Neither Joya Real or Aquinnah ran particularly well in the Klassy Briefcase Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 12, but they both had an excuse that day. Her name is Lady Shipman. Fortunately for Joya Real and Aquinnah, Lady Shipman is sitting out the $60,000 Blue Sparkler at Monmouth on Saturday.
Trainer Leonard Powell saddles Canadian Exchange (#3, ML 3-1) in Thursday's first race at Del Mar, a six-furlong maiden claimer. Since Jan., 1, 2014, Powell is winning at a 30 percent clip when saddling a horse switching from turf to dirt, for a return on investment of $3.78. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
A change of venue for Saturday’s Barretts select yearling sale has led to a change of approach to California’s leading yearling sale. Saturday evening’s sale at Del Mar has a catalog of 75 horses, with 68 prospects in the main section of the catalog and another seven listed on an also-eligible list. By comparison, the 2014 October yearling sale in Pomona, Calif., had 260 yearlings, with 163 listed as sold, 68 listed as bought back, and 29 withdrawals.
Blue Dancer will try to keep his perfect record in Canada intact when he takes on 11 competitors Saturday in the 86th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. The 1 3/8-mile Derby headlines a 13-race card that begins at noon Mountain time.
Fueled by Bourbon gets some class relief with a change of venue as the Southern California raider appears the one to beat in Saturday’s $50,000 Jess Jackson Owners’ Handicap at Santa Rosa.
John Nerud, a towering figure in Thoroughbred racing for nearly seven decades, has died at 102.
Conquest Stable had an amazing run at Woodbine in 2014 with 2-year-olds Conquest Tsunami and Conquest Typhoon, the latter being named the champion of the division. It has branched out this year with some pricey Ontario-bred 2-year-olds, including Conquest Daddyo, who should be a factor in Saturday’s $150,000 Vandal Stakes.
A Quarter Horse jockey has been summarily suspended by the stewards at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind., after being linked to the discovery of an electrical device, according to the track stewards.
Memphisinmay, an 11-1 outsider, handed Son of a Nut the first defeat of his career, beating him by a head in the $150,000 Governor’s Stakes on Wednesday at Indiana Grand.
Trainer Graham Motion said the more distance the better for his European import Tacticus shortly after entries were drawn for Wednesday’s 1 3/4-mile Birdstone Stakes. And his prediction was right on the money after Tacticus, benefitting from a patient ride by Joel Rosario, rallied to a 2 1/2-length victory over Turco Bravo in Thursday’s main event at Saratoga.
