Junior Alvarado

Junior Alvarado, Julien Leparoux, Deshawn Parker, Gerard Melancon and Scott Stevens are finalists for the 2021 Mike Venezia Memorial Award, the New York Racing Association announced Sunday. Created in 1989, the Mike Venezia Memorial Award is awarded to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career. All active jockeys in the continental U.S. are eligible to vote for...

Annex took his record to three-for-three with his second straight stakes victory in Gulfstream's Cutler Bay S. Rallying to victory in his career bow over course and distance Jan. 16, the 'TDN Rising Star' captured the Palm Beach S. in Hallandale next out Feb. 27 and was favored to repeat here. Sitting a bit closer to the pace in a joint fourth, the flashy chestnut raced off the fence through a :24.06 opening quarter and :47.78 half-mile. Swung out three wide turning for home, the even-money favorite surged up alongside...

Forza Di Oro (Speightstown) took full advantage of an ideal run through the race and sprinted home fastest of all to give his sire a second consecutive victory in the GIII Discovery S., following on the success of Phipps Stable's Performer 12 months ago. Very alertly into stride for Junior Alvarado, the Don Alberto homebred fell into the perfect spot, as Monday Morning Qb (Imagining) set a strong pace from longshot Ralston (Tapiture) to his outside. Attachment Rate (Hard Spun) did it toughest three wide punching the breeze, while Shared...