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.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 16:38

Come Dancing waltzes through gate work

Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Come Dancing wins the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes by 6 3/4 lengths.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Come Dancing had issues with the gate in each of her last two starts, so trainer Carlos Martin decided to work her from the starting gate Sunday morning as he prepares her for a start in the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 15:51

Jerkens getting all the right signals from Green Light Go

Ronnie Betor
Green Light Go is undefeated in two starts following a win Saturday in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was all smiles Sunday morning when looking back on the performance less than 24 hours earlier of his undefeated and now Grade 2 winning 2-year-old Green Light Go, who dominated Saturday’s 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Special by 3 3/4 lengths.

“He looks good, acts fresh, like it didn’t take a whole lot out of him. It looks like we’re in a good spot,” said Jerkens who trains the homebred son of Hard Spun for the Stronach Stable.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 14:40

Brown looking ahead after an unforgettable Million Day

Coady Photography
Bricks and Mortar earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his win Saturday in the Arlington Million.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Chad Brown might have wanted to linger at Arlington following his insanely successful Saturday, when he won, in order, the Grade 1 Beverly D. with Sistercharlie, the Grade 1 Secretariat with Valid Point, the Grade 1 Million with Bricks and Mortar, and the Grade 3 Pucker Up with Cafe Americano. But the wheel on which a major trainer lives keeps spinning round whether through success or failure and Brown, by sometime Sunday night, was back in New York to oversee a number of key workouts Sunday at Saratoga.

Sun, 08/11/2019 - 13:39

Got Stormy on track for Woodbine Mile, BC Mile

Debra A. Roma
Got Stormy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108 for her victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Got Stormy came out of her powerful victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga so well that trainer Mark Casse was only half-kidding when he said Sunday morning, “She can run again next week.”

Got Stormy won’t be in the entry box next week, but she will most likely make her next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sept. 14 as a stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Sat, 08/10/2019 - 13:03

Romans works horses for Saratoga stakes, and makes decision on Dennis' Moment

Barbara D. Livingston
Promises Fulfilled works Saturday at Saratoga Race Course for the Aug. 24 Forego.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Dale Romans is targeting three Grade 1 stakes at Saratoga during the second half of the meet, but one race he won’t have a runner in is the Hopeful Stakes on closing day.

Unsurprisingly, Romans confirmed Saturday that Dennis’ Moment, the 19 1/4-length maiden winner at Ellis Park on July 27, would make his next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 14.

Fri, 08/09/2019 - 16:12

Magic Dance, winner of the Debutante at Churchill, done for the year

Coady Photography
Magic Dance, shown winning the Debutante, has bone bruising and will be sent to Three Chimneys Farm.

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Magic Dance, third in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes here on Aug.4, will not race again this year due to bone bruising, trainer Steve Asmussen said Friday.

Magic Dance, who won her first two starts, including the Debutante at Churchill, stumbled badly at the break of the Adirondack.

“She reached up and hit the back of her left ankle,” Asmussen said. “She is going to get time off at Three Chimneys.”