SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mother Nature’s wrath had a significant impact on opening week business at Saratoga where all-sources handle was $82,353,291, down 22.6 percent from the $106,401,827 handled during opening week in 2022. Ontrack handle was $13,519,819, down 20.7 percent from the $17,062,482 handled in 2022.

Rain impacted the Friday and Sunday cards, forcing all eight scheduled turf races to the dirt. With 41 scratches, Friday’s 10-race card had 54 horses.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Javier Castellano got reacquainted with his Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo on Monday morning at Saratoga, guiding him through a five-furlong workout in 1:00.52 in preparation for what is expected to be his next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.

The Saratoga main track was remarkably in good condition following heavy rains that hit Sunday and left the track a sea of slop during and after the races.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mz Big Bucks has gotten little respect from the public, having gone postward at odds of 8-1 and 9-1 while winning her last two starts, including the Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series last month at Belmont Park.

But that is not likely to be the case in Wednesday’s finale at Saratoga, with Mz Big Bucks expected to go postward the favorite in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty Stakes to be decided at one mile on the turf, weather permitting, for 3-year-old New York-sired fillies.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Danny Gargan will hope for a different trip but the same result when Ramblin’ Wreck heads a field of eight turf runners entered in Thursday’s $150,000 Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Saratoga.

Last month, in his first start off a six-month layoff, Ramblin’ Wreck broke poorly and was taken up soon after the start by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. but came with a wide rally from last to win the Spectacular Bid division of the NYSS by one length over favored Twenty Six Black.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A year ago at this time, trainer Cyril Murphy was still trying to figure out what distance was best for Belfast Banter.

Murphy felt longer was better for the Irish-bred gelding, which is why he held him out of the A.P. Smithwick at 2 1/16 miles and waited for the Jonathan Sheppard at 2 3/8 miles, where he finished fourth behind the dominant winner Snap Decision.

“He’s a horse that leads you to believe he wants to go longer, but what he really wants is a strongly run short race where he races on the bridle, traveling well,” Murphy said.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The once-beaten Stormy Silence moves up to first-level allowance company Thursday at Woodbine in the featured sixth race, which is scheduled for five furlongs on the inner turf.

A 5-year-old trained by Shelley Fitzgerald, Stormy Silence won her debut on June 18, 2022, in an open maiden special going five furlongs on the inner turf. A month later, she used a speed style again to double up against Ontario-sired allowance company and $40,000 claimers in a six-furlong main-turf sprint.

Skippylongstocking will likely make his next start in the Grade 2, $1 million Charles Town Classic next month at Charles Town, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said Thursday.

The 1 1/8-mile race, which is run around three turns, is Aug. 25.

Skippylongstocking, who has been based in South Florida, traveled to Iowa earlier this month and finished a fast-closing second to Giant Game in the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows. Skippylongstocking earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

The major work seems about done, but the final decision has not been made quite yet regarding plans for Kentucky Derby winner Mage’s next start, which will come either in the $1 million Haskell this Saturday at Monmouth Park or one week later in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

Working for the fourth time since his third-place finish as the favorite in the Preakness on May 20, Mage breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40 under regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado on Friday at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The last time they were seen together in the afternoon, Angel of Empire and Hit Show finished in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes.

The next time they will be seen together in the afternoon, Angel of Empire and Hit Show will be in the starting gate for the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 29 at Saratoga, trainer Brad Cox said Friday.

Were the $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park strictly a local affair, trainer Jorge Delgado would have the race covered, turf or dirt. Delgado has Crispy Cat in the main body of the My Frenchman, restricted to 3-year-olds and carded for 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, and Super Chow as a capable main-track-only entrant. But shippers from Kentucky and Virginia will have a say.