The post-holiday weekend in U.S. racing saw big turf races in New York and Delaware, while overseas, Derby winner City of Troy faced older horses for the first time in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. The Indiana Derby and Iowa Derby were also highlights. In South Africa, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, racing events were in full swing.
In the U.S., the $750,000 Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational at Aqueduct featured a field of promising horses, while the $150,000 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park had a competitive lineup of 3-year-olds. The $500,000 Grade I Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational had an international flair, with strong contenders from both sides of the Atlantic.
Classic races like the $200,000 Grade II Brooklyn at Aqueduct and the $300,000 Grade III Prairie Meadows Cornhusker were also part of the weekend schedule. The $500,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap and the $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks showcased top fillies and mares.
Hades and Domestic Product faced off in the $200,000 Grade III Dwyer for 3-year-olds, while Moonlit Lady was the favorite in the field of 12 in the $125,000 Pea Patch Stakes at Ellis Park. The $200,000 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos and the $135,000 (Canadian) Hendrie at Woodbine also drew strong fields.
International races included the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse in England, the Group 1 Deutsches Derby in Germany, and the Group 1 Durban July in South Africa. The Saudi racing season kicked off in Taif, with former U.S. trainer Jimmy Jerkens taking part in training for HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz’s Red Stable.
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