SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - While trainer Ken McPeek made his decision early to run the filly Thorpedo Anna against the boys in the Travers Stakes here on Aug. 24, trainer Todd Pletcher will take his time in deciding what’s next for Jim Dandy Stakes winner Fierceness and his stablemate Mindframe.
The way it sounded Saturday evening and again Sunday morning, there’s a very good chance that Fierceness doesn’t run in the Travers and a pretty good chance Mindframe skips it as well.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Ken McPeek says he likes a challenge and he’s going to take on a significant one when he runs the filly Thorpedo Anna against the boys in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24 at Saratoga.
McPeek announced that decision Saturday a week after hinting that’s what he would do shortly after Thorpedo Anna won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 4 1/4 lengths here on July 20. McPeek announced his decision on Fox Sports, which was broadcasting Saturday’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy from Saratoga.
There may be very few pure Thoroughbreds competing at the Olympics this year, but that doesn’t mean the breed won’t play a role in the Paris Games, which kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday. Several horses competing in eventing, for which competition begins Saturday, have Thoroughbred relatives – including two horses on the powerhouse German team who have Thoroughbred broodmare sires.
Joseph Taylor, the Pennsylvania-based trainer who was suspended eight years by racing regulators last week, was handed the penalty after an arbitrator ruled there was no evidence to support his contention that his ex-wife or stepson sabotaged his operation, according to newly posted documents from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit.
DEL MAR, Calif. - In three starts, Iscreamuscream has closed from slightly off the pace to win two sprints, and disputed the pace to win her stakes debut in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Saturday.
For her next scheduled appearance, in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 17, trainer Phil D’Amato hopes to see the patient style of her sprint wins combined with the gritty manner of her stretch run in the San Clemente.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The elements are in place for a successful start in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 1 for Formidable Man after his first stakes win in Saturday’s $103,000 Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Del Mar.
Formidable Man closed from ninth of 11 with a wide rally to win the Oceanside Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths in his first start at Del Mar since a win in a maiden race over the same course and distance in his debut last September.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Not needed as an understudy for Mindframe in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park, Fierceness will get to play the starring role for his connections in this Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
Ruidoso Downs announced on Sunday that it has canceled the final six weeks of racing because of frequent flash floods since late June and will run the remainder of the meeting at The Downs at Albuquerque approximately 180 miles to the north.
Ruidoso Downs was scheduled to continue at the southern New Mexico venue through Sept. 2.
The decision to relocate means such famous races as the All American Derby and $3 million All American Futurity will be run at Albuquerque on Sept. 1 and 2, according to Ruidoso Downs track owner Johnny Trotter.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ken McPeek said he won’t keep the racing world in suspense too long about whether the fabulous filly Thorpedo Anna will take on the boys in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24, but there are still a few things to consider before making a final decision.
