Exaggerator, likely to be among the favorites for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on opening weekend at Keeneland, turned in his final work for that assignment Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. With Brian Hernandez aboard, the 2-year-old went five furlongs in 1:01 flat, fifth-best of 43 on the day.
Coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga, trainer Christophe Clement was toying with the idea of re-equipping Tonalist with blinkers for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. After watching Tonalist breeze a sharp five furlongs in 1:00.24 Saturday morning at Belmont Park without blinkers, Clement has no plans to change equipment at this point.
Since we’re feeling adventurous, let’s strategize a play for Sunday’s pick five at the Big B.
The catalog for the 2015 Barretts fall sale of yearlings and horses of all ages is now available online with 269 entries.
The undefeated Rachel's Valentina will bypass next Saturday's Grade 1 Alcibiades and train up to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 31, trainer Todd Pletcher said Saturday morning at Belmont Park.
The brilliant 2-year-old Shalaa captured his fifth straight race by holding off Buratino to win the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes by a half-length on Saturday at Newmarket in England.
Stellar Wind, the winner of four graded stakes this year, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last April, worked five furlongs in 59.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday for an October campaign that remains undefined.
The weather was warm, and the track was fast Friday at Los Alamitos, where claiming sprinter Sacred Ovation set a six-furlong track record in the $45,000 Seal Beach overnight stakes, winning by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:07.92.
The sixth and final book of the Keeneland September yearling sale kicked off on Friday with across-the-board gains.
Mom’s Law upset the 2013 Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes at Finger Lakes at 24-1. She won the race again Friday, this time at 16-1.
