SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Thus far, Nakatomi’s 6-year-old campaign has not looked much like his 5-year-old season. Trainer Wesley Ward hopes that changes Saturday when Nakatomi seeks a repeat victory in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga.
A Grade 1 race a year ago with a $350,000 purse, the Vanderbilt will be run as a Grade 2 this year, but it did get a purse increase to $400,000.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Handicappers should find a lot to like about Smooth Breeze when perusing the past performances of Thursday’s $150,000 Rick Violette Stakes at Saratoga. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old New York-breds honors the memory of the late, longtime president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul believes his state will legalize online casino gaming. It's just a question of when.
Raoul, who was elected in 2018 after 15 years in the state Senate, made the remarks during an appearance last week at the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States.
Raoul cannot vote on legislation from his current position, but he can help push any potential efforts.
Illinois has a pair of bills, Senate Bill 1963 and House Bill 3080, that were introduced earlier this year and would legalize online casinos.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It appears there will be a break in the precipitation long enough to allow turf racing to return in full force Wednesday at Saratoga. Five of the nine races are scheduled for the grass, topped by the $150,000 Suzie O’Cain Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf.
Trail of Gold, Mommy’s Turn, and Grace and Grit were separated by two noses when they finished first through third in a New York-bred first-level allowance race at this same distance at Aqueduct on June 12. All three had issues in the race.
DraftKings will return a little over $3 million to more than 7,000 Connecticut customers following a settlement.
According to an announcement last week, DraftKings settled after the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) found the company failed to clearly disclose the terms of an online casino promotion. An investigation revealed that the misleading deposit and bonus offers were available from October 2021 through January 2023.
Truly Quality, the Grade 2 winner who emerged as a top distance turf horse in California last year, is on the comeback trail for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The 5-year-old gelding, winner of Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup in November at Del Mar, has not raced since a puzzling sixth-place finish Feb. 8 as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.
Comeback options for Truly Quality include the Grade 2 Eddie Read on July 27 at Del Mar, which Thomas said may be “coming up too quick.” Truly Quality worked his second half-mile on July 12.
Del Mar horse-for-course Full Serrano, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in his last start Nov. 2 before being sidelined, has resumed serious training for John Sadler. Full Serrano’s two-furlong workout on July 7 was the first recorded drill of his comeback. Sadler expects Full Serrano to return late in the summer meet.
The layoff was longer than planned. Full Serrano was taken out of training in December. Sadler said Full Serrano had “a couple little setbacks. He should be working every week now.”
Fields are full for the start of the Del Mar summer meet on Friday, including a deep edition of the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, a restricted turf mile for 3-year-olds that is the traditional feature on opening day.
Iron Man Cal, runner-up last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar, stakes-placed Cali Cat, and improved Day and Age are among the favorites in the 10-runner Oceanside. Average field size for Friday’s 10-race card is 10 runners per race, not counting also-eligibles.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There’s lots to like pedigree-wise regarding Regal Moment when she makes her first grass start in Thursday’s Woodbine headliner, a nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance and $40,000 claimer. With blinkers added, it will be interesting to see how far her speed takes her on the inner course in the two-turn mile.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Cy Fair, a 2-year-old daughter of Not This Time, scored an impressive 3 1/4-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong turf race Thursday, the first maiden special weight race for 2-year-old fillies at the traditional Saratoga meet.
Under John Velazquez, Cy Fair pressed the early pace before leaving her eight rivals in her wake, covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.49 and earning a solid 80 Beyer Speed Figure.
