Lewis Hall and his Lone Star Park-based trainer Danele Durham hit the Fasig-Tipton July auction on Thursday in a significant way, taking home seven promising yearlings that are expected to debut next summer in Texas.
Frank Lucarelli figured he’d have one of the leading 3-year-olds at Emerald this year with the speedy Trackattacker, but things haven’t worked out as planned. Even without Trackattacker, he’ll have three starters in the $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap on Sunday.
Business is booming at Emerald Downs. The mid-point of the 70-day meeting came and went Friday, and both average field size – spurred by a 20 percent increase in overnight purses – and betting handle have jumped dramatically from the corresponding date in 2014.
There are some intriguing horses racing at Belmont this Saturday. I'll key them in multiple-race wagers and will play them to win if they meet my personal value-line requirements.
Trainer Nancy Betts is considering the $100,000 Redekop Classic on Aug. 3 at Hastings as the next start for Brackendale.
Thetrailerguy, who zig-zagged through traffic to prevail in his stakes debut last month, figures to be formidable yet again in Sunday’s $50,000 Seattle Slew Handicap at Emerald Downs.
Eddie Truman is always one of the first trainers to arrive here at Del Mar every summer, and he couldn’t wait for Friday, when horses were allowed on the track for the first time after being allowed into the stable area on Thursday.
Trainer George Weaver says that as well as High Noon Rider has been running since being switched back to turf this spring, he believes “one of these 3-year-old stakes on the grass has his name on it.” That stakes could be Sunday’s $100,000 Manila.
Morning Coffee moved to the top of the local 3-year-old filly division with an impressive win in the $50,000 Supernaturel Handicap on July 1. She was ridden by Pedro Alvarado, who said she just dragged him around the three turns.
Finnegans Wake, the leading turf runner in California this year with three graded stakes wins, is a candidate for the $400,000 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf July 18 at Del Mar.
