A race fit for a king was watched live by a princess, who crowned Hukum a heavyweight champ following a titanic tussle with Westover in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) that had echoes of some of Ascot’s greatest duels.

Trainer Chad Brown knew Faraday had the pedigree to be a highly useful long distance turf runner. It was just a matter of getting the son of Ghostzapper to focus.

The bay mare Amy C and rider Umberto Rispoli overcame a slow start and poured it on late in the five-furlong Daisycutter Handicap Friday at Del Mar as they came away a half-length winner in the $103,800 feature at the seaside oval.

There may be a lively debate over who is the best member of the 3-year-old male division. But there’s no reason for an argument over the most versatile runner in the crop.

Following 1/ST Racing’s July 16 announcement to close Golden Gate Fields in Northern California and to ultimately consolidate its state’s operations to Santa Anita Park, the track operator announced July 28 a $31.7 million investment at Santa Anita.

In Saturday’s Notebook: After Arcangelo’s third Saratoga work, trainer Jena Antonucci sees her colt growing up; trainer Kenny McPeek will run Smile Happy in Whitney, waiting to see with Rattle N Roll.

Smile Happy will represent McPeek barn in the Whitney; plans for stablemate Rattle N Roll will depend on how Smile Happy does in his race.

The Stronach Group’s 1/ST RACING announced a plan July 28 to help consolidate racing operations in Southern California, invigorate an aging business model that has plagued California racing for decades, and build on the state’s recent safety reforms.

While the connections of Forte await a hearing officer’s decision on a failed post-race drug test after his victory in last year’s Hopeful Stakes (G1), they will not have to sweat any consequences of not reporting that test outcome to Breeders’ Cup.

On Racing