Wed, 08/02/2023 - 13:45

Call Me Spicy might try new tactics in clash with Gitana

Call Me Spicy won her maiden on the front end, but she could employ new tactics Friday when she takes on probable favorite Gitana in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park.

The first-level allowance for Florida-bred fillies and mares will be run over 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta. It carries a claiming option of $20,000.

The feature is part of the Rainbow 6 jackpot sequence that will have a minimum guaranteed pool of $300,000. The 20-cent bet runs on races 3-8. It has not been solved in 13 cards since a mandatory payout.

Wed, 08/02/2023 - 13:45

More Than Looks one of many players in Hall of Fame Stakes

Carl Spackler works at SAR July 15 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
Carl Spackler trains at Saratoga. Friday’s Hall of Fame Stakes will be his first since missing time due to an illness.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – More Than Looks, who has come a long way in a relatively short time for trainer Cherie DeVaux since launching his career earlier this season, will attempt to continue his winning ways facing his stiffest test yet Friday at Saratoga in the $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.

Wed, 08/02/2023 - 13:25

Bus Buzz, Kangaroo Court battle again in Real Good Deal

Benoit Photo
Kangaroo Court (left) narrowly defeated Bus Buzz in the Echo Eddie and the two will square off again in Friday's Real Good Deal at Del Mar.

The $151,000 Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita in April produced one of the most thrilling finishes of the early spring when Kangaroo Court edged Bus Buzz by a head after the pair fought through the stretch.

Since then, their seasons have gone in different directions, but Bus Buzz and Kangaroo Court figure to be the prominent runners in Friday’s $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Del Mar.

Wed, 08/02/2023 - 13:15

Elusive Princess an interesting Euro invader in Oaks

Barbara D. Livingston
Elusive Princess is part of a strong European contingent that will invade Friday's Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational at Saraotga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Elusive Princess has shown an extremely strong turn of foot in her last three starts – two at the Group 1 level in France – she just doesn’t have a win to show for it.

Friday, Elusive Princess brings her closing kick and some high-class form to the U.S., where she figures to be one of the choices in the Grade 3, $400,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, scheduled for 1 3/16 miles on the Mellon Turf course.

Wed, 08/02/2023 - 12:25

Woodbine Turf Sprint Series back after cancellation

Michael Burns
Red River Rebel will continue to search for his best form in the second leg of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Gun Runner gelding Arms will race on turf for the first time in Friday’s second leg of the Woodbine Turf Sprint Series, a $25,000 starter allowance/$40,000 claimer. The six-furlong main course event was rescheduled from last Friday, a card that was canceled due to excessive heat.

Wed, 08/02/2023 - 12:00

Ms Parkside comes off gallant defeat

Ms Parkside is the one to beat in Friday’s six-furlong feature race at Emerald Downs. Seven older fillies or mares are entered in the $25,000 claiming race, including four who won their last start.

Expected favorite Ms Parkside last raced on July 9, when she fought tooth and nail in a speed duel only to miss by a neck. The third-place finisher that day, Our Lyla Grace, has since returned to win the Washington Legislators Stakes on July 23.

Wed, 08/02/2023 - 11:55

Racetrack rivals Arrogate, California Chrome lead stellar Hall of Fame class

Barbara D. Livingston
California Chrome wins the 2014 Kentucky Derby. He also won the Preakness and Pacific Classic among other Grade 1 stakes and retired as the game's leading money earner.

Only one could win when champions Arrogate and California Chrome shared a starting gate for the first time in the highly anticipated 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic. They were separated by mere feet, with Arrogate winning by a half-length. California Chrome ultimately took home Horse of the Year honors and both earned divisional trophies.

On Friday the two will share a stage in lockstep as they enter the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y, as part of the class of 2023.

Mon, 07/31/2023 - 15:40

War Like Goddess coming off dull run for Glens Falls three-peat attempt

War Like Goddess breezes at Saratoga July 29 2023
Barbara D. Livingston
War Like Goddess breezes at Saratoga on Saturday. Her sixth in the New York was her first off-the-board finish in more than two years.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When War Like Goddess ran sixth in the Grade 1 New York Stakes at Belmont Park in June, it was her first out-of-the-money finish in more than two years and just the second of her 15-race career.

Was it an anomaly? Or has War Like Goddess, midway through her 6-year-old year and having competed at the highest level for most of it, lost a step?

“You wonder, have they called it a day?” trainer Bill Mott said. “If they do it twice in a row, then you’re really screwed.”

Mon, 07/31/2023 - 15:10

Mott now stressing quality over quantity at Saratoga

Barbara D. Livingston
Bill Mott instructs the riders of Elite Power (left) and Cody’s Wish before going out to the track in June at Belmont Park. Both horses have been multiple Grade 1 winners for the trainer.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bill Mott used to be obsessed with being leading trainer. While, he’s still obsessed with winning, it’s now all about winning the right races, not the most races.

Mott again demonstrated his prowess for winning the right races this weekend at Saratoga when he captured Saturday’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt with Elite Power and then came back 24 hours later to win the Grade 2 Bowling Green with the 9-year-old Channel Maker.

Mott has won six races at the meet, four have been stakes.