Although Pauper’s Queen finished second to Wisenbossy in a June 7th claiming race for fillies and mares, the 8 year old daughter of Royal Academy got bumped up after the winner was disqualified for causing interference. Bred by the Atkins Homes, Inc., Pauper’s Queen earned her 9th career win in her 57th start and now has a bankroll of $165,100. She was sent off as the 1-2 betting choice in the modest four horse field and finished the 1 1/16th miles race in 1:47.30. She is out of the Robellino mare, Regallino, and is nominated to the Nellie Mae Cox stakes at Pimlico June 25th.

What a Wildcat captured a thriller with a well timed late move in a 6 1/2 furlong claiming event on June 8th. The 9 year old Wildcat Heir gelding dueled in a ten horse field and was buried in the early going. He was 9th at the quarter and 8th at the half before a rally at the head of the stretch. What a Wildcat split horses in his final strides and won by a nose over Rockinmebaby and Mr. Algebra. Puttinonashow was fourth, barely a head behind the others. Bred and owned by Larry Johnson, the victor gained his 8th victory in his 52nd career outing and now has earned $113,509 in purse monies. Out of the Parfaitement mare, Not What I Do, What a Wildcat has been nominated to the June 25th White Oak Farm Stakes.

Gator Gone Wild, a 7 year old daughter of Gators N Bears, squeaked out a tight win over Marionette Miss June 10th for her 9th career win and 30th “in the money” finish. Bred by Sam English II, the winner took the lead halfway through the six furlong filly/mare claimer, opened up by 1 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch, then held on by a neck in 1:11.99. Gator Gone Wild is trained by Flint Stites and is out of the Jimmy Barney mare, Double Digit.

Finally up north, Galitzianer made his 52nd career start and crept to within $3,000 of a six digit bankroll by winning a 7 1/2 furlong waiver claiming race. The 7 year old son of Langfuhr, guided by jockey Christopher Husbands, wore down the lone speed horse in the six horse field just in time to gain a late lead and pull away to win by two in 1:34.40. Out of the Zafonic mare, Andalucian, Galitzianer has $97,069 in earnings from 8 wins and 22 “top three” finishes.

Favorite Niece, bred by Falls Church Racing Stables, earned her first career win in dominating fashion at Pimlico June 10th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Five other Virginia-breds scored wins last week including Favorite Niece, bred by the Falls Church Racing Stables. The 3 year old daughter of Street Magician was heavily favored in a 1 1/16th miles filly/mare claimer for $18,000, and she lived up to her billing. She came from second at Pimlico’s six furlong marker and dominated from that point en route to a 8 1/4 length win in 1:49.73. Out of the Quiet American mare, Sit Chilly, Favorite Niece got her first win in six starts this year. She did not race as a two year old.

Drop Dead Red is another sophomore that earned her first victory last week. Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Oliver Iselin, the chestnut filly was best in a seven horse field of maiden claimers at Churchill Downs. With Joe Rocco Jr. in the irons, Drop Dead Red got away inside in the $27,000 one mile race, shifted out in the far turn, took over at the top of the stretch and held off Angel of Troy to win by a length. The victor is by Hold Me Back out of Stylish Affair by Not For Love.

Three year old filly Lemoniscious won her racing debut June 7th at Indiana Downs in a $32,000 maiden special weight event. Courtesy of a four wide move in the turn, the daughter of Bellamy Road caught the leader shortly after and won by two lengths. She completed the six furlongs in 1:11.78 and paid $7.20 her backers. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, Lemoniscious is out of Lemon Crusta by Lemon Drop Kid.

Desert Jewel is another three year old filly, but she collected her second career win and 7th “in the money” effort in a six furlong claimer at Penn National on Wednesday. Bred by the Morgan’s Ford Farm, the daughter of Include came on strong in the second half after languishing initially. Last at the half, she rebounded to fourth at the top of the stretch, passed front running I’ve Got It Made late in the stretch and won by a length in 1:12.33. She is out of the Kafwain mare, Desert Quail and has bankrolled $40,740 from six outings this year alone.

Compose was the final Virginia-bred to score a win last week, making a victory lane appearance Sunday at Lone Star Park in another filly/mare claimer. The 5 year old Stephen Got Even mare won a 5 1/2 furlong sprint by a length in 1:05.40. She challenged the pace from the start, vied in the three path in the turn and shook free from her challengers in deep stretch. Bred by Mr. & Mrs.  Bertram Firestone, Compose continues to roll nicely in 2016 at Lone Star and Will Rogers Downs with three wins, a runner-up and third from five starts. She is out of the Broad Brush mare, Conduct.

Cherokee Cousin got his first lifetime win May 31st in a maiden claimer at Presque Isle where he was sent off as the betting choice. Bred by the Cooney Racing Stables LLC, Millenium Farms & Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC, the 3 year old son of Zanjero rallied three wide in the turn, got to the front and won the six furlong race by 2 1/4 lengths. Out of the Kokand mare, Kokand Cousin, Cherokee Cousin now 6 “top three” finishes in his 11 starts, good for $30,103 in earnings.

Cherokee Cousin, a Susan trainee, got his first lifetime win May 31st in a maiden claiming sprint at Presque Isle Downs. Photo by Coady Photography.

With her win at Mountaineer Park on Wednesday, Runaway Liz saw her bankroll soar past the $100,000 mark. The Albert Coppola bred 7 year old went gate to wire in a 5 1/2 furlong claiming sprint and crossed in 1:07.80. She is by Yonaguska out of Hey Doll by Siphon, and now has $101,392 in earnings from 54 starts. In 2016, she already has a win, a pair of seconds and a third.

Runaway Liz, bred by Albert Coppola, hit the six digit bankroll mark — $101,392 — with her win June 1st at Mountaineer Park. Photo by Coady Photography.,

Sweet Sandy got her third lifetime win a $25,000 claimer at Delaware for trainer Alison Hassig. The 4 year old Flatter filly won by three in the one mile, 70 yard test, and crossed in 1:44.84. Bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, Sweet Swandy made her first away from Tampa Bay Downs this year and the new scenery paid off. She is out of the Silver Deputy mare, Moonlight Cruise, and now has over $50,000 in winnings.

Frankin Storm, who competed in last September’s Jamestown Stakes, made his first start of 2016 Wednesday at Charles Town in a seven furlong claiming race for $10,000. The 3 year old son of Fierce Wind stalked the pace early off the rail, stayed close and dug in down the stretch to put World Leader Away in 1:29.04. Bred by Susan Minor and out of the Storm Boot mare, Stormy Heroine, Frankin Storm now has $28,150 in earnings.

The next evening, Scented Up scored an easy six length win at Charles Town for breeder and owner, Vermont Farm, LLC. The 4 year old Up Periscope gelding was sent off as the favorite and in collecting his first life win, continued a consistent pattern of late in West Virginia. The victor, who beat his stable mate Way Up High in the 1 1/8th miles, maiden claiming race, has been “in the money” in 8 of his last 9 Charles Town starts. He is out of the Sweetsouthernsaint mare, Southern Scent.

Another horse in a consistent mode is Louden’s Gray, whose move from the west coast to Gulfstream Park last October continues to pay dividends. Bred by the Estate of Edward Evans, The 5 year old Street Sense gelding was sent off as a heavy chalk and lived up to that billing with a 5 3/4 length triumph. In for a $10,000 claiming tag, Louden’s Gray covered the five furlong race in :55.50,  paid $3.60, and has now been “in the money” in 7 of his 10 Florida starts. The winner is out of Minishaft by Mineshaft.

Sweet Victory scored a 1 1/2 length win Saturday in the $200,000 Penn Mile at Penn National. Photo by The Racing Biz.

Over the weekend, Sweet Victory’s win in the $200,000 Penn Oaks at Penn National and Middleburg’s score in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth have been well documented and of course highlighted the Virginia-bred successes.

Four other horses though got to the winner circle on Sunday — Royal Caviar and a trio with six digit career bankrolls — Irsaal, Anybodyreallyknow and Born Force.

Royal Caviar, bred by Blue Lotus Breeding and Racing, LLC, was best in a seven horse field of claimers who competed 1 1/16th miles at Pimlico. The 4 year old Scat Daddy gelding came four wide entering the stretch, took over the lead from Mike the Hab in mid-stretch, and went on to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:47.68. He is out of the Jade Hunter mare, Sevruga, has won two straight at Pimlico, and is 3-for-6 this year.

Royal Caviar, bred by Blue Lotus Breeding & Racing, LLC, is 3-for-6 this year now courtesy of this win at Pimlico June 5th. Photo by Jim McCue.

The three big earners has varying styles in their wins Sunday. Israal, bred by Edward Evans, won handily by 8 3/4 lengths in a Parx claimer, while both Anybodyreallyknow and Born Force, bred respectively by Larry Johnson and Mr. & Mrs. C.W. McNeeley, eeked out wins by a neck.

Israal, a 6 year old gelding by More Than Ready out of Quiet Now by Tiznow, saved ground throughout the mile race, got to the front with a quarter mile left and beat the eight other contenders with ease in 1:38.65. He returned $13.40 and now has $316,353 in earnings from 26 outs.

Anybodyreallyknow got his 9th career win and first of 2016 in a photo finish where five horses crossed within a length of each other. The Scott Lake trainee, sent off as the favorite in the six furlong race, edged Hold Everything by a neck. He is out of the Two Smart mare, What Do I Do, and has now earned $174,974. The winner was also claimed for $7,500 by the SAB NC Stable and the new trainer will be Michael Pino.

Born Force has been a mainstay at tracks like Arapahoe, Fonner and Canterbury and on Sunday, he connected at the latter one in a $17,000 starter optional claiming race at 1 1/16th miles. The 7 year old Political Force gelding moved consistently to catch leading Alpine Gathering. After swinging five wide in the lane, Born Force took care of business and crossed in 1:43.53. Out of the Opening Verse mare, Born Twice, the winner paid $13.90.

Twin Spires surged past TVG as top handle generator from Virginia residents, while XPressBet remained third but experienced the highest percentage gain of the trio. The May 2016 handle of $10,033,310 compared favorably to the $9,156,927 figure from May 2015.

Exaggerator’s win in the Preakness (shown here from Anne Eberhardt) and Nyquists’s Derby win helped boost interest and betting handle in the month of May

May’s statistical comparison is the first month in a year that all factors in Virginia were equal from a year to year standpoint. Colonial Downs’ EZ Horseplay, which had been the fourth — and leading — on line betting company, shut down in April, 2015 so numbers from May ’16 versus May ’15 provide a true snapshot of in-state handle based on three operating partner companies.

Twin Spires led the way in May with $4,156,909 in handle compared with 2015’s $3,684,057 total. TVG’s tally of $4,140,081 was higher than last May’s $3,901,624 while XPressBet’s total of $1,706,319 beat their May ’15 number of $1,570,445.

Belmont Stakes Day is up next this Saturday June 11th and even though there isn’t a horse competing for the Triple Crown, the race itself should be great. Belmont has a stellar under card with many Grade 1 stakes on the menu. Virginia race fans can sign up for accounts at XPressBet.com, TVG.com and TwinSpires.com — all three have great bonus offers in conjunction with Belmont Day, so this week is an ideal time to open an account.