BALTIMORE, Md. – Team Valor International and Mark Ford’s Went the Day Well galloped 1¼ miles under exercise rider Zeke Castro at Pimlico Race Course Friday morning.

Castro has noticed a sharp increase in focus from the son of Proud Citizen since his victory in the Spiral Stakes (G3) at Turfway Park, which was followed by an unlucky, fast-closing fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

“After the Turfway race, he’s figured out he can do more and more,” the native of Argentina said. “The improved focus can be attributed to the addition of blinkers following an impressive, but green performance in the Spiral. It became clear that Went the Day Will would benefit from the new equipment.  I breezed him one day at Keeneland, and, oh, my God, I thought I was going to get fired.  I knew I had a lot of horse, but he didn’t want to go when I asked him. He just wanted to play with his company. He didn’t mind if he was going slower or faster, he just didn’t want to go by his company,” Castro said.

After jockey John Velazquez subsequently breezed Went the Day Well at Keeneland, trainer Graham Motion made the decision to add blinkers for the Derby.

Castro has been working for Motion for more than a year, but their association goes back five years.

“He’s the one who signed my visa to come from Argentina,” said Castro, whose brother, Gabriel, was working for Motion at the time.

Castro only worked for Motion as a groom and hotwalker for a short time.

“I wanted to ride. I knew that the horses (at Motion’s Fair Hill Training Center stable), I wouldn’t be allowed to start riding, because in Argentina we ride with no saddle. I had to start over,” Castro said. “So, I started breaking babies (in Brooksfield, Fla.). One of the babies I broke is running in (Saturday’s President of UAE Cup Series race at Pimlico), Grilla.”

Castro went on to work for trainer Steve Margolis in Delaware, Kentucky and Louisiana for three years before returning to Fair Hill Training Center to work for Motion.

 Maryland Jockey Club photo
Went the Day Well

BALTIMORE, Md. – Cathal A. Lynch’s Universal Language caught breakaway leader Franstein in deep stretch to win the $25,000 Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap, the opening race on Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan Day program at Pimlico Race Course.

A field of seven met the starter in the 1 1/16-mile test for Maryland-bred fillies and mares who had started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less in 2011-2012. Kendrick Carmouche rode the daughter of Dance with Ravens, who is trained by her owner. Franstein held on to finish second, a 1 ½ lengths behind the winner. Congaree Princess rallied to take third.

Universal Language, who was winning for the fifth time in seven starts this year, covered the distance in 1:47.31 and paid $3.40.

Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap Quotes:

Tom Foley (assistant to winning trainer Cathal Lynch, Universal Language) – “This is a very tough mare. She’s always a very tough mare. She won her last race here easily. I thought we were in a good spot today. This is a very nice win for us, because the trainer’s two sons, Charlie and Anthony, own this horse. The horse was very calm coming down and very quiet in the stall. But as soon as she hit the track, she woke up.”

Kendrick Carmouche (winning jockey, Universal Language) – “We wanted to sit a little bit closer with the short field. She broke a step slow, so I just sat on her. You just sit on her, and she always makes her same run and switches over. I knew once I got to the eighth-pole, we had it won. She always gives me a good kick.”

PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Universal Language wins Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Danderek led throughout to win for the first time in the United States in a $57,940 optional claimer Thursday at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Owned by Vegas Racing Team LLC and trained by Francesco Santella, the 6-year-old Fantastic Light gelding was ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr. and completed the 1 ¼ miles on turf in 2:02.05.

Out of the Grand Lodge mare Maureena, Danderek has won five of 22 and earned $72,502.

Able to get away with pedestrian fractions (25.46, 50.14, 1:14.24 and 1:38.31 for the mile), the 5-1 shot had more than enough left in the final two furlongs to hold off the late run of Renegade Storm by 1½ lengths.

In providing Santella with his first win of 2012, Danderek, who was making his fourth start in this country, paid $12, $6.40 and $3.60.

If Danderek is going to win back-to-back, the English bred will do so for new connections. He was claimed for $40,000 by trainer Dan Blacker for owners Dan Capen and Gary Margolis.

Never better than third in five previous tries over the Betfair Hollywood Park grass, Renegade Storm returned $6.40 and $4. The show price on Antidote, the 5-2 favorite and the winner’s closest pursuer for most of the trip, was $2.80. He wound up a half-length behind Renegade Storm.

Completing the order of finish were Falcon Rock, who has lost 16 in a row since winning his U.S. debut March 6, 2010, Jairzinho, Erbeia and Ain, the 5-2 second choice.

Jockeys Agapito Delgadillo and Joe Talamo both won twice Thursday. Talamo, who won the second with Whole Enchilada and the fourth with Awe’ Some Kitten, is tied for the lead in the rider standings with Rafael Bejarano. Through 13 days of the Spring/Summer meet, Bejarano and Talamo each have 13 victories.

Delgadillo, who took the opener with Quick Answer and the fifth with Sizzling Gold, has nine wins, leaving him tied for third with Joel Rosario.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won the eighth with favored Visible Marq to extend his lead in the standings. The defending Spring/Summer champ, Baffert has 13 wins, eight more than runner-up Peter Miller.

Racing resumes Friday. Post time is 7:05 p.m.

Friday’s selection comes from Pimlico with the 88th Running of The Black-Eyed Susan. Normally the second leg of the filly Triple Crown, today’s contest is short on Kentucky Oaks players, as in none, but nevertheless long on talent. A field of nine is scheduled for this mile and a eighth test, so let’s get started.

Race 10 – Pimlico – post time: 4:46 p.m. EDT

GLINDA THE GREAT (1), and she is at the mile route where she’s won two of her last three, and showed in the Grade 2 Pocahontas last October at Churchill. Interesting entry here, as this Asmussen trained filly by Hard Spun stays close to the leaders, and has shown a solid close. Take a good look here.

DISPOSABLE PLEASURE (2), though she showed last out in the Fair Grounds Oaks, it was facing a field of five, and that try was on the heels of an equally disappointing effort in the Davona Dale. I’m not sold on this Pletcher starter.

WELCOME GUEST (3), rallied to place last out in the Comely, but wasn’t making up ground to the winner. Solid connections abound here, out of Unbridled’s Song, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Ramon Dominguez, this filly knows who she’s chasing, and should sit just off the pace. An obvious player.

MAMMA KIMBO (4), just like Bob Baffert’s Preakness starter, Bodemeister, this girl loved Oaklawn, as she withstood a challenge in the Grade 2 Fantasy last out, and posted a bullet work at Churchill before shipping here. This is a run and gun spot, can she hold on, I think at least for second.

OAKS LILY (5) broke her maiden last month over Keeneland’s all-weather main, but this will be her second real dirt start, with the first ending in a stop effort. I’m looking elsewhere.

PLUM (6), Maryland-bred can hold her own against “shore” types, but not facing this bunch.

IN LINGERIE (7), Pletcher-trained daughter of Empire Maker enters on the strength of a demonstrative Grade 3 Bourbonette score, which was her second over the synthetics of TurfwayPark. Running on the dirt two back at Gulfstream, girl had issues in the starting gate, and it cost her late. I like her in this spot, to at least hit the board and bring some value to the exotics.

WILDCAT’S SMILE (8), filly by Forest Wildcat has never missed a board finish in her seven career starts, and was just a nose off in the Demoiselle. Trainer Dominic Galluscio is solid in these spots, and with Rosie Napravnik in the irons, these fillies should take to this distance, and at very playable odds. I’m including, and considering for the top-spot.

ZUCCHINI FLOWERS (9), eeking-out a nose score two back against overnighters at Aqueduct, this daughter of Flower Alley wilted in last against the same but at Belmont. Graham Motion conditioned, this girl still has work to do before competing with these.

Hall of Famer Mike Smith will get a taste of what fellow inductee Johnny Velasquez got during the Kentucky Oaks, a hard ride by the lady, Rosie Napravnik, as she guides Wildcat’s Smile to a stirring photo win over Mamma Kimbo. I’m putting Glinda The Great, along with In Lingerie to fill out the tri’s and supers. Rick’s picks: 8-4-1-7.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jay Em Ess Stable’s She’s Picky rallied down the Churchill Downs stretch and edged passed pacesetter and favorite Doilookfatnthese inside the sixteenth pole to win the $57,528 Thursday afternoon feature for fillies and mares by one length.

Ridden by Corey Lanerie and trained by Paul McGee, She’s Picky covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:45.55.

A 4-year-old daughter of Maria’s Mon, She’s Picky won for the third time in her 10th career start and increased her lifetime earnings to $117,351 with Thursday’s check of $34,800.

She’s Picky returned $13.80, $5.20 and $3.60. Doilookfatnthese, ridden by Miguel Mena, returned $3.60 and $2.60 with Puddy Tap finishing 3¾ lengths back in third under Shaun Bridgmohan and paying $3.40 to show.

Racing continues Friday with an 11-race Twilight Racing program that begins at 2:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). Racing will be followed by the second Paddock Concert Series of the Spring Meet featuring Citizen Cope, who is scheduled to take to the Paddock Stage with his unique blend of hip-hop, rock, blue and soul at approximately 8 p.m.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trickmeister took the lead and never looked back Thursday afternoon at Belmont Park, defeating 2011 Travers winner Stay Thirsty in the $90,000 Vanlandingham overnight stakes.

Away sharply under Ramon Dominguez, Trickmeister led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.23 and a half in 45.72. Stay Thirsty, who had pressed the pacesetter though the first half-mile, dropped back briefly to third before rallying through the stretch to finish 1¾ lengths behind the winner. Trickmeister, who completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.86, returned $4.80 as the 7-5 second choice. His final time was .48 seconds off the track record of 1:39.38 set by Birdrun in 2009.

“That was a tough customer he faced today, and we couldn’t be happier,” said Rick Dutrow, Jr., who trains Trickmeister for IEAH Stables and Pegasus Holding Group. “He ran big today. He had pressure on him the whole way, and Ramon said every time he asked him and needed him, the horse responded the right way. So, we’re very excited.”

Mike Repole’s Stay Thirsty, the even-money favorite, was making his first start since finishing 11th in last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was pleased with the colt’s 4-year-old debut.

“You figure in a race like this you wouldn’t have to set a track record in order to win, but (Trickmeister) ran an awfully good race and you have to give him credit for that,” said Pletcher. “Coming off a six-month layoff and giving a horse like (Trickmeister) six pounds is a tall order. Alan (Garcia aboard fourth-place finisher Joan’s Choice) was holding him in, so (Stay Thirsty) had no place to go. He got shuffled back, and we were giving the entire field six pounds and hadn’t run in six months. You wouldn’t expect to have to run 1:39 3/5 to win, but that’s what we would have had to do. For where we were and where we wanted to be, this is a good start.”

“It didn’t work out for today, but in the long term this was a very good return race for him,” added Stay Thirsty’s jockey, Javier Castellano. “He has gotten bigger and stronger from last year, and he is a very mature and intelligent horse.”

According to their respective trainers, the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap, run at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course, is a major target for both horses.

“Naturally, our goal is the Whitney,” said Dutrow. “I’d like to get another one of these races into him, and then run him in the Whitney. He loves that track up there. I’m hoping he stays together the right way. And I’m hoping we get to run him in another race like this where he shows up again. And then we’ll be extremely excited.”

Trickmeister’s only loss to date came earlier this year in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at GulfstreamPark, in which he finished sixth after setting the pace. The 5-year-old son of Proud Citizen is 6-0-0 from seven career starts, with $251,200 in earnings.

Arthur’s Tale finished 3½ lengths behind Stay Thirsty, followed by Joan’s Choice and Sastre. Swag Daddy was scratched.

NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Trickmeister defeats Stay Thirsty in the $90,000 Vanlandingham overnight stakes.

BALTIMORE, Md. – Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Bodemeister made his first visit to the main track at Pimlico Thursday morning, galloping 1½ miles under exercise rider George Alvarez after the renovation break.

“He was not looking around. He was all business out there,” Alvarez said of the colt who was shipped to Pimlico on Wednesday from Churchill Downs.

Owned by Zayat Stables LLC and Michel and Tiffany Moreno, Bodemeister drew post position No. 7 and was installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the field of 11 for the Preakness.

“He drew well,” five-time Preakness winning trainer Bob Baffert said of Bodemeister. “I didn’t want to be inside.”

Baffert left Louisville the day after Bodemeister’s Derby run and returned to Churchill Downs on Monday to confirm the colt’s status for the Preakness. He liked what he saw Monday and he liked what he saw this morning at Pimlico.
“His first day here went well. It looks like he took to the track nicely,” Baffert said. “He was pretty cool out there. I am not seeing anything to make me think anything different about him. He bounced right out of the Derby. His weight has held. He can handle it.”

Mike Smith has the return call on Bodemeister, who led the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field through sizzling fractions before yielding to I’ll Have Another just before the sixteenth pole and finishing 1½ lengths back.

“I was proud of him,” Baffert said. “He ran his race. When he cut the corner and opened up at the head of the stretch, I thought ‘maybe,’ but I could see at the eighth pole he was getting tired. He got beat a length and a half and held on for second. That was not disappointing. It was nothing like with Cavonnier (when Grindstone beat him by a nose at the wire in the 1996 Derby). Nothing was worse than the Cavonnier loss.”

Bodemeister figures to be on the lead again Saturday, most likely with the Derby winner close by.

“It will probably be the two of us unless somebody else wants to join the fray,” said Baffert, when asked to assess the field. “I figure the horses coming out of the Derby are the biggest threats. I don’t know much about the new shooters.”

Never worse than second in five starts in a career that did not begin until mid-January, Bodemeister already is a millionaire.

“I enjoy watching him run,” Baffert said. “He’s a pretty tough horse.”

PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Bodemeister gets a feel for the Pimlico track.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Ken & Sarah Ramsey’s Lonesome Street, winner of the Grade II Commonwealth at Keeneland in April, headlines a field of 10 entered for Saturday’s Grade III $150,000 Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park.

The Hanshin, a one-mile race over Polytrack, is the first event on Arlington Park’s 26-race $5.8 million stakes schedule and is being run for the 18th time as an exchange race with the Japan Racing Association which annually hosts the Arlington Cup.

A 5-year-old Broken Vow horse, Lonesome Street stretches out to a mile for the Hanshin after posting a 2¼-length victory over seven furlongs in the Commonwealth, his only win this year and lone tally over a synthetic surface. His two previous 2012 starts were over grass at the Fair Grounds where he finished fifth in both the Grade III Col. E. R. Bradley Handicap and the listed Colonel Power Stakes. Arlington’s defending riding champion James Graham picks up the mount aboard the Mike Maker trainee.

Two other graded stakes winners are included among the starting line-up – Silverton Hill LLC’s Havelock and Frank Mancari’s Free Fighter.

The former, a gelded son of Great Notion, finished third in last year’s Hanshin but followed that up with victories in the $100,000 Arlington Sprint and the Grade II Play the King at Woodbine. In addition, the Darrin Miller-trained 5-year-old captured the Grade III Woodford at Keeneland last fall. Most recently, he finished fourth in the Grade III Shakertown at Keeneland last month. Florent Geroux has the call.

The latter, an Illinois-bred son Out of Place, won the Grade III Stars and Stripes over Arlington’s Polytrack last summer. Trained by Mike Reavis, the 7-year-old gelding has made just one start this year, finishing last of nine in the $60,000 Cryptoclearance Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course on April 7. Tim Thornton will ride.

Others of note entered in the Hanshin include Jim Tafel’s Fast Alex (Francisco Torres), runner-up in both the $100,000 Louisiana Handicap and the Grade III Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds earlier this year; Team Block’s Ioya Bigtime (Jeffrey Sanchez), a runner-up on Polytrack in the Grade II Fayette Stakes at Keeneland last fall; Peter J. Callaghan’s Scotus (Manoel Cruz), a winner over Keeneland’s Polytrack in his lone start this year; Clovertowne Farm’s Taptowne, victor in back-to-back starts at Hawthorne including a 1 ¼-length tally in the Cryptoclearance.

The remainder of the field for the Hanshin (with jockey listed) are: Starlight Partners’ Achaemenes (E. T. Baird), a winner in one of three starts in 2012; Terry Hamilton & Robert Morgan’s Gleam of Hope (Channing Hill), a victor over Arlington’s Polytrack two weeks ago; and Ashbrook Farm’s San Antone (Rosemary Homeister Jr.), who posted a front-running score at Keeneland last month.

ELMONT, N.Y. – With four great live bands, a straw beach mat giveaway, a special appearance by racing legends Steve Cauthen and Jorge Velasquez and world-class stakes racing, the biggest beach party on Long Island is set for Memorial Day weekend at BelmontPark.

The festivities kick off on Saturday, May 26 as jockeys Cauthen and Velasquez autograph postcards to commemorate the unforgettable 1978 Triple Crown, won by Affirmed over archrival Alydar. With the 18-year-old Cauthen aboard, Affirmed beat Alydar by a mere head in the 1½-mile Belmont Stakes to become the 11th and most recent horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, held this year on Saturday, June 9. The postcards will be given away free, with paid admission, at the park entrances. The autograph signing will be $5.00, with all proceeds to be donated to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund.

The first of four live bands for the holiday weekend takes to Belmont’s backyard stage on Saturday, with Therapy Band serving up Caribbean and Calypso fare beginning at noon. On track, turf fillies and mares contest the Grade 2, $200,000 SheepsheadBay, with The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) offering a guaranteed $350,000 Late Pick 4 on Saturday.

The beach party continues on Sunday, May 27, with live parrots, a tropical obstacle course, a surf board simulator, and the Under The Sea inflatable, all free for kids in the backyard as Family Fun Day begins at noon. On stage, The Young Rebel Goombahs will be playing reggae-themed rock.

On Monday, May 28, fans can get the perfect summer accessory – a BelmontPark straw beach mat – with paid admission while supplies last. Memorial Day will also offer not one, but two live bands: the Island Breeze Trio in the Paddock Tent and the Jimmy Buffet tribute band, Barometer Soup, on the backyard stage.

Adding to the excitement is a $500,000 Guaranteed All Graded Stakes Pick 4, comprising the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap; the Grade 1, $400,000 Ogden Phipps; the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point.

The prestigious Met Mile is expected to bring together some of the top older horses in the nation, including Grade 1 Carter Handicap hero Jackson Bend and runner-up Caleb’s Posse; 2011 Preakness hero Shackleford, winner of the Grade 2 Churchill Downs last time out, and 2011 Cigar Mile Handicap victor To Honor and Serve, most recently triumphant in the Grade 3 Westchester. In its new spot on the calendar, the Ogden Phipps for fillies and mares should bring together multiple Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky and last year’s winner, Awesome Maria, riding a six-race winning streak, while the one-mile Acorn, also run on Memorial Day for the first time, is likely to attract some of the country’s top 3-year-old fillies.

Race 9 – Belmont Park – Saturday, May 19 – Affirmed Success Stakes – post time: 5:07 p.m. EDT

First – Saginaw (3): This was a very talented horse earlier in his career, but as of late he’s been coming into his own again winning four races in a row pretty easily. This horse seems to be the speed of the race he should have no problem getting an easy lead and taking it home. If he runs back to any of his past four races he shouldn’t even be close to being touched in this spot.

Second – Mine over Matter (6): Ran a very impressive race last time out in the slop at the “Big A” getting up just in time after having to come into the stretch five wide. Hopefully that race is able to get this horse back on track and could give him a solid shot in here.

Third – Law Enforcement (5): This horse ran very well his last time out posting the second best Beyer of his career. Maybe he turned the corner, but if he did then why did he have the long layoff? He does like the track though coming in first or second seven of thirteen times he has run at Belmont. Could be good enough, but layoff worries me.