Winning Ponies

Brian Hernandez Jr., winner of the 2012 Ellis Park riding crown was at Ellis the day after wrapping up his first riding title at Churchill Downs in his adopted hometown of Louisville, 43 wins to 38 for runner-up Florent Geroux. But the sheer joy that the accomplishment should have brought was countered by the anguish when the tight title tilt with his close friend and 15-time Churchill riding champ Corey Lanerie ended with the sudden death of Lanerie’s wife Shantel, who was undergoing treatment for Stage 1 breast cancer, and had emergency surgery after an infected colon led to sepsis and cardiac arrest. She died the next day. Eric Wing joins John in 'capping Belmont Park Saturday slew of graded stakes races including the $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1); the $1 million Belmont Oaks (G1); the $700,000 Suburban (G2) and the $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship (G2). Eric will give updates on any upcoming horse tourneys action and spot key contenders on Saturday at Belmont.