SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A trio of horses now under the care of Miguel Clement – Far Bridge, Carson’s Run, and Deterministic – are confirmed for the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan Stakes at 1 3/16 miles.
Miguel Clement is now the head trainer of the stable following his father Christophe’s death last weekend.
The last horse to come out of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and win the Prix du Jockey Club was the Aidan O’Brien-trained St Mark’s Basilica in 2021, O’Brien’s lone victory in the French Derby. But the O’Brien-trained Camille Pissarro, who last raced in the one-mile Poulains and rates among the favorites Sunday for the 1 5/16-mile Prix du Jockey Club is no St Mark’s Basilica.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When it comes to the Triple Crown, owner Mike Repole appears to have a case of FOMO.
Fear not, Repole does not plan on missing out on this year’s Belmont Stakes. He has looked deep down trainer Todd Pletcher’s bench of 3-year-olds and has plucked Uncaged from it to run in the $2 million Belmont Stakes on June 7.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Barn 85 at Saratoga has been placed under a 14-day precautionary quarantine by the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission due to a reported case of strangles in that barn, according a press release sent out by the NYRA.
The quarantine is not expected to have a significant impact on the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival scheduled to begin Wednesday. The Belmont Stakes is scheduled for June 7.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Danele Durham on Saturday was set to pick up some significant hardware from the Texas Thoroughbred Association during a luncheon at Lone Star.
She is the organization’s 2024 breeder of the year. Durham bred the TTA’s horse of the year, Too Much Kiki, and she owns her dam, Soft Music, who is the TTA’s broodmare of the year.
“It’s a trifecta,” quipped Durham.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Usually Wrong, who won his stakes debut in the $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge last Monday at Lone Star, will likely run back in the track’s $125,000 Grand Prairie Turf Sprint on June 28.
He improved his career record to 5 for 6 when closing with a rush in the five-furlong race run on yielding turf. Usually Wrong is now 2 for 2 on turf.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – The versatile Neom Beach became a stakes winner, after a number of close calls, in the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff last Monday at Lone Star. The race was moved from turf to a sloppy main track during a rain-soaked card.
“It was going to fall her way one of these days and [Monday] was the day it happened,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Lovely mare. It just all came together.”
Neom Beach had placed in stakes on both dirt and turf prior to the Ouija Board Distaff.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Instant Replay likely has more derby starts in his future after winning his second consecutive stakes race last Monday in the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park.
Trainer Brad Cox said Thursday that Instant Replay has emerged from the race in excellent condition and options for his next start include the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis and the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. Both races will be run over 1 1/16 miles on July 5.
In his infinite wisdom, the fictitious anchorman Ron Burgundy once said, “I like a good, strong lady and a tasty BLT.”
His sandwich preference notwithstanding, trainer Tom Wenzel has two good, strong ladies entered in Sunday’s fourth race at Emerald Downs, a $26,000 allowance for fillies and mares ages 3 and up over six furlongs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Piper’s Factor drops out of a Churchill Downs stakes Sunday to contest Woodbine’s featured conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option, scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf.
