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Oceanport, NJ - Preakness Stakes winner Curlin and Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun will go at it again on Sunday in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

The only two thoroughbreds to compete this year in all three Triple Crown events, Curlin and Hard Spun will face each other for a fourth time and take on an additional six rivals.

While Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby and Hard Spun finished second, Curlin, the morning-line favorite, was third. Curlin then took the Preakness with Street Sense second and Hard Spun third.

Curlin followed with a second behind Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes, as the even-money favorite, with Hard Spun fading to fourth.

For the Haskell, Curlin is again the even-money favorite with Hard Spun 5-2 in the morning-line. The Preakness champ will start from post six and Hard Spun will break from post seven.

The rest of the field in post position order is Any Given Saturday 3-1, Cable Boy 8-1, Stormello 15-1, Imawildandcrazyguy 30-1, Reata’s Shadow 50-1 and Xchanger 20-1. Post-time for the 1 1/8 mile race is 6:12 p.m. (et).

Curlin will be ridden by Robby Albarado for owners Stonestreet Stables, Padua Stables, George Bolton and Midnight Cry Stables. Trained by Steve Asmussen the colt has earned more than $1.8 million with four wins in six starts.

Along with his Preakness victory he has won the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes.

“The Haskell is a very competitive field, but we have the same confidence level in Curlin as we’ve had in the past,” Asmussen said. “Coming back in this race gives us the opportunity to get back to the races without having to face older horses right away, and will give us some answers to the tendencies of the Monmouth surface when we return in the fall.”

Hard Spun, who was scheduled to go in the Arkansas Derby at the start of the year, is the winner of five of nine career starts for better than $1 million. He won the Lane’s End Stakes in March and the Lecomte Stakes in January.

Owned by Rick Porter and trained by Larry Jones, Hard Spun will again be ridden by Mario Pino. Pino rode the colt in his first eight starts, but was replaced by Garrett Gomez in the Belmont Stakes

“We didn’t see improvement when we changed,” Jones said about the return of Pino. “We would like to keep the team together.”

Last year the Haskell was won by Bluegrass Cat. The stakes record of 1:47 is shared by Majestic Light and Bet Twice. The track record of 1:46.80 is owned by Spend a Buck.

Saratoga Springs, NY - Former champion jockey Jose Santos has announced his retirement from riding. The 46-year-old made the announcement Monday at Saratoga Race Course.

“I am extremely grateful for the career I’ve had, for the owners and trainers that had faith in me, to my fellow jockeys who helped bring out the best in me and to the fans for their support,” said Santos. “Most of all, I am grateful to my family. They have always supported me, and it is tough because every time you ride a horse, you are in danger. They don’t have to worry anymore, and that is a relief.”

Santos, who was voted the Eclipse Award as top jockey in 1988, had been out of action since he was injured in February at Aqueduct. he suffered multiple fractures in a three horse incident.

“I had five fractures in my spine,” said Santos, who also broke ribs in the spill. “Three of them were compression fractures of the (thoracic) vertebrae. The other two, the T-7 and T-8, were more serious fractures. My doctor said that the way they were pressing against the spinal cord, there would be an 80- percent chance that I could wind up in a wheelchair if I continued to ride.”

The native of Chile won more than 4,600 races and earned better than $155 million in his career. He is probably best known as the rider of 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, who was retired from racing earlier this month.

“It’s only right that we go out together,” Santos noted. “I just hope I find a job as good as his.”

Santos will enter the Racing Hall of Fame next Monday after 23 years riding in the United States.

“This has been very hard for me, because I really wanted go out on my own terms,” Santos said. “That didn’t happen. I decided that I wanted to make this announcement today because I didn’t want to take anything away from the Hall of Fame ceremonies.”

Saratoga Springs, NY - Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches has been declared fit and ready to return to the races. The three-year-old filly is back at the Belmont Park barn of trainer Todd Pletcher and can resume training.

Graffiti Wall reports that Veterinarian Paul Thorpe examined Rags to Riches and pronounced her fit. She galloped at Belmont Park Monday morning after the exam.

“After reviewing the results of the physical exam she had at New Bolton, Dr. Thorpe felt there was no reason for her not to resume training,” said Pletcher. “She galloped at Belmont this morning and will ship to Saratoga tomorrow, following a gallop at Belmont tomorrow morning. I will watch her train over the next week before I make a final decision on whether or not she will race in the Alabama on August 18.”

Rags to Riches was sent to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania for a complete examination after a preliminary one performed by Dr. Steve Allday. All the concern came about after she was pulled up during a workout last weekend.

The leading three-year-old filly has not raced since becoming just the third female to win the Belmont Stakes. She missed the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park after she came down with a fever.

Rags to Riches is owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and has earned almost $1.3 million this year. She is undefeated in five starts in 2007. The Alabama Stakes at Saratoga is scheduled for Saturday, August 18.

Saratoga Springs, NY - Lawyer Ron, with John Velazquez in the saddle, used a stalking run to propel himself to a 4 3/4 length victory in Saturday’s $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. The time for the 1 1/8 mile race was 1:46.64, a new track record.

Graffiti Wall reports Lawyer Ron, one of three horses in the race trained by Todd Pletcher, snapped a two-race losing streak and guaranteed a spot in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic this year.

The winners of all four Saturday stakes automatically qualify for their respective Breeders’ Cup races this year at Monmouth Park. This is part of the new “Win and You’re In” program.

Breaking from post 11, Lawyer Ron was forced to race wide around the first turn as Wanderin Boy set the pace. Running second was Fairbanks with Papi Chullo third and Flashy Bull fourth in the 11 horse field.

Heading up the backstretch Wanderin Boy continued to set the pace followed by Fairbanks, Lawyer Ron and Papi Chullo. Nearing the far turn Wanderin Boy maintained the lead with Fairbanks still second followed by Lawyer Ron and Diamond Stripes in fourth.

Around the final turn Lawyer Ron moved into second place drawing closer to Wanderin Boy. Coming out of the turn Lawyer Ron drew along side the leader and took command nearing the furlong pole.

The four-year-old increased his advantage while Wanderin Boy held on to second place. Lightly-raced Diamond Stripes finished third for the second straight start and 13-1 long-shot Fairbanks was fourth.

Completing the order of finish was Dry Martini, Magna Graduate, Flashy Bull, Brass Hat, Papi Chullo, Sun King and Awesome Twist. Student Council was a scratch.

The final time of 1:46.64 broke the track record of 1:47 set by Tri Jet in 1974. Last year Invasor won the Whitney in 1:49.06.

Owned by Hines Racing, Lawyer Ron registered his 11th career victory in 23 starts. The $450,000 brings his lifetime earnings to more than $2.34 million.

This year the chestnut colt also won the Oaklawn Handicap to go along with last year’s Arkansas Derby and St. Louis Derby. Last month he was second in the Salvatore Mile at Monmouth Park and in May was third in the Met Mile.

Lawyer Ron returned $13.00, $7.70 and $5.30. Wanderin Boy paid $25.20 and $14.00, and Diamond Stripes paid $5.30 to show.

In Saturday’s supporting stakes races, My Typhoon won the Diana Stakes for fillies and mares on the grass. The six-furlong Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap went to Diabolical. The Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares was won by Ginger Punch.

Saratoga Springs, NY - Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense will be making his first start in more than two months on Sunday in the $500,000 Jim

Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Track. The 1 1/8 mile event for three-year-olds is a major prep race for the Travers Stakes on August 25.

Graffiti wall reports that Street Sense will take on five rivals as he returns to the races after resting since a second place finish to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes. The colt has been training under the watchful eyes of trainer Carl Nafzger and his staff.

Owned by James Tafel, Street Sense has four starts this year with two wins and two second place results. Along with his win in the Run for the Roses, Street Sense captured the Tampa Bay Derby and was the runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes.

In the Jim Dandy the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champ will again be ridden by Calvin Borel from post three. Street Sense is expected to go off as the prohibitive favorite on Sunday.

Overall, Street Sense has won four of his nine starts for more than $3.1 million. Borel has been the only rider to ever pilot the Eclipse Award winner.

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Preakness champ Curlin, has the lightly raced, but highly regarded Tiz Wonderful entered. He will be making his three-year-old debut in the Jim Dandy after an undefeated 2006 season.

Tiz Wonderful won all three starts last year with wins in the Iroquois and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. He has $228,792 in earnings. John Velazquez has the mount and will start from post five.

Breaking from the inside post will be Peter Pan Stakes winner Sightseeing. The colt will be ridden by Edgar Prado for the Ogden Phipps Stable and trainer Shug McGaughey.

Sightseeing is coming off a third place finish in the Dwyer Stakes to Any Given Saturday. He has two wins in 10 career starts for $363,730.

Champion trainer Todd Pletcher has entered Illinois Derby champ Cowtown Cat in the race. The chestnut colt last raced in the Ohio Derby on June 2 when he finished fourth as the 3-5 favorite.

Cowtown Cat will break from post four with Garrett Gomez picking up the mount. The three-year-old has earned $503,463 in nine lifetime starts and four wins.

Completing the field for the Jim Dandy are Flashstorm and C P West.

The Jim Dandy Stakes will be the ninth of 10 races on Sunday with a scheduled post-time of 5:20 p.m. (et).

Meanwhile, after a two day stay at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches is back at the Belmont Park barn of Todd Pletcher.

The filly underwent a thorough physical examination at New Bolton after she was pulled up during a workout on Sunday. Veterinarian Steve Allday gave her a preliminary exam on Monday and recommended she be sent to New Bolton.

“The results of the exam will be reviewed by Dr. Paul Thorpe, the attending veterinarian for owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith,” said Pletcher. “Dr. Thorpe will be flying in from Ireland tomorrow to go over the results with us. If everything checks out well she could still make the Alabama.”

The $600,000 Alabama Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Saratoga is scheduled for August 18.

Saratoga Springs, NY - The three top finishers from last month’s Stephen Foster Handicap head a field of 12 for Saturday’s $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Track. The 1 1/8 mile race will be renewed for the 80th time.

Foster winner Flashy Bull will once again face Magna Graduate and Diamond Stripes, the second and third place finishers, respectively, from the Churchill Downs race.

Flashy Bull is the 4-1 second choice in the morning-line, while Magna Graduate is the 7-2 favorite. Diamond Stripes is 5-1 in the program, with Papi Chullo 9-2 and Oaklawn Handicap winner Lawyer Ron at 6-1.

Magna Graduate will be ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Todd Pletcher from post seven. Pletcher has also entered 20-1 long-shot Fairbanks and Lawyer Ron.

Owned by Elisabeth Alexander, Magna Graduate has won nine of 23 career starts for more than $2.2 million. Earlier this year he captured the Razorback and Excelsior Handicaps. The five-year-old failed by a head in the Stephen Foster.

Flashy Bull will be after his fifth straight win of 2007 and his third consecutive stakes win. For the Whitney he will be reunited with jockey Alan Garcia and break from the inside post.

Kiaran McLaughlin trains the four-year-old for West Point Thoroughbreds and likes how his horse is ready to run.

“He’s doing great and he’ll run well, but it’s not like we’re beaming with ‘let’s go get our picture taken,’” McLaughlin said. Flashy Bull is now the top handicap horse for McLaughlin since the retirement of Invasor.

Flashy Bull has earned $829,313 in his career with five victories in 18 starts. This year he also won the William Schaefer Handicap at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes Day.

Diamond Stripes is a four-year-old with just five lifetime starts and four wins. His only stakes victory was in last year’s Pegasus Stakes at The Meadowlands. On Saturday he will start from post nine with Edgar Prado returning to ride.

The four-year-old is owned by Four Roses Thoroughbreds and won a race here in 2006. He has $317,461 in earnings.

“He likes it up there (Saratoga) and he’s trained good since the Foster,” said trainer Richard Dutrow. “He’s got no excuses going into it.”

Here is the complete field for the Whitney in post position order: Flashy Bull, Papi Chullo, Brass Hat, Fairbanks, Wanderin Boy, Sun King, Magna Graduate, Student Council, Diamond Stripes, Dry Martini, Lawyer Ron and Awesome Twist.

The Whitney winner will automatically qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Classic as part of the new “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

The race has a 5:46 p.m. (et) post-time for Saturday and will televised on ABC.

Elmont, NY - Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches has been found to be in good condition after an examination at Belmont Park. Veterinarian Steve Allday examined the filly Monday, one day after she was pulled up during a workout.

“We’re not sure if she stepped on something or she stumbled, but she seemed fine afterwards,” said trainer Todd Pletcher.

Rags to Riches will be sent to the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania for a more complete examination. New Bolton was the hospital where Barbaro was operated on last year

“Although everything seems to be fine, in order to be thorough she will have a complete physical done,” said Pletcher. “Though her race plans will be made after the exam, she remains under consideration for the Alabama, at Saratoga, August 18.”

The three-year-old has not raced since becoming just the third female to win the Belmont Stakes. She missed the Coaching Club American Oaks last Saturday at Belmont Park after she came down with a fever the previous week.

Rags to Riches is owned by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, and has earned almost $1.3 million this year. She is undefeated in five starts in 2007.

By Don Agriss

Historic Saratoga Race Track opens this week, marking the start of the second-half of the thoroughbred racing year. Divisional titles are on the line as none of the major runners have established themselves as Numero Uno.

The 80th running of the $750,000 Whitney Handicap on Saturday will give older horses the first opportunity to move to the head of the handicap division. Last year’s Horse of the Year Invasor, and winner of the 2006 Whitney, is now retired.

Stephen Foster winner Flashy Bull can become the top handicap horse with a win in the Whitney. He is expected to be challenged by Oaklawn Handicap champ Lawyer Ron, Foster runner-up Magna Graduate and Sun King, second to Invasor in last year’s Whitney.

A victory in the Whitney will automatically put the winner into the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The race is part of the new Breeders’ Cup Challenge. This year’s Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships will be conducted at Monmouth Park over a two day period.

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense is expected to be the odds-on favorite for Sunday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy for three-year-olds. Street Sense has not raced since finishing second to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes. Peter Pan champ Sightseeing is the probable second choice in the 1 1/8 mile race.

The Jim Dandy is a major prep race for the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 25. The 2006 Jim Dandy and Travers was won by eventual three-year-old champion Bernardini.

On August 18 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches is to make her first start since that historic victory. After a slight fever prevented her from running in the Coaching Club American Oaks, Rags to Riches is being pointed toward the Alabama Stakes by trainer Todd Pletcher.

New Kent, VA - Long-shot Red Giant caught Strike the Deal at the wire to capture Saturday’s 10th edition of the $1 million Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs. The time for the 1 1/4 miles on the turf was 1:59.62, a new track record.

Red Giant, ridden by Horacio Karamanos, was sent off as a 37-1 long-shot in the 10 horse field. The favorite was Louisiana Derby winner Circular Quay at 9-5. Strike a Deal, second here in the Colonial Cup, was the 9-2 third choice.

Setting the pace in the Virginia Derby was Inca King followed by Strike a Deal, Blazing Dynamo and Red Giant. Circular Quay was running ninth followed by the 4-1 second pick Duveen.

Around the turn for home Strike a Deal took the lead from Inca King and appeared to be safely in front. At the top of the stretch Strike a Deal, with jockey Ramon Dominguez, opened a two-length margin over the field.

Inside the furlong pole Red Giant began his move to the leader. The long-shot caught Strike a Deal with a 100 yards to run. The two colts battled to the wire and could not be separated at the finish.

The photo revealed that Red Giant won by a nose over Strike a Deal. Soldier’s Dancer was third with Colonial Cup champ Summer Doldrums fourth. Rounding out the order of finish was Blazing Dynamo, Circular Quay, Duveen, Love Dubai, Inca King and Top Cross.

The win by Red Giant gives trainer Todd Pletcher his second in this race. Pletcher saddled English Channel to victory two years ago. Pletcher also had Circular Quay and Top Cross in this year’s race.

The win was worth $600,000 to bring Red Giant’s career earnings to $712,410. The chestnut colt has won four of eight lifetime starts, the last five on the turf. He has won his last three starts including the Restoration Stakes last month at Monmouth Park.

Owned by Peachtree Stable, Red Giant broke the course and stakes record of 1:59.74 set last year by Go Between.

Red Giant returned $76.00, $28.00 and $10.20. Strike a Deal paid $5.60 and $3.40, and Soldier’s Dancer paid $9.20 to show.

In the companion Virginia Oaks, Eclipse Award winner Dreaming of Anna went wire-to-wire in winning the 1 1/8 mile turf race. Ridden by Eddie Baird, the three-year-old filly covered the distance in 1:47.38.

Sent off as the 3-1 third choice, the 2006 champion two-year-old filly paid $8.40 to win. New Edition was second followed by the 5-2 second pick Christmas Kid with the 2-1 favorite Bit of Whimsy finishing fourth in the 12 horse field.