Starship Angel wins Polite Rebuff Stakes (AP)

Starship Angel drew off to a 5 3/4 -length win over long shot All Night Labor in the $60,000 Polite Rebuff Stakes for fillies and mares on Thursday at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old trained by Kiaran McLaughlin earned her first stakes victory, improving to 5 for 13. Rosie Napravnik was aboard for the one-mile run in 1:37.62 on the fast track.

Kauto Star favored to beat Gold Cup rival Denman (AP)
Paul Nicholls' stablemates Kauto Star and Denman go head to head in the Cheltenham Gold Cup yet again on Friday hoping to maintain their trainer's dominance of a prestigious event they have turned into a two-horse race. While Kauto Star, considered the more talented and elegant gelding of the two, goes for his third victory in four years, tough stayer Denman is out to repeat a 2008 triumph...

Big Buck's wins World Hurdle at Cheltenham (AP)
Big Buck's pulled away from Time For Rupert after jumping the last fence to win the World Hurdle for the second year in a row at the Cheltenham Festival. Kept near the back of the field by jockey Ruby Walsh for most of Thursday's 3-mile race, the 5-6 favorite cruised through the field of 14 to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

Canonize wins Santa Anita feature by 3 lengths (AP)
Canonize defeated Star Nicholas by 3 lengths to win Wednesday's $53,916 feature at Santa Anita. Ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., Canonize ran six furlongs in 1:08.44 and paid $3.60, $2.80 and $2.10 as the 4-5 wagering favorite. Star Nicholas returned $6 and $4. Charm N Chuck was another nose back in third and paid $3.60 to show.

Canonize wins Santa Anita feature by 3\005C\005C lengths (PA SportsTicker)
Canonize defeated Star Nicholas by 3\005C\005C lengths to win Wednesday's $53,916 feature at Santa Anita.

Barbaro's brother entered in Florida Derby (AP)
Barbaro's brother Lentenor has been entered to run in the Florida Derby, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. Lentenor is the co-third choice at 6-1 in a field of 11 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday's $750,000 race at Gulfstream Park. Rule was made the 5-2 favorite and brings a four-race winning streak into the Florida Derby.

Kentucky hires British lab for horse race testing (AP)
Kentucky racing officials have agreed to a contract with a British company to establish a major lab in the state that would conduct drug testing for its horse races, including the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to agree to the contract with HFL Sport Science.

Bob Baffert prefers to be 2nd to none in Derby (AP)

If you think Bob Baffert likes finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, think again. The first time the trainer saddled a horse in the Derby, he was second with Cavonnier in 1996, losing to Grindstone by the smallest of margins -- a nose, after a photo finish. Upset but undeterred, Baffert simply came back and won the Derby the next two years, first with Silver Charm and then with Real Quiet.

Monmouth Park to average $1 million daily purses (AP)
Horse racing officials in New Jersey have agreed on a plan to stage a million-dollar meet at Monmouth Park, lower the number of thoroughbred racing dates in the state and make the Meadowlands a harness racing-only track. The dramatic shift was announced Monday by New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority Chief Executive Dennis Robinson.

Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta is off, for now (AP)
Rachel Alexandra won't be facing Zenyatta next month in their planned highly anticipated $5 million showdown, leaving racing's other female superstar to take on all comers. Rachel Alexandra's owner, Jess Jackson, said Sunday that his 2009 Horse of the Year is not in top form after her defeat in the New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds.

Sidney's Candy wins San Felipe at Santa Anita (AP)
Calling Sidney's Candy a frontrunner on the Kentucky Derby trail isn't just hype. The colt has led all the way in winning his first two races of the season. Sidney's Candy won the $150,000 San Felipe Stakes by a half-length on Saturday, sending 3-year-old rival Caracortado to his first loss in six races.

Zenyatta improves to 15-0 with Santa Anita win (AP)
Zenyatta's owners brought her back to the races so they could have some fun and the fans could enjoy the mare who loves putting on a show. She delivered on both counts Saturday, when Zenyatta won the $250,000 Santa Margarita Handicap by 1 lengths, extending her career victory streak to 15-0. "Everybody really loves her," co-owner Jerry Moss said.