Preakness (G1) runner-up Midnight Bourbon will bypass the Belmont Stakes (G1) and eye races in mid-to-late summer like the Haskell Invitational (G1) or the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), said Winchell’s racing and bloodstock adviser David Fiske.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher expressed excitement for the 4-year-old debut of Wertheimer et Frere’s undefeated Happy Saver, who is entered in Race 3 at Belmont Park May 28, a one mile allowance optional claiming event with a purse of $96,000.

Breeders’ Cup heroine Audarya is to commence her campaign at Saint-Cloud May 26, with James Fanshawe preferring a French raid over a trip closer to home at Sandown.

“I can die a happy man” was the response from a hoarse Noel Meade after Helvic Dream prevailed in a gripping Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) battle with Broome, providing the leading trainer with a cherished first group 1 win on the flat.

It was Empress Josephine who provided Aidan O’Brien with a fourth win in five years in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1), gunning down her better fancied stablemate Joan of Arc in the final stride to score by a short head.

The name Head is streaked through the 61-year history of the Prix Saint-Alary (G1) and the newest member of France’s pre-eminent training dynasty bids to add to that rich history with Sibila Spain, an unbeaten daughter of Frankel. 

The final group 1 event of the Hong Kong season proved to be a changing of the guard as 4-year-old Panfield emerged with his first local victory at the top level while Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year Exultant was beaten into third.

In the end, the distance told the story in the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) May 23 at Tokyo Racecourse as Uberleben stayed the course and the favorite, the striking white filly Sodashi, did not.

Acacia Courtney and Richard Migliore take a look back at Saturday’s stakes races from Churchill Downs and Belmont Park.

When it comes to accolades for his 3-year-old filly Going Global, trainer Phil D’Amato is anything but reserved.