Horse Racing News by David Grening

At last year's Saratoga meet, trainer Todd Pletcher won 18 races for 2-year-olds, including two of the three graded stakes run for juvenile fillies.

Perhaps the best illustration of how competitive Saturday's CCA Oaks came up is this: linemaker Eric Donovan made Joyful Victory, the 2-1 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks, the 6-1 longest shot in the five-horse field.

Beads of sweat replaced pellets of rain on people's foreheads, and bottled water may have been more advisable than a can of beer as the refreshment of choice to beat the heat, but in the end opening day of Saratoga's 143rd season was pretty cool.

Literally and figuratively, the heat is on the New York Racing Association as it prepares to open the doors Friday for the 143rd Saratoga meeting.

Mike Hushion truly didn't know what to expect when he ran Gantry in a first-level allowance race at Belmont Park on June 23. After all, Gantry, a 4-year-old gelding, had not run in 227 days, never raced on grass, or faced anything but maidens.

Coming off two graded stakes victories utilizing distinctively different running styles, Banned heads a field of 12 3-year-old turf runners in Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Ramon Dominguez went into the final four days of racing here with a 64-62 lead over Javier Castellano in the battle for leading rider at the meet, a title that likely won't be decided until closing day.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik will be out for an indefinite period of time after suffering a broken left wrist Wednesday in a spill at Delaware Park, according to her agent, Mark Mace.

Uncle Mo, last year's 2-year-old champion who missed the Kentucky Derby because of a rare liver disease, has recently started galloping and is expected to ship to Saratoga next Monday, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

That Millionreasonswhy won her debut by four lengths was an indication to her trainer, Ignacio "Nacho" Correas, that the 2-year-old filly had talent. That Millionreasonswhy won Sunday's Grade 2, $150,000 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park was the confirmation.