SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Based on her two victories to begin the year, including an eye-catching 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Southlawn was sent off the second choice in the 14-horse Kentucky Oaks field in May.
After checking off heels entering the first turn and then racing five wide throughout, Southlawn was basically done by the top of the stretch, finishing 10th, 10 1/4 lengths behind Pretty Mischievous and Gambling Girl, who were a neck apart at the wire.
Battle Cry has found a new home on the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park and in Friday’s seventh race will attempt to remain perfect over the local synthetic track when she meets another Tapeta specialist in Pacific Princess.
The horses will clash over one mile and 70 yards in a $12,500 starter allowance for fillies and mares that carries an optional claiming price of $20,000. The race is part of a Rainbow 6 jackpot sequence that runs on races 3-8 and has a minimum guaranteed pool of $200,000. The 20-cent bet has not been solved over the last eight race dates.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It was nearly one year ago that Blazing Sevens won his debut here by 6 1/4 lengths, kicking off a 2-year-old campaign that would include a Grade 1 victory in the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.
Friday, Blazing Sevens returns to Saratoga to kick off the second half of his 3-year-old season when he heads a field of five in the $135,000 Curlin Stakes, a stepping-stone to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers here on Aug. 26.
The breezy Del Mar summer meet that begins Friday always ranks among the highlights of the California racing season, though opening day this year includes a worrisome tailwind out of Northern California.
It was announced days ago that Golden Gate Fields will close at the end of 2023, joining a list of shuttered California tracks including Hollywood Park, Fairplex Park, and Bay Meadows. While the pending closure of Golden Gate may not directly impact Del Mar this summer, the surprise development illustrates the uncertain future of West Coast racing.
The Arkansas Derby purse has been elevated to $1.5 million in a move that puts its value on par with the most recent runnings of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
In addition to the Arkansas Derby, which last season was worth $1.25 million, all of the major 3-year-old races at the Hot Springs, Ark., track have had their purses increased for 2024.
The meet opens Dec. 8 and runs 66 dates through May 4 of next year.
Ice Needs Whiskey will make his first start for a claiming tag in Friday’s $15,000 claiming feature race at Emerald Downs over 6 1/2 furlongs. The speedy 5-year-old has raced just five times in his life, and he won for the first time in his second career start nearly two years ago.
The Kay Cooper trainee has always had talent and has yet to be beaten to the first call in any of his starts. His dam is a half-sister to former Longacres Mile winner Edneator, and Ice Needs Whiskey is something of a family favorite around Cooper’s barn.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Reserve has found his niche as a five-furlong inner-turf expert and will get to ply his trade against older rivals in Friday’s featured sixth race at Woodbine, a first-level allowance with a $32,000 claiming option.
Trained by Mike Mattine, Silent Reserve started once last year at 2, finishing fifth behind future stakes winners Chiseler and Twin City in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special.
Daily Racing Form Southern California handicapper Brad Free provides his selections, analysis and suggested wagers for Saturday, July 22 at Del Mar.
The first wave of California 2-year-olds arrived early at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos, but the cream rises in summer at Del Mar. The 2023 season begins Friday, and many of the circuit’s most highly regarded prospects are nearing their career debuts.
Colts knocking on the door include Dr. Park (by Uncle Mo) and Heartland (Justify), siblings to juvenile champions Forte and Classic Empire, respectively. Miracle Mark (Constitution) is a precocious sibling to durable sprint champion Whitmore.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Phil Antonacci came to Saratoga having won just one race from 19 starters on the year. In a span of 48 hours, he won two races at the Spa, having taken the nightcap on both the opening-day and third-day programs.
Thundara, in from the also-eligible list, won a New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming race on Thursday. On Saturday, Monet Never rallied between horses to win a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint by a nose.
Antonacci noted that Monet Never got stepped on by another horse during a maiden race at Keeneland, prior to the race he won Friday.
