Lookin At Lucky, a roughed-up also-ran in the Kentucky Derby-G1 as the favorite, saw his fortunes change in the Preakness Stakes-G1 with new rider Martin Garcia. Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman’s 2-year-old champion fought off longshot First Dude to give trainer Bob Baffert his fifth win in the classic.
- A Medaglia d’Oro filly from the consignment of Eisaman Equine set a new record for a female horse sold at public auction in Maryland when bringing $650,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds sale.
The biggest pinhook strike was a Quiet American filly consigned by Al Pike. A $30,000 July yearling, the filly named Buffgirl went to Ellen Charles for $380,000, third-highest price of the sale.
Buffgirl failed to hit the board in five starts and joined Charles’ broodmare band. Among her foals is 2019 Maryland-bred champion 2-year-old colt Laddie Liam.
- Opening weekend of Monmouth’s 50-50 meet – $50 million in purses over 50 days – was a resounding success. Total wagering for the first day (Saturday) was $9,357,444, an increase of more than $5.1 million from the previous year; attendance was 17,903. Second day wagering was more than $7 million, an increase of 126 percent from the second day of 2009.
- Virginia-breds Quality Road and Victor’s Cry triumphed in Grade 1 races on opposite coasts on Memorial Day. Quality Road returned after a nearly four-month absence in the Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park, his second Grade 1 win of the year. Victor’s Cry captured the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park less than three hours later.
- Eight female riders took part in Lady Legends for the Cure – the first-ever pari-mutuel race to feature retired women jockeys – on Black-Eyed Susan day at Pimlico. Gwen Jocson guided the Ken and Sarah Ramsey-owned, Wesley Ward-trained Honor in Peace to victory. The race, the brainchild of Maryland Jockey Club’s director of racing Georganne Hale, helped raise funds for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization.
- At age 11, Arcadia Stables’ two-time timber champion Bubble Economy won two of the richest timber races of the season, the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup and $75,000 Mason Houghland Memorial, within a week. The Pennsylvania-bred went past $400,000 in jump earnings.
- Millionaire Good Night Shirt, the Eclipse Award-winning steeplechaser of 2007 and 2008, was retired. Campaigned by Sonny and Ann Via, the Maryland-bred had injured an ankle the previous year and didn’t recover sufficently to make a return. “He’s sound in the field and that’s important,” said his trainer Jack Fisher.
