Local standout and freshman sire Nationhood was represented by his first winner at stud on July 13 when Zafari Nation won a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs by 1 1/2 lengths.
Louisiana Downs has a $492,866 super pick five jackpot carryover into Thursday’s card.
Action at the claim box was brisk through the first four days of the meet, with 20 horses being claimed for $585,000.
As a product of Grade 1 winners A.P. Indy and Island Sand, expectations probably were pretty high for Martini Brother when trainer Nick Zito and owner Len Riggio had him. But, unable to succeed on the flat, Martini Brother seems to have found a home as a steeplechaser, and on Thursday, he’ll seek his third straight win in the $75,000 Jonathan Kiser Novice Stakes at 2 1/16 miles over national fences.
Trainer James Iselin is hoping the “real Willet” will show up on Thursday when the New York-bred filly makes her second start of the year in the $100,000 Lottsa Talc Stakes, the co-feature on Thursday’s 10-race program at Saratoga.
Majestic City makes his third start off a layoff in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes on Sunday at Del Mar.
Ian Wilkes didn’t like what he saw when Fort Larned worked five furlongs in 1:03 and change here last Saturday, so he wheeled the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic champion back out three days later and got the results he was looking for – and then some – as Fort Larned breezed five panels in 1:01.20 over a sloppy track Tuesday.
Goldencents left California for the Kentucky Derby in late April as the state’s leading 3-year-old, weeks removed from a sharp win in the Santa Anita Derby. He returned less than a month later as an afterthought in the division.
When it comes to Preakness winner Oxbow, trainer D. Wayne Lukas hopes that by doing less with him in the morning, he’ll get more out of him in the afternoon.
The top two finishers in the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks last Saturday at Arlington Park, My Option and Frivolous, could have a rematch in the $75,000 Hatoof Stakes on the Aug. 17 Arlington Million undercard.
