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Tom Law 
Alessandro “Alex” Sano is getting an education on two fronts. The 20-year-old biology and pre-vet major at the University of Central Florida also is a key part of dad Antonio Sano’s racing operation that includes Gunnevera, who runs in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
Whether working for his late Hall of Fame father or since going out on his own now 20 years ago, trainer Jimmy Jerkens has been around good horses all his life. He’s confident his current stable star will wind up shining brightest of all.
The Maryland Jockey Club’s publicity staff rolls out quality work, especially in the two weeks between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and we’re pleased to present it for the third straight year in what we call the Preakness Preview Bucket. We go back a few days for the first installment this year, when the MJC crew caught up with longtime exercise rider Nick Bush.
The second Sunday in May means it’s Mother’s Day around the country and there’s an eight-race card at Belmont Park to keep everyone occupied after celebrating with Mom at brunch.
A lot of rain is in the forecast for Saturday at Belmont; a whole lot of rain, like nearly 2 inches worth. The forecast isn’t scaring off The Saratoga Special’s John Shapazian, who hopes to maintain his hot start to the spring-summer meeting on Saturday’s stakes-rich card.
Hopefully you’ve been paying attention, reading and making smart wagers on the selections from The Saratoga Special’s John Shapazian over the first two weeks of the Belmont Park spring-summer meeting. If not fear not, there’s still a lot of time to pad that bankroll before Belmont Stakes weekend and even before Memorial Day.
Spend roughly 14 hours in the car yesterday driving from Lexington to Saratoga – thanks for the accident Cincinnati, costing me an hour – and wondered what things might look like back home after two-plus weeks on the road.
Standing on the hill at Keeneland, outside Doug O’Neill’s barn and waiting for Blue Grass winner Irap to go to the track for his final workout before last weekend’s Kentucky Derby, a colleague pitched a question that got me thinking.
Kentucky horseman again shined on the Kentucky Derby Day card, capturing the four graded stakes events leading up to the run for the roses the day after enjoying plenty of success on the Kentucky Oaks Day undercard.
More rainfall and cool temperatures threatened less-than-ideal racing conditions once again as a crowd of 158,070 rolled into Churchill Downs Saturday for the 143rd renewal of the Kentucky Derby. The rain let up with overcast skies by the time the stakes action started and the sun even made an appearance at various times, giving glimmers of hope to fans and horsemen alike.
