Bob Mieszerski
Hollywood Park

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Nereid, who finished in a dead heat with Cambina in the Grade I American Oaks last July 16, will make her 4-year-old debut in the $100,000 Wilshire Handicap Sunday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

A Grade III at one mile on turf, the Wilshire is the eighth of nine races. Post time is 1 p.m.

Owned by Eric Kronfeld and trained by John Shirreffs, Nereid hasn’t run since finishing third in the Grade…

Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Belmont Park

ELMONT, N.Y. – To Honor and Serve, Jersey Town and Boys at Tosconova – Grade 1 winners all – headline Saturday’s 83rd running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Westchester, the first of 35 stakes at Belmont Park’s 2012 spring/summer meet.

The one-mile Westchester, the traditional prep for the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap on Memorial Day, drew a field of seven accomplished runners, with 2011 Cigar Mile Handicap winner To Honor and Serve tabbed the…

Bob Mieszerski
Hollywood Park

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Acclamation, the champion older male of 2011, has had his comeback put on hold.

The two-time winner of both the Jim Murray and Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicaps was scratched from Friday night’s $100,000 Inglewood Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Don Warren, who trains the 6-year-old California bred for owner-breeders Bud and Judy Johnston and Peter and Mary Hilvers, said the decision was made after the son of Unusual Heat galloped Thursday morning.…

Bob Mieszerski
Hollywood Park

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – American Act will return to turf in the $70,000-added Harry Henson Stakes when Betfair Hollywood Park kicks off its 73rd Spring/Summer meet Thursday.

A six furlong turf race for 3-year-olds, the Henson is the seventh of eight races. Post time is 1 p.m.

Owned by Howard and Janet Siegel and trained by Jack Carava, American Act is shortening up after finishing seventh of 10 in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes March…

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – The storied San Juan Capistrano Handicap closes out Santa Anita’s 75th racing season on Sunday with course specialist Bourbon Bay an overwhelming favorite to dominate the 73rd running of the Grade II, $150,000 marathon distinguished as the United States’ lengthiest graded turf stakes event at 1¾ miles.

The San Juan Capistrano, whose rich history includes the names of such racing giants as Seabiscuit, Cougar II and John Henry, will be presented as…

Jon Forbes
NYRA/Aqueduct Racetrack

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome, the final graded stakes of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter/spring meet, will feature a diverse cast, including stakes winner The Lumber Guy, when the 142nd edition is held on Saturday.

The Lumber Guy, who suffered his first defeat when fifth in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial on April 7, will look to regain the winning thread in the one-mile Jerome.

The…

(Edited Santa Anita Park report)

ARCADIA, Calif. – Returning to grass footing and dropping in class, Jerry and Ann Moss’s Blingo likely will be a prohibitive favorite among five 3-year-olds in Friday’s $75,000 La Puente Stakes at 1 1/8 miles over Santa Anita’s Camino Real Turf Course.

The gelded son of Artie Schiller won his racing debut by 2 ¼ lengths while going one mile on turf at Hollywood Park last November before finishing sixth in a pair of non-turf…

Amy Gregory
Keeneland Association Inc.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Caroline Forgason’s Somali Lemonade, winner of the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) here last fall, and Jerry Frankel, Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Dayatthespa, winner of the Herecomesthebride (G3) this March at Gulfstream Park, headline a field of nine 3-year-old fillies entered Sunday for Thursday’s 24th running of the $100,000 Appalachian (G3) at a mile on the turf.

The Appalachian, won last year by Winter Memories, will go as the…

(NYRA release)

ELMONT, N.Y. Zayat Stables’ Dan and Sheila, 11th behind Hansen in the Grade 3 Gotham last time out, will make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, April 21.

“We were obviously disappointed with his last race, but he’s come back with a series of solid works,” said Todd Pletcher’s assistant, Mike McCarthy, adding that the 3-year-old More Than ready colt will breeze again Sunday for the one-mile Jerome, the final…

Ashley Herriman
NYRA/Aqueduct Racetrack

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Dual Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky will cut back to seven furlongs as she heads a field of seven fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Godolphin Racing’s star filly marked herself as one of 2011’s top sophomores when she defeated multiple graded stakes winner Turbulent Descent in the Grade 1 TVG Acorn at Belmont Park last June. The daughter of Mineshaft won the…