Mon, 08/12/2019 - 14:26

Through four weeks, no catastrophic injuries during Del Mar races

DEL MAR, Calif. –Through the first four weeks of the meet, not a single horse has suffered a catastrophic injury in a race, as Del Mar has changed the narrative in Southern California following a tumultuous season at Santa Anita that had all eyes on safety heading into the meeting here.

“We’re still holding our breath,” Joe Harper, the track’s chief executive, said late on the card on Sunday. Harper cited extensive safety protocols, including additional veterinary oversight, as reasons for the run of good fortune.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 14:20

Despite missing Best Pal, Schrodinger should be able to make Del Mar Futurity

Benoit Photo
Schrodinger was purchased by Kaleem Shah for $550,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales in March.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Schrodinger, scratched from the Best Pal as the morning-line favorite on Saturday, seems to be rebounding from his brief high temperature and should be on course for the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on closing day Sept. 2, according to trainer Simon Callaghan.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 14:16

Summer Sunday will shift back to synthetic for next two races

Michael Burns
Summer Sunday is being pointed to the Seaway Stakes, then the Presque Isle Downs Masters.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Summer Sunday returned to the work tab on Saturday for the first time since capturing her third consecutive victory in the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes on turf on July 21. She breezed five furlongs on the Tapeta in 1:01.00, and trainer Stu Simon said Summer Sunday would likely return to the synthetic for her next two starts.

Mon, 08/12/2019 - 14:16

D'Amato well stocked for weekend stakes

Benoit Photo
Acclimate wins the San Juan Capistrano. He will run in Saturday's Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap.

DEL MAR, Calif. – It will be nearly impossible for trainer Phil D’Amato to win the training title at the current Del Mar summer meeting. A rough first two weeks, in which his stable had one win from 27 runners, makes that goal nearly impossible before the meeting ends Sept. 2.

Through Sunday, D’Amato was tied for seventh in the standings with six wins, 10 fewer than leader Doug O’Neill. Until Sunday, when O’Neill had two runner-up finishes, D’Amato and O’Neill were tied for the most seconds at the meet with nine.

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.