass, a Todd Pletcher-trained filly, won the G2 Vagrancy Handicap by a half-length May 29. The four-year-old mare came into the Vagrancy with two wins in four starts for this year. It was her first stakes win. Rightly So set fast fractions early in the race, but managed to hold on to place second by a neck. Tar Heel Mom ralled around the turn but hit the wall and settled for third.

Tizaqueena Pulls Off Wire-to-Wire Arlington Matron

Favorite Tizaqueena held on to the lead for a two-length win the G3 Arlington Matron Handicap May 29. It was her first start on a synthetic track after she finished fifth in the Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs May 1. Tizaqueena broke slow from post 10 and angled to the inside before taking the lead and loping through the slow early fractions. She stretched out coming into the stretch and never looked back. Floating Heart rallied four wide to edge out last year's Matron winner, Euphony, for second. It was the mare's third victory in four starts for this year and brings her record to 8-3-1 in 15 starts.

Ailalea Holds Off Longshot to Win Dogwood

Ailalea, fifth in the Kentucky Oaks, returned to win the G3 Dogwood Stakes, holding off a fast-closing Tap Tap Tapping to win by a length. It was Ailalea's first win since last fall's Tempted Stakes. Helen Belen and Visavis dueled for the lead through fast early fractions while Ailalea settled in third outside them. Leaving the far turn, Ailalea swept around them to take the lead and held off Tap Tap Tapping. Fuzzy Britches closed to finish third.

Country Flavor Scores Upset in Stakes Debut

21-1 longshot, Country Flavor, won his stakes debut, the G3 Hanshin Cup Handicap May 29. The 4-year-old tracked the early leaders and claimed the lead coming into the stretch to hold off a late charge to win by three-quarters of a length. Mad Flatter set a slow pace with Wildeydsouthernboy and Country Flavor settled in off the pace. Country Flabor moved up on the turn and stole the lead despite a slight bump from Mad Flatter entering the stretch. Recapturetheglory tried to rally, but didn't have it. Tybalt, however, came up with a late run, but ran out of track. The favorite, Gran Estreno, was a length back in third. Country Flavor was coming off three consecutive losses including a last-place finish in an optional claiming allowance in his turf debut last out. His last win was an optional claimer in January.

Riley Tucker Sails to Aristides Win

Riley Tucker rode the rail to win the G3 Aristides Stakes by two lengths. It was the five-year-old's second win of the year in six starts. Atta Boy Roy broke in the air but caught up with pacesetter, Chief of Affairs, and ran with him until Atta Boy Roy moved out in the stretch. Riley Tucker rallied on the rail to sweep past him in the final furlong. The favorite, Cash Refund, didn't have it and finished third.

Tuscan Evening Steals First Grade 1 Win in Gamely

Favorite, Tuscan Evening, earned her first grade I win by outfighting Forever Together to win the G1 Gamely Stakes by a half-length May 29. It was Tuscan Evening's fifth consecutive graded stakes victory and brings her over the $1 million mark in earnings. The five-year-old mare took the lead from pacesetter Cat by the Tale in the stretch and held off a late charge by Forever Together. It was her eleventh win in 15 starts since her arrival in the U.S. last year. She is undefeated in five starts this year. Cat by the Tale broke from the far outside and jumped to the front, setting a moderate pace. Tuscan evening raced a length behind in second with Forever Together in fifth going into the final turn. At the top of the stretch, Tuscan Evening moved out eagerly to duel Cat by the Tale. In mid-stretch, Tuscan Evening got her head in front and moved away. Forever Together moved past Cat by the Tale but couldn't catch Tuscan Evening.