Fri, 06/06/2025 - 12:12

Woodbine cancels Friday card due to poor air quality

Julie Wright

Woodbine has canceled Friday's card due to poor air quality.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Woodbine has canceled Friday’s seven-race card due to poor air quality caused by the wildfires burning in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northern Ontario.

The decision to cancel was made through consultation with the HBPA and is consistent with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario’s air-quality guidelines.

The AGCO is recommending racetracks cancel upcoming workouts, qualifiers, and races if the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is in the high risk (7-10) range. The current rating in Etobicoke is 9.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 18:55

Trainer Miguel Clement captures emotional first victory

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Dylan Davis rode Coach Case to victory in Wednesday’s finale at Saratoga for trainer Miguel Clement’s first win.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For a few minutes Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga, Miguel Clement could allow himself to smile and feel good.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 14:34

Kathy Walsh celebration of life set for Sunday

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Walsh trained from 1970 to 2021 and won 1,232 races.

Friends and family of Kathy Walsh, who died in May at the age of 85, will gather at Santa Anita on Sunday to remember the former trainer.

A race will be named in Walsh’s honor and a reception will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the 100-to-1 room.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 14:28

Santa Anita to have four-day racing week from June 12-15

By Steve Andersen

Barbara D. Livingston

There are five stakes remaining, including three Grade 3 races worth $100,000.

Beginning this Friday, there are seven racing days remaining at the Santa Anita spring meeting. The track will race from Friday through Sunday this weekend and will have a four-day racing week from June 12-15 that includes a rare Thursday program.

There are five stakes remaining at the meeting, including three Grade 3 races worth $100,000: Saturday’s Summertime Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, the Daytona Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on June 14, and the San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf on June 15.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 14:22

Sweet Azteca resumes training

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Richard Baltas said he will consider starting Sweet Azteca in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes.

Sweet Azteca, the three-time stakes winner who missed her scheduled 2025 debut on Sunday at Santa Anita because of an apparent cut on a leg, resumed training on Wednesday and could race as early as next month.

“She’s back to the track,” trainer Richard Baltas said on Wednesday.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 12:28

NYRA to offer bevy of multi-day wagers Belmont week

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

The New York Racing Association will offer several multi-day wagers for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association will be offering many multiple-day wagers during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Beginning Thursday, there was a two-day pick four using races 9 (Grade 3 Poker) and 10 on Thursday with races 1 and 2 on Friday. There is a two-day pick four using Friday’s 13th (Grade 1 Just a Game) and 14th with races 1 and 2 Saturday. Both races have a 50-cent base and a 24 percent takeout.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 12:24

Jenny Wiley winner Choisya to stay stateside for summer

By David Grening

Coady Media

Choisya, winner of the Jenny Wiley, will remain in the U.S. following a start in the Just a Game at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Choisya, who shipped in from England to win the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April and has shipped back in again from England for Friday’s Grade 1 Just a Game here, is expected to remain in the United States for the summer, co-trainer Ed Crisford said.

Crisford said provided Choisya runs well in the Just a Game, at one mile, she would be pointed to the Grade 1 Diana, at 1 1/8 miles here July 12. Choisya, a 5-year-old daughter of Night of Thunder, won the Group 2 Balanchine at Meydan in Dubai at 1 1/8 miles earlier this year.

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 12:20

Back on work tab, Walsh points Gosger toward Haskell

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Gosger, second in the Preakness, will make his next start in the Haskell at Monmouth.

SARATOGA, SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gosger, the Preakness runner-up, returned to the work tab Wednesday at Churchill Downs, breezing a half-mile in 49.20 seconds. Gosger is preparing for a probable start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park, trainer Brendan Walsh said.

“He came out of the Preakness in good order, we gave him an easy time of it since, and we’ll look forward to having him for the second half of the year,” Walsh said. “The Haskell looks like our plan with him.”

Wed, 06/04/2025 - 12:07

Immersive set for 3-year-old debut in Monomoy Girl

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Immersive, last year's juvenile filly champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner, will return in the Monomoy Girl.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Immersive, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2024 who was sidelined earlier this year by bone bruising, is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 14, trainer Brad Cox said.

At 1 1/16 miles, the Monomoy Girl could set Immersive up for a return to graded stakes company later this summer at Saratoga with potential spots being the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19 and/or the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 16.

Tue, 06/03/2025 - 14:05

Belmont Stakes 2025: Rispoli ready for Journalism's next chapter

By David Grening

Journalism.Umberto Rispoli after Preakness May 17 2025

Barbara D. Livingston

After Journalism came off the bridle during the Preakness, Umberto Rispoli believes staying inside on the far turn and splitting horses into the stretch was his only chance to win the race.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bumpy at times, yes, but Journalism has taken jockey Umberto Rispoli on the ride of a lifetime this spring.

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