Horse Racing News on May 21, 2011

Saturday was a tough day for even-money favorites in graded stakes at Hollywood Park.

Velazquez said the colt recoiled a bit from the dirt hitting him in the face and chest during the early stages and might have momentarily lost the focus required to stay closer.

The connections of Dialed In missed out on a huge payday as their colt's late run fell 4 1/4 lengths short in Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

Shackleford battled for the lead from the start and held off a late charge from Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom to win the Preakness Stakes.

Awesome Maria was the only graded stakes winner going into the Shuvee Handicap and the only graded stakes winner coming out - but not without some anxious moments.

It's midday at Pimlico Race Course, and in a court plunked smack-dab amid the drunken chaos of the Preakness infield, the National Volleyball League is wrapping up its' first ever official event.

Ventana, the favorite in a field of nine older horses, returned $5.20 after finishing six furlongs in 1:09.88 over a fast track.

Apart ($4.40), the favorite, prevailed under jockey Garrett Gomez after a prolonged stretch battle, covering 1 1/16 miles on a fast, but dull, main track in 1:43.70. Icabad Crane was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

For Super Espresso, a $1.1 million auction purchase by owner Bobby Flay, it was her first graded stakes win.

No Explaining, a well-placed third in the early running, struck the front in upper stretch and went on to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Gallorette Handicap by about a length on Saturday at Pimlico.