Wrapping up summer with a few miscellaneous notes . . .
Stiff competition for Cave Rock
Is Cave Rock a lock in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes next month at Santa Anita? Based on his stakes-record 1:20.99 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 11, perhaps he is. But two stablemates ran faster last week than Cave Rock (98 Beyer).
Paul Lally:
R1 5-1-6-8
R2 7-8-6-4
R3 1-6-9-7
R4 10-5-7-3
R5 4-2-6-3
R6 2-8-3-10
R7 6-8-4-1
R8 6-2-1-3
Best Bet R5 N4 Hardly Swears
Longshot R8 N6 Magic Phoenix
Play R2 QQP 6-7-8
Tom Wood:
R1: 6-5-8-9
R2: 4-8-6-7
R3: 9-7-6-1
R4: 3-5-7-11
R5: 4-3-1-5
R6: 3-2-8-10
R7: 6-8-1-9
R8: 1-2-3-5
BEST: R8 N1 NICCONI COUNTY (WIN)
VALUE: R6 N3 SPARKY STAR (EW)
PLAY: R6 QQP 2,3,8
Daily Racing Form has served as the most trusted source of news and information about the sport since 1894, and moving forward we have decided to provide a free daily playbook – something that both hardcore horseplayers and casual observers can reference to get informed of each day’s action.
There can be no encore this weekend. Not this weekend, not next weekend, not until the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Flightline brought down the house in the Pacific Classic while raising the bar for excellence on the track to a level we haven’t seen in . . . who knows know long. Decades?
Instant Coffee
Sept. 3, 8th race Saratoga, MdSpWt105k
Beyer: 85
7 furlongs 1:22.77 – 1st by 3/4 length
b. c. 2, Bolt d’Oro – Follow No One, by Uncle Mo
Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2021 - $200,000
Owner: Gold Square
Trainer: Brad Cox
Breeder: Sagamore Farm
DARK MARCUS
Trainer: Peter Miller
Last race: Sept. 1, race 1
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 67
Tough trip for maiden-claiming route gelding. Trailed, blocked on far turn, made a wide rally, narrowed gap. Claimed for $40K by Miller from Brian Koriner. Can beat similar.
WEEGEE
Trainer: Jeff Mullins
Last race: Sept. 1, race 5
DEL MAR, Calif. – Flightline leads the final Del Mar notebook as summer eases toward closing day on Sunday. Time to jump in.
Enjoy it while you can
You never know if or when the next star will emerge, and the Pacific Classic romp by Flightline elicited fitting observations. Del Mar announcer Trevor Denman’s call of the Grade 1 as Flightline opened up in the lane: “Take a good look at this, because you’re not gonna see this too often, maybe never again.”
Daily Racing Form has served as the most trusted source of news and information about the sport since 1894, and moving forward we have decided to provide a free daily playbook – something that both hardcore horseplayers and casual observers can reference to get informed of each day’s action.
Saratoga | Race 11 | Post Time 6:11 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Saratoga | Race 11 | Post Time 6:11 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
