Horse Racing News by Mike Welsch

Hungry Island parlayed her own talents and the misfortune of the 2-5 favorite Winter Memories to register a convincing 2 1/2-length victory over Kathmanblu in Sunday's $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes decided over a yielding course at Saratoga.

Royal Delta easily avenged her third-place finish behind It's Tricky and Plum Pretty four weeks earlier in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks with a convincing 5 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Alabama.

Ask the Moon, a $75,000 claim by the Farnsworth Stables six weeks earlier, became a Grade 1 winner on Sunday when leading throughout to dominate the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap by 5 3/4 lengths over runner-up Super Espresso.

Four months ago, owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher were probably fairly confident they'd have the the favorite for the Travers. They just never would have believed it might be Stay Thirsty.

A field of 10 older fillies and mares was drawn Wednesday for Saturday's $500,000 Diana, at least one of whom will achieve a career milestone by posting her first Grade 1 win.

There will certainly be many richer and more important races decided over the final five weeks of the 2011 Saratoga session than Monday's $150,000 Lake George Stakes.

Trainer Jimmy Toner made no excuses after More Than Real handed Winter Memories her only defeat in the 2010 Breeders' Cup. Toner is hoping he won't need any after the pair meet for the first time as 3-year-olds at Saratoga in the Lake George Stakes.

National Football League wide receiver Wes Welker may have more important things on his mind at the moment than a horse race.

Pool Play, a candidate for the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 6, has suffered what for all intents and purposes is a career-ending injury, trainer Mark Casse revealed Wednesday. Pool Play is owned by Bill Farish Jr.

A field of only five 3-year-old fillies was drawn Wednesday for Saturday's $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks, the first of 17 Grade 1 races to be run here this summer.