Horse Racing news from YOUBET.com

[The General]

Back at Belmont
The Grade I Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares takes center stage this weekend as racing returns to Belmont Park. Among the Ruffian entries is Indian Blessing. One of just two three-year-olds in the field (the other being Little Belle), Indian Blessing stretches out and tackles older foes for the first time in Saturday's Belmont feature. Other contenders include the aforementioned Little Belle, Rite Moment, Copper State, Spring Waltz, Stage Luck, Boca Grande, Miraculous Miss and race highweight Tough Tiz's Sis.

Pure Clan Goes in the Garden City
Pure Clan makes her first start since narrowly capturing the American Oaks at Hollywood Park on July 5, when she heads a field of eight slated to compete in the Grade I Garden City Stakes at Belmont Park Saturday. Undefeated in four tries on turf, Pure Clan renews her rivalry with Satan's Circus in the Garden City, as well as with the talented Raw Silk - both of whom chased her home in the Oaks. The Garden City has been carded as the third race on Saturday in hopes of avoiding the worst of the rain forecast for the greater New York area in wake of Hurricane Gustav.

Bull Market
Bullring racing is back in California, with the 2008 Fairplex meet scheduled to kick off on Friday (in racing parlance, a "bullring" is any track with a circumference of less than a mile). Considered by many to be the best fair meet in the Golden State, Fairplex features Arabians, quarter horses, mules and, of course, thoroughbreds. Saturday's feature is the Phil D. Shepherd Stakes, where Freesgood and Tice figure to vie for favoritism.

Vegas Bound
What do L. Langford and W. Shurman have in common? Both are Youbet.com customers and both will be in Las Vegas Feb. 19-21 for the 2009 Horseplayer World Series. You can join them by entering and winning Qualifier #3 this Saturday. Simply place a minimum $20 win bet on at least five separate races on the Louisiana Downs program on Sept. 6 and you're eligible to win. The contest champ is the guy or gal who posts the highest return on investment (ROI). It's that simple! Click HERE for complete contest rules and entry details.

Sex in the Scioto
Although he's not entered in any of the races, Mister Big, the eighth richest pacer in harness racing history, will be on hand for Super Night at Scioto Downs on Saturday. With a career bankroll of $2,946,000, the five-year-old Mister Big trails the all-time earnings leader, Gallo Blue Chip, by just over $1.3 million and will be honored by leading a post parade with trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. on the Super Night program. Saturday evening's Scioto card features eight championship finals of the Ohio Sires Stakes, each carrying a purse of $80,000. There are two finals of the Capital City Pacing Series scheduled as well.

Indiana Sire Stakes on Saturday
The Indiana Sire Stakes series at Indiana Downs on Saturday has produced some great fields and a number of exciting wagering prospects. The two-year-old trot for colts and geldings lured Sunny Ben Joe, already an eight-time winner this year; the three-year-old filly trot features undefeated Mya Tri; and the two-year-old male pace is headed by Suprizemeagain, a colt that set a track record for juveniles at Hoosier Park this summer.

Somebeachsomewhere Heads Simcoe Stakes
Somebeachsomewhere figures to be a prohibitive choice in the Simcoe Stakes, an open pacing event for three-year-olds at Mohawk Raceway on Saturday, as the sophomore star continues to prepare for an eventual rematch with Art Official, the only horse to ever defeat him. Many had hoped the Somebeachsomewhere and Art Official would meet again in the Little Brown Jug on Sept. 18, but trainer Brent MacGrath has already indicated that the Jug is not on Somebeachsomewhere's agenda.