Mon, 08/26/2019 - 13:26

Inspiressa inherits favorite's role for Del Mar Debutante

Benoit Photo
Inspiressa earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure for her winning career debut.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Recent setbacks to top-class 2-year-old fillies Amalfi Sunrise and Immediate Impact have left Inspiressa as the likely favorite for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Saturday, a position Inspiressa solidified with a five-furlong work in 1:01 Monday morning.

Mon, 08/26/2019 - 13:20

Omaha Beach could make comeback in Ack Ack at Churchill Downs

Debra A. Roma
Omaha Beach is back in training following a minor illness that caused him to miss Sunday's Shared Belief Stakes.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Omaha Beach, who missed the Shared Belief last Sunday owing to a minor illness, is back galloping for trainer Richard Mandella, who on Monday said he is “looking seriously” at the Grade 3, $150,000 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28 as a comeback race.

The Ack Ack is the same day as the Grade 1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita, but is a one-turn mile as opposed to the Awesome Again’s 1 1/8 miles. Omaha Beach has not raced since winning the Arkansas Derby in April.

Mon, 08/26/2019 - 12:06

Neptune's Storm gets rider switch to Geroux for Del Mar Derby

Benoit Photo
Neptune's Storm (left) finished second in the La Jolla Handicap in his most recent start.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Neptune’s Storm, the winner of two turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita in the spring, will have a new rider when he starts in the richest race of his career in Sunday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Derby.

Trainer Richard Baltas said over the weekend Florent Geroux will replace Drayden Van Dyke. Van Dyke is booked to ride Moody Jim, the attractive winner of a maiden race in his California debut on July 27 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

“He chose to ride Mullins,” Baltas said.

Mon, 08/26/2019 - 11:36

Art G Is Back to return to turf

Lauren King/Coglianese Photos
Art G Is Back wins the Benny the Bull last Saturday. He will likely switch to turf for the $75,000 Bear's Den Stakes.

Art G Is Back continued his ascent on the South Florida racing circuit in the $100,000 Benny the Bull last Saturday at Gulfstream Park, but trainer Ron Spatz is determined to further expand the horizons of the 3-year-old colt.

Art G Is Back, owned by Monarch Stables, earned a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the $100,000 Benny the Bull at seven furlongs on the main track, but Spatz said turf is next for the gray son of Exchange Rate.

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 18:21

Fore Left has good work in blinkers for Del Mar Futurity

Ronnie Betor
Fore Left returned $5.30 for his victory in Friday's Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Fore Left, who was third in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 10, worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:01.80 a little after 8 a.m. on Sunday.

The workout was not only designed to prepare Fore Left for the Grade 1 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 2, but to give the promising runner a chance to work while wearing blinkers. The equipment will be added for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs.

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 17:37

Breeders' Cup could be last waltz for Come Dancing

Debra A. Roma
Come Dancing earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96 for her victory in the Ballerina on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Less than 24 hours after her popular and impressive 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Ballerina, Come Dancing stood at the front of her stall in trainer Carlos Martin’s barn late Sunday morning looking bright and fresh and ready to have at it again. But if Martin has his say, there may be only one more dance left on the 5-year-old’s dance card, the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 17:17

Brown eyeing Joe Hirsch next for Annals of Time

Debra A. Roma
Annals of Time earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102 for his victory in the Sword Dancer.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The victory by Annals of Time in Saturday’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga gave trainer Chad Brown some options to consider as he plots out the future for not only that horse, but the leading older male turf horse Bricks and Mortar.

Annals of Time’s neck victory over Sadler’s Joy came in his first try at 1 1/2 miles. Prior to this year, Annals of Time had won races from a mile to 1 1/8 miles. This puts the Breeders’ Cup Turf in play for Annals of Time with a likely start in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park on Oct. 5 beforehand.

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 16:47

Sadler barn keeps rolling at Del Mar

Emily Shields
Catalina Cruiser's win Saturday in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien gave trainer John Sadler his 75th Stakes win at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2019 Del Mar summer meeting does not end until Labor Day and already it has been a milestone season for trainer John Sadler.

Sadler’s stable, backed largely by Pete and Kosta Hronis, has won eight stakes, enough to surpass the late Hall of Famer Charlie Whittingham for third place on the track’s all-time list with 75 wins. Bob Baffert leads all trainers with 130 stakes wins, while Ron McAnally is second with 77.

Sadler may catch McAnally before the meeting ends.

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 16:16

Midnight Bisou targeting Beldame en route to Breeders' Cup

Ronnie Betor
Midnight Bisou earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for her game effort winning Saturday's Grade 1 Personal Ensign.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – If Midnight Bisou was knocked out from her all-out effort winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, she wasn’t showing it Sunday morning.

“She’s very proud of herself this morning,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She was in front of her stall wanting her admiration even though you know the effort she gave.”

Sun, 08/25/2019 - 16:03

Mitole likely to train up to Breeders' Cup Sprint

Ronnie Betor
Mitole earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105 for his victory Saturday in the Grade 1 Forego.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mitole’s dominant three-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Forego Stakes put him back atop the male sprint division. He will try to clinch a championship in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2, which, trainer Steve Asmussen said, will “most likely” be his next start.

Asmussen had thought about running Mitole back in the Vosburgh at Belmont but said “off that fast of a race” it might be better to wait.