Trainer Kenny McPeek would land far down the list of trainers focused on sending out 2-year-old debut winners. The McPeek barn last weekend at Ellis Park sent out two juvenile first-time starters to victory, but it was second-time starter Blackout Time who drew the rave reviews.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Friday’s last event, a one-mile maiden race for 3-year-olds and up on the turf, includes Favorable Scenario, a horse trained by Chad Brown who hasn’t raced since February 2023.

Favorable Scenario has obviously has had his share of issues, but Brown said he has always thought highly of the son of Good Magic. And between himself and owner Seth Klarman, they want to give him another shot at a racing career.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nitrogen, who will switch surfaces for the second time this season when she runs in the Grade 1 Alabama here Aug. 16, had her final tune-up for that race by working five furlongs in 1:01.92 on Wednesday morning over Saratoga’s main track.

Nitrogen worked in company with the unraced 2-year-old Copa de Plata. After going their first eighth in 13.57 seconds, Nitrogen and her workmate got their last half-mile in 48.35 and their final quarter in 23.53.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Dallas Stewart made the rare decision not to send a stable of horses to Saratoga for the 2025 meet, but he was on the grounds bright and early Wednesday morning to watch his up-and-coming 3-year-old sprinter Smoken Wicked breeze immediately after the racetrack opened for training at 5:30 a.m.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With the connections of cross-entered Be Your Best opting to run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs, Friday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga has become a wide-open affair.

Secret Faith, who picked up the seventh stakes win of her career in a $75,000 division of the Louisiana Stallion Stakes on Aug. 1 at Evangeline Downs, is being considered for a start in the Grade 2, $750,000 Charles Town Oaks, according to trainer Jayde Gelner.

Secret Faith won the Stallion Stakes by 14 3/4 lengths, while covering seven furlongs in 1:23.49. For the effort, Secret Faith equaled her best career Beyer Speed Figure, an 88.

The Remington Park meet opening Friday night will feature a new stakes designed to draw turf sprinters prepping for the Breeders’ Cup, a three-day race week, and an earlier post time.

The 62-date meet runs through Dec. 20.

Remington is opening about a week and a half earlier in a move that accommodates shifting from racing four days per week to three, on Thursdays through Saturdays. The schedule will be in place until December, when the track goes back to a four-day week by adding Wednesdays.

Simon Hobson grew up in England, where his father trained racehorses. Eventually, the elder Hobson moved his tack – and his family – to Italy, where his son became a steeplechase jockey, a career he would continue to pursue with a degree of success in France and the United States.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Favorites always win the Graduation Stakes in summer at Del Mar, so the pressure is on 2-year-old Hero Or Zero for the second start of his career on Friday.

Runaway debut winner at Santa Anita, Hero Or Zero is likely to start favored in the $100,000 Graduation, a five-furlong stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds shortened this year from 5 1/2 furlongs. Not that a half-furlong shorter makes a difference.