Ron Correll
Senior columnist

The New York Handicap at Belmont Park was supposed to be a walk in the park Saturday for Mauralakana according to the bettors who sent her off as the 4-5 favorite. Dynaforce saw things differently as she gave Mauralakana all she could handle in the race at Elmont, N.Y.

Mauralakana won but not before she survived a stretchlong dual with Dynaforce, who was making her first start in the United States, and her first start in 10 months.

Bob Hill
Staff writer

Various leaders of the horse racing industry appeared before a Congressional hearing of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection on June 19.  The message they heard from committee members was neither unexpected nor pleasant.  Committee vice-chair Janet Schakowsky of Illinois opened the hearing by telling those assembled that, “It seems greed has trumped the health of horses, the safety of jockeys, and the integrity of the sport.”

Graham Ross
Arlington Park

Fifty-seven different horses, including all six of last season’s Prairie State Festival winners, have been named to the six stakes races that comprise Saturday’s ninth running of Prairie State Festival at Arlington Park.

The six $100,000 races that make up the Prairie State Festival are:

Tracksideview staff reports

Michael Iavarone, co-owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, announced Thursday that the colt’s next start would be in the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 3 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Big Brown will try to return to his dominating ways in the Haskell after finishing last in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 when he was going for the Triple Crown.

Edited Churchill Downs report)

With a dominant 4¼-length victory by reigning “Horse of the Year” Curlin in the $1 million Stephen Foster Handicap (Grade 1) behind him, trainer Steve Asmussen was looking toward the future for his champion on Sunday morning.  And the immediate future lookd like grass.

(Edited Hollywood Park report)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Irish-bred Cedar Mountain rallied from last en route to a 2 3/4-length victory under jockey Alonso Quinonez in course record time of 2:53.65 for a mile and three-quarters in the second running of the $75,750 Round Table Handicap on Saturday at Hollywood Park. 

Cedar Mountain, last most of the way, moved into contention on the outside nearing the quarter pole and easily closed from fifth at the top of the stretch, taking command…

Sally Kohl
Editor

Dreaming of Anna finished off Super Saturday at Churchill Downs with an easy win in the Mint Julep Handicap in Louisville, Ky.

The homebred daughter of Rahy was the first out of the gate under jockey Garrett Gomez, but she had company from Street Sounds as they headed for the first turn. Robby Albarado and Street Sounds kept the pressure on as they rounded the turn and hit the quarter in :24.23 seconds.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

The Dubai malaise. High weight. Drawing the rail. And even an attempt at boxing him in down the backstretch, didn’t keep reigning Horse of the Year Curlin from dominating the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs.

Curlin once again proved why he is the best horse on the planet when he overcame those obstacles to keep his 2008 record perfect Saturday in Louisville, Ky.

Sally Kohl
Editor

Hystericalady proved she could win at Churchill Downs when she easily handled four other fillies and mares Saturday in the $300,000 Fleur De Lis Handicap in Louisville, Ky.

The 5-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor stubbed her toe when she was third in the Humana Distaff on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

Curlin returns Saturday in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and to quote a ‘famous’ New York trainer, the results are not a ‘foregone conclusion.’

The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike is embarking on the second half of the 2008 season in the $1 million race. Curlin spent part of his winter and early spring in Dubai where he ran in the Jaguar Trophy Handicap and the Dubai World Cup, which he…