The following was submitted by Nick Hahn of The Racing Biz.

 Virginia-bred female turf sprinter Rapid Rhythm takes her first try in graded stakes company in Thursday’s $250,000 Intercontinental Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park, part of massive weekend of stakes races.

Bred by Lazy Lane farm in Upperville, VA, the five-year-old mare has won 8 of her 20 lifetime starts largely on the turf.   After winning the $60,000 Oakley Stakes at Laurel Park last September, Rapid Rhythm won two stakes races at the Fairgrounds over the winter.  A poor start in Keeneland’s $100,000 Giant’s Causeway led to a setback in April, though she closed late.

Rapid Rhythm, bred by the Lazy Lane Farms, LLC, won the Oakley Stakes at Laurel last fall, which kicked off her current three race win streak. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rapid Rhythm was 2016 Virginia-Bred Female Champion Turf Sprinter and is by Successful Appeal out of the mare Patriot Miss by Quiet American.  Michael Stidham trains the 2016 Virginia-bred Female Turf Sprinter for owner Robert S. Evans and will saddle for returning jockey James Graham.

The morning line for seven-furlong turf sprint that signed 11 to the starting gate lists Rapid Rhythm as 20-1 in the Intercontinental, one of three stakes races on the Thursday’s card.

The following story appeared in The Paulick Report shortly after Stellar Wind’s impressive performance.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind twice defeated last year’s champion older mare, but could do no better than fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at the end of the season. This year, the 5-year-old daughter of Curlin has returned with a vengeance to win both the G1 Apple Blossom and, on Saturday at Santa Anita, the newly-renamed G1 Beholder Mile. Ridden boldly by jockey Victor Espinoza, Stellar Wind pressed Vale Dori all the way around the one mile course on the fast main track, and was just able to get past that rival by a head at the wire. Trained by John Sadler, the mare stopped the clock in 1:36.14.

“She’s so tough. She doesn’t lose photos. This was closer than I thought it was going to be but that other mare (Vale Dori) is really a top mare now. We’re thrilled,” Sadler said. “She’s been training great. She’s even stronger than she was last year at this point in the year so we’re really excited. We were ready to go.”

Stellar Wind is shown with jockey Victor Espinoza after winning the Beholder Mile. Photo courtesy of Santa Anita.

As expected, both the frontrunning Vale Dori and the champion sprinter Finest City were quite quick out of the starting gate. Stellar Wind was noticeably slower, allowing her rivals a half-length advantage, but Espinoza saw that Finest City did not intend to press the leading Vale Dori’s pace. He gunned Stellar Wind up between the two mares, taking over second just a half-length off Vale Dori’s lead, ensuring that the leader would set an honest pace. After a first quarter in :24.12, he pressed Vale Dori even more to get the half-mile in :47.64. Finest City was a good three lengths off those two.

“I wanted to let them go but they slowed down pretty good into the first turn,” Espinoza said. “I thought ‘we can’t do that.’ I didn’t want to send her too much, but I didn’t want to just sit with her. The other two broke in front of me so I thought I could follow them. Mike took a hold of his horse going into the first turn so I wanted to find an opening and just let her run. I let her go and just put her right next to Vale Dori.”

Rounding the far turn, Espinoza encouraged Stellar Wind to move up alongside Vale Dori, on whom jockey Rafael Bejarano was absolutely motionless, galloping along on the mare with a six-race winning streak to her name. The two top contenders turned for home on nearly even terms, and both jockeys were suddenly laying flat over their mare’s withers, asking for every ounce of strength and speed down the stretch.

A very game Vale Dori was eventually worn down by Stellar Wind at the sixteenth pole, but Vale Dori kept up the fight all the way through the wire. In the photo finish it was determined that Stellar Wind had defeated Vale Dori by a head, handing that mare her first defeat in seven races. Finest City never seriously threatened, and finished third.

“She has so much power that it’s hard for any other horse to beat her when it comes to head and head down the lane,” said Espinoza. “I wasn’t worried. I had confidence in her. She’s always like that in the stretch. She won’t do much on her own. She’s amazing, she’s an incredible mare, but I have to do my job. She always wins by enough. I have to encourage her to go forward. She’s been like that from the first day I rode her.”

Bred in Kentucky by Stonstreet and Keswick Stables, Stellar Wind was an $86,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Yearling sale purchase. She has been more than a bargain for that price, scoring her first Grade 1 as a 3-year-old in the Santa Anita Oaks, then adding another two top-level victories last year in the Clement Hirsch and the Zenyatta. An additional Grade 1 double to kick off this 5-year-old season has her record at nine wins from 14 starts, with earnings of over $2 million.

“She’s so game, that’s why she wins these races,” added Kosta Hronis. “She’s back. Our whole deal with bringing her back this year was if she was healthy and training well. Victor’s early move here was the key to the race. This reminded me of running against Beholder.”

The $400,000 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) lost some of its luster when Songbird‘s connections decided to send the two-time Eclipse Award winner to Belmont Park for the June 10 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), but the short field entered for the June 3 race at Santa Anita Park still features a showdown of champions and another with similar aspirations.

Bob Baffert, who will challenge three-time grade 1 winner Stellar Wind in the Beholder Mile with Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum’s Vale Dori, set the stage pretty well.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, outside, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

“We’ve aimed for this race like it was our Breeders’ Cup,” the Hall of  Fame trainer said of the 5-year-old Asiatic Boy mare who has won her last six races, including five graded stakes. “For a while the older female division here has been dominated by such good horses. We had to deal with Zenyatta for two or three years, then Beholder—but this is something different.”

Vale Dori’s last loss came behind Stellar Wind in the 2016 Zenyatta Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, when Stellar Wind edged Beholder by a neck and Vale Dori finished another 11 3/4 lengths back in third.

BALAN: Stellar Wind Edges Beholder Again in Zenyatta

“The last time we hooked her, we ran a bad third, but she’s coming off all those wins,” Baffert said of Vale Dori’s victories in the Bayakoa (G2), La Canada (G2), Santa Maria (G2), Santa Margarita (G1), and last time out in the Adoration (G3). “She’s training well and confidence is not going to be an issue. The only way we’re going to find out is by racing.”

BALAN: Vale Dori Holds Off Skye Diamonds in Adoration

The confluence of the mares’ respective campaigns may be the most compelling aspect of the Beholder Mile. Vale Dori is already on a roll, but Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind just got started, and did so impressively at Oaklawn Park April 14.

After unsuccessful tries shipping outside of California for the 2015 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), the daughter of Curlin   stalked and pounced to win the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn off a five-month layoff. She was further flattered when the Apple Blossom runner-up, Terra Promessa, crushed the Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) field by 7 1/2 lengths May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

BALAN: Stellar Wind Sweeps By to Take Apple Blossom

Last year Stellar Wind returned off a freshening to run second to Beholder in what is now called the Beholder Mile (then called the Vanity Mile). Trainer John Sadler never wants to give the impression that one of his horses isn’t ready to race off a layoff, but he has reason to think Stellar Wind should take a step forward again. Off her Vanity run, Stellar Wind came back to beat Beholder in her next two starts—the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) and Zenyatta.

Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. Vale Dori was third.
©Benoit Photo

“Knowing we were going to run at Oaklawn in a grade 1, we didn’t want to be short,” Sadler said. “I’m not saying she was short for the first one, but she should jump forward off that, off a natural progression—she had a race, she had her time.”

Sadler always expressed confidence in Stellar Wind during her 4-year-old season—not only because she was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, but because he also observed the physical change in her from 3 to 4. Her physical development from 4 to 5 isn’t as striking, but the trainer still feels she’s stronger than she was last season.

“We took her to the paddock this morning. She looks great,” Sadler said. “If you have a good older horse with talent like her—the progression from 4 to 5 isn’t as well known as from 3 to 4—but just being that solid racehorse with another year of maturity, she’s a little stronger at 5 than she was at 4.”

While Stellar Wind and Vale Dori bring undisputed two-turn credentials, Seltzer Thoroughbreds’ Finest City still has plenty to prove in that arena. The champion female sprinter of 2016 is winless in four starts around two turns—two on dirt and two on turf—and like Vale Dori has a far-back third behind Beholder and Stellar Wind on her record from last year’s Vanity.

The City Zip   mare also is coming into the Beholder Mile with just one workout following her tight second-place finish in the May 6 Humana Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs. Ian Kruljac likes to give Finest City ample time between races, so the quick turnaround is a bit out of character, but the young trainer said May 31 that she has come back from Kentucky with good energy and good weight.

“I think she’s going to be pretty fresh,” Kruljac said. “She put the weight back on pretty quick after shipping and she’s telling us (she’s ready to race).

“It’s her last hurrah at Santa Anita,” Kruljac added, referencing the upcoming summer meet at Del Mar and this year’s Breeders’ Cup, which will also be held at the seaside racetrack. “This all fits into our plan for November.”

Although Kruljac admits a one-turn mile would suit Finest City better—her best performances have been at seven furlongs, including the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1)—he thinks a cutback in distance should help his mare. At 1 1/8 miles March 18 in the Santa Margarita, Finest City challenged Vale Dori, but ultimately came up 1 1/2 lengths short.

BALAN: Vale Dori Holds Off Finest City in Santa Margarita

“At a mile, she is a fit,” Kruljac said. “Finest City is a fighter, and a mile is right in her wheelhouse.”

Outside of the three headliners, the remaining two Beholder Mile entrants will be significant longshots.

Faithfully is Baffert’s second entry, following a second-place finish in her 4-year-old debut April 14 at Santa Anita. The Smart Strike filly broke her maiden going 1 1/16 miles in March of 2016 at Santa Anita and her second victory from seven starts was a conditional allowance at Churchill Downs in June 2016.

George Krikorian’s Show Stealer may be a graded winner if not for Vale Dori, who she finished second to in the Santa Maria and La Canada. The Art Sherman-trained filly’s last start, however, was not as encouraging. In the Santa Margarita she came in last of eight, 29 3/4 lengths behind Vale Dori.

Beholder Mile S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, June 03, 2017, Race 8

• 1m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 3 yo’s & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Vale Dori (ARG)	Rafael Bejarano	126	Bob Baffert	–
2	Stellar Wind (VA)	Victor Espinoza	126	John W. Sadler	–
3	Show Stealer (KY)	Gary L. Stevens	122	Art Sherman	–
4	Finest City (PA)	Mike E. Smith	122	Ian Kruljac	–
5	Faithfully (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Bob Baffert	–

Nine Virginia-bred horses scored victories in the second half of May including a trio of veterans who have combined to make 177 starts. Fur Lined, Galitzianer and War Colony reached the winners circle for the 13th, 12th and 10th times respectively in their careers.

11 year old Fur Lined got the best of six other horses at Mountaineer Park in a six furlong claiming race on Memorial Day. The Trust N Luck mare stalked the pace from second, took the lead at the top of the stretch and won by three-quarters of a length. Bred  by William Backer and owned/trained by Amalia Cox, Fur Line boosted her career bankroll to $215,134 from 65 starts. She is out of the Storm Boot mare, Mittens.

8 year old Galitzianer returned north of the border to his Canadian comfort zone of Assiniboia Downs and got back to the winners circle last Friday. The Langfuhr gelding collected four wins in five starts there last year between June 10th and September 5th, but had been 0-for-3 competing at Turf Paradise since. The Linda Kropus trainee captured a 7 1/2 furlong waiver claiming event by three quarters of a length and earned the winners share of an $11,000 purse. Out of the Zafonic mare, Andalucian, the victor went to post for the 60th time.

9 year old War Colony, bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, earned his first win of the year May 17th in a $13,600 claiming sprint at Thistledown. The Not For Love gelding took the lead at the half and never looked back, crossing three lengths the best. The upset winner, out of Colonial Stage by Pleasant Colony, made his 52nd career start and has bankrolled $229,317.

Armoire connected at Pimlico on Preakness weekend. The 4 year old filly was best in a $55,000 allowance. Photo by Jim McCue.

Armoire, a 4 year old Artie Schiller filly, had a big allowance win at Pimlico on Black Eyed Susan Day. Bred and owned by Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone, the victor prevailed by one-half length over Arraign after heading into the stretch in sixth place. Out of the War Chant mare, Wardrobe, Armoire has three wins from six starts now, good for $78,680.

Another trio of Virginia-breds each recently collected their second wins of 2017. Shenandoahlove Rvf, Midnight Blue and Wild Affair all connected in mid-month at Penn National, Hazel Park and Charles Town respectively.

Shenandoahlove Rvf (inside) nipped Ell’s Acadia and Bess’ Girl at the wire May 18th at Penn National. Photo by B&D Photography.

Shenandoahlove Rvf captured a thriller over Ell’s Acadia and Bess’ Girl. The 3 year old Greeley’s Conquest filly was bumped following a slow break from the gate, but rebounded to win her second straight. She is out of Itaka’s Brianna by Itaka, was bred by Rose Ann Howell and is owned by Riverview Farms.

Midnight Blue also got his second straight win, a 1 1/2 triumph in a $10,000 claimer at Charles Town. Bred by Sam English II and owned/trained by Mike Butts, the 5 year old gelding was making his 28th career start. He is by Midnight Lute out of Imelda Blue by Regal Classic.

Wild Affair also scored at Charles Town in a similar condition but in a more dominating fashion. The 4 year old Up Periscope filly won by 7 1/2 lengths at a distance of 1 1/8 miles. Bred and owned by the Vermont Farm, the Michael Weeks trainee crossed in 1:42.92. She is out of the Black Tie Affair mare, Vermont Gilan.

Church Monkey and Fast Runner closed out late May activity with triumphs. The former scored at Hazel Park in a tight half length victory while the latter powered home to a $47,000 allowance race score at Parx on Memorial Day.

Church Monkey was bred by Thomas Leal and beat five others in a short four furlong race. The 4 year old Ecclesiastic gelding collected his 9th “in the money” finish from 15 starts. Fast Runner, a 5 year old Bandini horse, took advantage of a late surface change to beat a diminished field. Six horses scratched when the race was taken off the grass. Fast Runner, bred by the Walmac Farm, LLC and DSR Farm Inc., beat four others and crossed the best by 2 3/4 lengths. The Emmanuel Tzortakis trainee has bankrolled $130,440.

Fur Lined, Fast Runner, Wild Affair, Armoire, Midnight Blue and Shenandoahlove Rvf each earned an additional 25% for their owners courtesy of the VTA/HBPA Mid-Atlantic Bonus program. Any Virginia-bred or sired horse that wins an overnite race in the Mid-Atlantic receives the bonus.

Champions Stellar Wind (Virginia-bred) and FinestCity each worked at Santa Anita Saturday morning (May 27) for the Grade I, $400,000 Beholder Mile slated for Saturday June 3rd.

Stellar Wind, Eclipse Award winner as outstanding three-year-old female of 2015, went five furlongs in company under exercise rider Jose Contreras in 59.80, while FinestCity, winner of an Eclipse Award as best female sprinter of 2016, went the same distance in 1:03.20 for trainer Ian Kruljac. Mike Smith was aboard.

Stellar Wind, a 5 year old daughter of Curlin, galloped Saturday morning. Photo courtesy of Coady Photography,

“She galloped out seven eighths in (one) 27 and change,” Sadler said of Stellar Wind, a five-year-old daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin owned Hronis Racing, LLC.

“She went very well, her usual kind of work, similar to last week (six furlongs in 1:12.80 on May 19), and she’s ready to go.”

Stellar Wind worked in company with Pappou, who was clocked in 1:00.60.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, outside, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

“She broke a couple lengths behind him,” Sadler said, “and finished a couple lengths in front of him.”

Even with a small field in prospect, understandably, Sadler opted to let strategy play out before rendering a definitive tactical plan.

“Stellar Wind is fairly versatile,” he said. “She went up and pressed last year when she had to, but she can come from off the pace. We’ll wait till the draw (next Wednesday, May 31) and see what happens in relation to that.”

With only seven horses nominated to the Beholder, and one, Songbird, committed to the Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 10, a small field including streaking graded stakes winner Vale Dori seems at the ready for the race formerly named the Vanity Mile.

Virginia-bred horses will have a big presence in Saturday’s (May 27th) $100,000 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth. Rose Brier (7-2), Special Envoy (6-1) and Just Call Kenny (6-1) will all compete in the stake’s 13 horse field.

The trio were bred respectively by William Backer, Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone and Althea Richards. The event is race 9 on the card, is set at one mile on the turf, and will go to post at 4:52 PM.

Rose Brier is shown here winning the 2014 Bert Allen Stakes. Photo by Jim McCue.

Rose Brier is an 8 year old Mizzen Mast gelding that has won over $500,000 in his career. He was named Virginia-bred Champion Turf Horse in 2016 based on victories in the Bert Allen, Henry Clark and Edward Evans Stakes. Rose Brier was second in last year’s Red Bank Stakes. The Matthew Hartman trainee has 30 “in the money” finishes from 38 lifetime starts.

Special Envoy is a 6 year old Stroll gelding who has made just one start this year — a 4th in an allowance optional claiming race at  Tampa Bay Downs. The Arnaud Delacour trainee was second in last year’s Edward Evans Stakes and has bankrolled $159,460 from 18 career starts. Special Envoy is out of the Cozzene mare, Diplomacy.

Just Call Kenny, bred by Althea Richards, won by 1 1/4 lengths over Double Whammy April 21st at Laurel. Photo courtesy of Jim McCue.

Just Call Kenny is a 6 year old Jump Start horse that hopes to continue a solid ’17 campaign. He already has a win and a pair of third place finishes this year, good for $40,830 in earnings. He is fresh off an allowance optional claiming triumph at Laurel on April 21st. Just Call Kenny is out of Green Jeans by Green Dancer.

Racing fans can watch and wager the Red Bank Stakes at either of the two Richmond OTBs — downtown at Ponies & Pints or in the west end at Breakers Sports Grille. On line betting is also available at TVG.com, XPressbet.com, TwinSpires.com and NYRABets.com. There is an assortment of stakes races to enjoy all Memorial Day weekend.  Mark your calendars too — the Belmont Stakes is Saturday June 10th. Happy Holiday weekend!

Preakness Day is Saturday May 20th! The big race goes off at 6:45 PM and racing fans are eager to see if Always Dreaming can win the second leg of the Triple Crown. It certainly would make Belmont Day that much more intriguing!

Virginia connected horses will make their presence felt on the Preakness Day under card at Pimlico, led by Virginia businessman and HBPA President David Ross, who has a pair of horses in stakes races that afternoon. His Proforma will compete in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes while Euroboss is in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes. The former is a 3 year old Munnings gelding that has won a pair of races and $72,290 from three career outs, including a triumph in the Sugar Bowl Stakes December 17th. The latter is a 5 year old daughter of Street Boss out of Mega, and has been “in the money” in all three of her 2017 races. She has won $92,066 from ten lifetime starts. Mike Stidham trains the pair, which will compete in races seven and five respectively.

Owner Marshall Dowell of Mechanicsville, Virginia hopes to collect another Pimlico memory, much like his Scrappy T provided 12 years ago, when he finished second to Afleet Alex in the Preakness. Dowell’s Mint Slewlep competed in the 2007 edition as well and finished seventh. On Saturday, his Ghost Bay is 6-1 early in a $55,000 allowance optional claimer which kicks off the day at 10:30 AM. The 5 year old Ghostzapper gelding has earned $169,700 and is trained by Rob Bailes.

Bailes also conditions Concordia’s Way for breeder/owner Sam English II. The 4 year old son of Concord Point will vie in a $52,000 allowance race at 11:05 AM. The Maryland-bred, who will be ridden by Sheldon Russell, has earned $81,118 and most recently was second in a Laurel allowance May 5th.

Limehouse Louie, who won the ’16 Jamestown Stakes, will compete in a $52,000 allowance race Saturday at Pimlico. Photo by Jim McCue.

Limehouse Louie, 2016 Virginia-bred Champion Two Year Old Male , will make his 2017 debut in that same allowance race. The 3 year old gelding, trained by Flint Stites, is by Limehouse out of Mystic Bay by Housebuster. He was bred by Carlos S.E. Moore and Gillian Gordon-Moore, and is owned by the Wildcard Stables (Bob House).

Finally, Woodberry Payne’s William’sluckygray is in the ninth race — a $35,000 starter allowance event. His 6 year old Dunkirk mare has won $140,222 from 14 career “in the money” finishes.

Enjoy Preakness Day!

The eyes of the racing world will focus on Baltimore’s Pimlico Racecourse this Friday and Saturday for Preakness weekend. Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming will try to win his second straight Triple Crown leg Saturday at 6:45 PM. Both race programs are packed with under card stakes races and intriguing wagering options for horseplayers. Virginia connected horses are sprinkled throughout Friday’s Black Eyed Susan card including a pair of stakes contenders.

Dance Queen, owned and bred by Pat Schuler of Charlottesville, is entered in the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes while Made Bail, who is owned, trained and bred by Susan Cooney, will compete in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint. The  respective races are the 8th and 10th of a 14 race card that begins at 11:30 AM.

Made Bail captured a $45,000 allowance race last April at Laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Dance Queen is a 3 year old daughter of To Honor and Serve. The Kentucky-bred is 2-for-2, with wins in a maiden claimer at Gulfstream and an allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay. Made Bail, a 5 year old Closing Argument gelding, will make his 28th start Friday. The Virginia-bred enters the race fresh off an allowance runner-up at Keeneland this spring. He has four wins and six runner-up finishes.

Larry Johnson’s Do What I Say scored a two length victory over Lamontagne in a Black Eyed Susan Day allowance race at Pimlico in 2016. Photo by Jim McCue.

Larry Johnson has a mare and a filly in back-to-back races to kick off the high profile weekend. His My Magician is in the first race — a $55,000 allowance optional claiming event. The 5 year old daughter of Street Magician has career earnings just shy of $200,000 from 21 starts. Johnson’s Do What I Say is another daughter of Street Magician. The 4 year old filly, who will make her first start of 2017, is in a similar $55,000 test.

Wildcard Stables’ Zone Defence makes her fourth career start in a $52,000 allowance, carded as the fourth race.  The 3 year old daughter of First Defence has one win under her belt. Wilcard Stables is comprised of Bob Bouse from Richmond along with trainer Flint Stites.

Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone bred a competitor in the sixth race — Armoire, who has 2 wins from 5 starts. The 4 year old Artie Schiller filly, bred in Virginia, will battle in a $55,000 allowance optional claimer.

Finally, Virginian Diana McClure owns and trains Ms Eileen, a 5 year old New York bred mare who will compete in the 12th race — a $52,000 sprint allowance. The 5 year old Chapel Royal mare makes her first start of the year but brings experience of 21 starts into the race.

Virginia pari-mutuel wagering figures have been tabulated for the month of April along with the first four months of 2017. Betting Handle placed via the four partner Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) companies continues to show gains in addition to solid business numbers at the two Richmond area Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers.

Three of the four ADW partner companies had their best months of the year.  TVG, which handled $3,206,742 in bets from Virginians in April, continues to lead the way in activity. TwinSpires was next, handling $2,362,225 while newcomer NYRABets, still growing, handled $63,852. XpressBet, the only company to not have its best month, still broke into seven figure betting territory for the third time in four months with $1,075,738.  The four combined to generate $6,708,559 in handle, the best month of ’17 so far by over $650,000. Six of the biggest Derby prep races were held over three consecutive Saturdays in April including the Florida Derby, whose champ Always Dreaming went on to win the Kentucky Derby May 6th.

Crowds filled Richmond’s Ponies & Pints OTB on Kentucky Derby Day.

For the period that includes January through April, the four ADW’s combined to handle $24,685,245. That compared with 2016’s figure of $23,837,747, which is a 3.56% increase. TVG is up 3.87%, TwinSpires is up 3.92% and XpressBet is off just 2.59%.

The Virginia Equine Alliance’s (VEA) two Richmond based Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers continue to do robust business, even as on line (ADW) betting figures remain solid. Breakers Sports Grille, the first to open back on November 2nd, handled $3,871,640 in the period while the newest one, Ponies & Pints, generated $2,522,031 in wagering activity. The latter opened on January 16th.

When combining both the ADW and OTB figures, a total of $31,078,917 in horse race bets were placed in the first four month period of 2017.

Advance betting on The Preakness is available Friday May 19th from 11 AM – 11 PM, and day of from 10 AM until post time of 6:45 PM

Focus now is on the upcoming Preakness Stakes, slated for Saturday May 20th. Both Richmond OTBs are expecting busy days. Advance Preakness betting is available all day and evening at both sites on Friday May 19th from 11 AM – 11 PM. Doors open Saturday at 10 AM and betting is available until Preakness post of 6:45 PM.