Horse Racing News on May 4, 2012

Brereton C. Jones' homebred Believe You Can ran past Broadway's Alibi in the stretch to win the 138th running of the Kentucky Oakks.

Fresh off a dominating, wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland, Mark Bacon and Dana Wells' Silver Max dished out the same treatment to his rivals in Friday's Grade 2, $238,200 American Turf at Churchill Downs.

NYRA has fired president Charles Hayward following revelations he may have known the racing group was violating state law by not lowering pari-mutuel takeout rates on exotic wagers.

Stakes records continued to fall at Churchill Downs Friday as Mort Fink's homebred Successful Dan was timed in 1:41 in winning the Grade 2, $337,800 Alysheba for older horses.

The infield at Churchill Downs was in the process of being evacuated and the American Turf delayed for at least 45 minutes as a strong line of storms approached Louisville, Ky., from the west at about 4:30 p.m. EDT.

William S. and Graydon Patterson's Juanita kept pace with 2-5 favorite Plum Pretty on the front end of Friday's La Troienne Stakes before putting that rival away and holding for the win as St. John's River came with a game late rally in the final strides.

The two wagering favorites dominated Friday's Eight Belles for three-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs, with even-money choice Contested taking over from pacesetter Good Deed at the three-sixteenths pole and drawing away to win by 4 3/4 lengths.

Jockey Robby Albarado has been arrested and has been taken off all of his May 4 mounts at Churchill Downs, including his mount on Hard Not to Like in the Kentucky Oaks.