Mon, 08/12/2019 - 13:30

Big names from Asmussen barn drill for upcoming stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Midnight Bisou (left) and She's a Julie work in company on Monday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There are six Grade 1 stakes scheduled at Saratoga on Aug. 24, and trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing horses to five of them. Early Monday morning, Asmussen had several of those runners put in their major workouts over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for those events.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 13:20

Omaha Beach on target for Shared Belief Stakes

Debra A. Roma
Trainer Richard Mandella is pleased with how Omaha Beach is progressing.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Omaha Beach continued his impressive training pattern with a six-furlong work in 1:13.60 on Monday morning at Del Mar, after which trainer Richard Mandella said he expected Omaha Beach to be ready to return in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at one mile here on Aug. 25.

“Right now, I’d say yes, it’s a go,” Mandella said.

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Mon, 08/12/2019 - 13:14

Catalina Cruiser has Pat O'Brien or Forego as next start

Emily Shields
Catalina Cruiser earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his San Diego Handicap win Saturday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Catalina Cruiser won’t run in the Pacific Classic on Saturday, as he will cut back to seven furlongs for his next race, but where that race will take place has yet to be determined, trainer John Sadler said Monday morning at Del Mar.

:: Get PPs, Clocker Reports, picks, and more from DRF's Saratoga/Del Mar One-Stop Shop

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 13:10

New purchase Final Jeopardy tops dozen expected for Canadian Derby

Leslie Martin/Coglianese Photos
Final Jeopardy enters the Wood off a one-mile allowance win at Gulfstream.

Final Jeopardy heads the list of 12 horses likely to start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Canadian Derby on Sunday at Century Mile. Traditionally contested around four turns at 1 3/8 miles at the now-closed Northlands Park, this year’s edition will be at 1 1/4 miles with just two turns.

Final Jeopardy figures to be a short price. He is coming off a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 6 at Belmont for trainer Jason Servis. After being purchased for an undisclosed sum by Peter and James Redekop, he will be making his first start for Phil Hall, the leading trainer at Hastings.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 12:20

Gunnevera not training as Sano would like

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Antonio Sano hopes to make the Beeders' Cup Classic with Gunnevera.

Gunnevera has missed intended workouts again and is no longer under consideration for the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga as trainer Antonio Sano makes contingency plans to insure the standout 5-year-old returns to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 11:59

Trainer Aparna Battula suspended after barn search yields syringes, injectable substances

Aparna Battula, a New Jersey trainer who has three wins from 25 starts this year, was summarily suspended on Friday by the state racing commission after investigators found 30 “hypodermic needles and syringes” and more than 80 vials of “injectable substances” during a barn search, according to a ruling.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 11:50

Rodriguez, still recovering from injury, will miss mount on big horse

Coady Photography
Mocito Rojo (right) wins the $100,000 Evangeline Mile with jockey Filemon Rodriguez up.

Jockey Filemon Rodriguez is recovering from injuries sustained in a recent race at Evangeline Downs, but will not be ready to ride Mocito Rojo in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup on Aug. 23 at Remington Park.

Rodriguez fractured his collarbone and one rib and also punctured a lung when his mount, Bullet the New Sky, fell in the first race Aug. 3. The rider spent two days at a local hospital and is supposed to complete therapy for his injuries on Sept. 10, said trainer Shane Wilson, who trains Mocito Rojo.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 17:20

Big-figure debut win gives Tagg options with Tiz the Law

Barbara D. Livingston
Tiz the Law earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for his debut win at Saratoga on Wednesday.

As impressive as Green Light Go was winning the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and the two Steve Asmussen maiden breakers were earlier on Saturday’s card, the most noteworthy juvenile performance of the week, at least from a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint, was turned in by a New York-bred, Sakatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 16:58

Asmussen 2-year-olds keep showing up

Ronnie Betor
Gozilla earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut victory Saturday for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has unleashed some good-looking 2-year-olds at this meet, perhaps none more impressive than Gozilla, who on Saturday won a six-furlong maiden race by 4 1/2 lengths for Zayat Stables. Gozilla, a son of Flatter ran six furlongs in 1:09.59 and earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 16:46

Code of Honor, Laughing Fox drill for Travers

Barbara D. Livingston
Code of Honor is training up to the Travers following a win July 6 in the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont.

Code of Honor and Laughing Fox both put in workouts Sunday morning over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24.

Code of Honor, promoted to second in the Kentucky Derby and winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes, went a half-mile in 48.30 seconds in company with the recent 3-year-old maiden winner Performer.