Yes, there is life beyond the Preakness today. Racing from the Curragh to York in Europe and Arlington Park to Miles Park in America. All eyes are on Nyquist and the rest of the Preakness card, but there’s plenty of strong racing around the world. Here’s your Saturday Special presented by Pin Oak Stud, home of Alternation, Broken Vow and Cowboy Cal, for May 21. Stay out of the rain and enjoy.
Goodwood. Race 1. 9:15 a.m. Get your day started right with the first on a strong card at Goodwood. Glorious, not yet, but getting there.
York. Race 2. 9:40. Distance. That’s the best of British racing. The Grand Cup stretches listed stakes horses a mile and three quarters.
Newmarket. Race 4. 10:30. Algometer should win the Fairway Stakes. Of course, Tapit has a presence in England, too. His son, Tathqeef, lines up for John Gosden.
Haydock. Race 5. 11:10. The Group 2 Temple Stakes attracts Britain’s Ben’s Cat. Nine-year-old Sole Power aims at win No. 13.
Curragh. Race 5. 12:40 p.m. The Tattersalls Irish Two Thousand Guineas. The Group 1 stakes offers Air Force Blue a chance of redemption after a flop in the British Two Thousand Guineas. Galileo Gold tries to show that his upset win that day wasn’t a fluke. Aidan O’Brien sends out four of the eight starters.
Belmont Park. Race 2. 1:15. Second start in the country, Juddmonte, Bill Mott…go to the window. Suffused won’t offer a big return but you’ll have your Preakness money.
Curragh. Race 6. 1:15. The Lanwades Stud Stakes attracts seven fillies, including Godolphin’s Lucida, second in the One Thousand Guineas last year. She hasn’t run since July but doubt Jim Bolger at your peril.
Stratford. Race 4. 2:05. Jumping is slowing down but Stratford offers a $27,000 handicap hurdle on its card. Beltor continues to try to reclaim his career while Red Tornado aims at his fourth straight win and Moabit seeks his third. Good race.
Churchill Downs. Race 6. 3:16. Our favorite – long on the grass. The Louisville Handicap. Can Aldous Snow recapture old glory?
Canterbury Park. Race 4. 3:25. We should take a road trip to Canterbury. The Lady Slipper offers Minnesota-breds a big purse and black type. Sky And Sea, Thundering Honey, Stellabrini have met before.
Parx Racing. Race 7. 4:09. Maiden fillies sprint 6 furlongs.
Miles City. Race 2. 4:30. We need to take Miles Clancy to Miles City. He’d love the BHS Appaloosa and Paint Horse Futurity. It will be over quickly – 300 yards for $7,650.
Woodbine. Race 8. 4:32. The Queenston offers $150,00 to Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Mark Casse and Conquest Stable cast a long shadow with two of the five runners.
Delaware Park. Race 8. 4:45. Former jockey Clyde Martin has a big opportunity for Augustin Stable. He sends out first-time starter Believe In Angels.
Prairie Meadows. Race 8. 5:12. The John Wayne. Just say it, “We won the John Wayne.” Shock Hazard should have been a John Wayne movie, the 5-year-old son of Dunkirk will be on the lead.
Monmouth Park. Race 10. 5:28. Bradester, at 7/5, looms large in the Majestic Light.
Arlington Park. Race 7. 5:44. The Hanshin Cup anchors the return of Arlington Park. Grade 3 stakes offers Midwest stakes horses a diving board into their summer forays. Nine-year-old Mister Marti Gras snapped a losing streak at Tampa in April, he’s actually cross-entered in the third as well. Cool horse, still going strong.
Churchill. Race 11. 5:52. We tried to buy Thatcher Street when he was a long-trying maiden. He’s not a maiden any more. Son of Street Sense seeks his first stakes win after several runner-up efforts last year.
Belmont. Race 10. 6:07. Lightstream seeks her third win in the Soaring Softly. Plenty of Main Track Only entries and others looking for the dirt.
Belmont. Race 11. 7:06. Deep into the evening, the Vagrancy Handicap looks like a lay-up for 1/5 Paulassilverlining.
Hastings Park. Race 6. 7:50. Mario Gutierrez’s old friends head out for the feature, a $27,000 allowance, wondering what went wrong.
Santa Anita. Race 9. 7:57. Still revving after the Preakness? The Kona Gold should keep it rolling. Wild Dude and San Onofre clash again, while Subtle Indian tries to build on his four-race win streak at Oaklawn Park.
Santa Anita. Race 10. 8:27. Mizdirection already has a race named after her. Perfect race, down the hill at Santa Anita.
