Tom Law

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicked off Thursday with a trio of stakes – congrats to the connections of Cambier Parc, Maryanorginger and Significant Form – and rolls on Friday with a five-pack to set the stage for Saturday’s main event.

A field of 10 led by Wood Memorial winner and narrow morning-line favorite Tacitus and Preakness Stakes winner War Of Will was entered Tuesday for the 151st running of the Belmont Stakes that brings a memorable 2019 Triple Crown to a close Saturday at Belmont Park.

A week out from the Belmont Stakes, a week removed from the end of the spring steeplechase season at Fair Hill and another busy Saturday of racing on tap from around the world.

Memorial Day Weekend came and went, another notable start to the summer season with top-tier racing from coast-to-coast, a special Friday card at Fair Hill and a watchful eye on the conclusion of the American Triple Crown now in less than two weeks’ time.

Fresh thoughts of an exciting Preakness Weekend give way to Memorial Day Weekend, which offers more than an extra day off for most the country.

There are good days and then there are days like Friday for jockey Javier Castellano and veteran sire and multiple Horse of the Year Curlin.

A near full field of 13 for the headlining 144th renewal of the Preakness Stakes and a bulked up undercard awaits fans and horseplayers Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. And better yet there doesn’t appear there will be any rain in the forecast, a welcome respite after last year’s soaker and another wet one two weeks ago at the Kentucky Derby.

Just give D. Wayne Lukas the mic at the annual Alibi Breakfast and let him rip.

The stage is set for another memorable Preakness Weekend – hopefully without any of that pesky rain that plagued last year and came down unexpectedly Thursday morning – and everything starts Friday with a seven-stakes Black-Eyed Susan/Pimlico Special Day card at Pimlico Race Course.

Trainer Gustavo Delgado hopes he’ll be partying like it’s 1888 after the 144th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.