The June 23 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse is one of two annual events in which fans vote for the field. This year, they didn’t get their top wish of Almond Eye, but the field is deep with talent nonetheless.

Owner Phoenix Thoroughbreds enjoyed a landmark result in the Ascot sunshine as the free-spending owners landed a remarkable 1-2 in the Commonwealth Cup (G1).

The spotlight shines brightest on the Jersey Shore as Monmouth Park puts on four stakes highlighted by the United Nations (G1T), which is the only grade 1 event in North America.

Son of New Approach will run June 22 for first time in more than a year

Already with a graded stakes win at 1 1/2 miles to her credit this season, Causeforcommotion will stretch out a bit more and take on males when she starts in the $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3T) June 23 at Santa Anita Park.

After a trip to Kentucky for a pair of graded stakes that saw him claim a front-running victory in the 1 1/2-mile Louisville Stakes (G3T), Tiz a Slam will stay at that distance in his return to his Woodbine base in the Singspiel Stakes (G3T) June 22.

Choisir was the last horse to add the six-furlong Diamond Jubilee (G1), then called the Golden Jubilee, to the King’s Stand (G1) in 2003 and Blue Point will be bidding to do the same June 22.

This time last week Francis Graffard had trained two group 1 winners in a promising eight-year career. Now he has trained four as his talented Watch Me (IRE) made everyone do just that by blowing apart the Coronation Stakes.

Owner Phoenix Thoroughbred enjoyed a landmark result in the Ascot sunshine as the free-spending owners landed a remarkable one-two in the Commonwealth Cup (G1).

Switching from dirt to turf will be the order of the day June 23 at Belmont Park with a pair of $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds featuring standout performers on the main track.

Backstretch workers fear that in the wake of a rash of equine fatalities this year at Santa Anita, animal rights’ activists might succeed in their efforts to close the track and perhaps even shut down horse racing in California.

With the current Santa Anita Park meeting coming to a close, Senator Dianne Feinstein has sent letters to California Governor Gavin Newsom and the operators of Del Mar and Los Alamitos race tracks urging enhanced safety reviews at those tracks.

After hearing from staff who noted California Horse Racing Board policies on medication are moving away from the model rules of the Association of Racing Commissioners, the commissioners voted June 20 to leave the racing umbrella regulatory group.

The 3-year-old mile division might appear murky for the males, but Hermosa has the chance to stamp her authority among the fillies in the June 21 Coronation Stakes (G1).

Runnin’toluvya looks to continue the form that won him the Charles Town Classic (G2) in April when he faces six in the Philip H. Iselin at Monmouth Park June 20