It took nearly two decades for a Del Mar turf sprint to gain national significance, but as turf became increasingly integral to California racing, so did the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap.
When the five-furlong turf stakes was run for the first time in 2003, turf races accounted for only one-quarter of the Del Mar program, the Green Flash purse was only $75,000, and the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint was still five years away.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Born to Boogie found her niche this year as a sprinter on the main turf, and she will get to ply her trade in Saturday’s Woodbine headliner, a first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option.
Born to Boogie’s lone 2-year-old start on the Tapeta in December was forgettable, but she won her maiden in a six-furlong main turf event off an extended layoff on June 25, while beating the likes of Zana and The Niigon Factor.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio, dominant winner of the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 5, will ship to Southern California on Sept. 12 to prepare for a start in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, trainer Richard Dutrow said Wednesday at his Belmont barn.
Dutrow still plans to train White Abarrio up to the Classic without a race in between.
Dutrow said that White Abarrio has been alternating days of galloping and jogging at Belmont Park and that he’ll likely breeze a day or two preceding his travel to Santa Anita.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Parnac, one of two horses scratched by the New York Racing Association out of an Aug. 11 allowance race, has been cleared to run in New York and was entered Wednesday by trainer Christophe Clement for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Cody’s Wish having proven he’s better shorter than longer, Godolphin’s primary U.S.-based candidate for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is Proxy, who will look to solidify his credentials for that Nov. 4 race in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.
By the time the field in Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar reaches the first turn, Senor Buscador will be in his usual spot at the back of the field. About that time, trainer Todd Fincher will begin alternating his focus on Senor Buscador’s position and the tote board to gauge early fractions in the $1 million race at 1 1/4 miles.
Fincher is begging for a rapid pace to help Senor Buscador’s closing style, a tactic that led to the 5-year-old’s most prestigious win in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 29 at Del Mar.
Grand Mo the First could develop into a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, but the first order of business is Friday’s sixth race at Gulfstream Park. He comes into the entry-level allowance on Tapeta looking to build off a promising debut win on the surface in August.
The card Friday ushers in the start of the Sunshine meet at Gulfstream. The Rainbow 6 jackpot will have a minimum guaranteed pool of $75,000.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If anyone has seen just about enough rain during this year’s Saratoga meeting it’s trainer Chad Brown, whose stable is loaded from top to bottom with talented turf horses, many of whose schedules have been disrupted by the wet weather.
The one-mile distance of the Osunitas Stakes on July 22 at Del Mar caught up with Freedom Flyer in deep stretch. She was within a half-length of the lead with a furlong remaining before finishing fourth by 1 1/2 lengths.
“The last sixteenth of a mile was the end of the world for her,” trainer Leonard Powell reflected Wednesday.
Freedom Flyer has won two turf sprints in the last year and will return to an abbreviated distance in an allowance race at five furlongs on turf for fillies and mares on Friday at Del Mar.
