Horse Racing News on July 4, 2011

Making his first start on turf in his 10th time out. Morton Fink's homebred Wise Dan made a powerful stretch move en route to a 2 3/4-length win in the Grade 2, $203,000 Firecracker Handicap July 4 at Churchill Downs.

Well beaten in her last two tries, Bobby Flay's Her Smile became a Grade 1 winner July 4 when she rallied from last to score in the $250,000 Prioress Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

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.

In a weekend full of surprises in stakes races at Belmont Park, the biggest one came in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Bed o' Roses Handicap when 15-1 shot Tamarind Hall rolled to a 5 1/4-length victory over Kid Kate.