Sun, 07/21/2019 - 13:43

Maximum Security, 'pretty tired' after Haskell, possible for Travers

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Maximum Security, ridden by Luis Saez, earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on Saturday.

Maximum Security, who won Saturday night’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, will ship to Saratoga by the end of the week, but trainer Jason Servis stopped short of committing the multiple Grade 1 winner to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 24.

“My feeling is I’m going to do everything like we’re running, and I’ll make a decision that week whether we can make it or not,” Servis said Sunday by phone from Monmouth Park. “If I’m not happy with him, we won’t run, and if we’re happy, we’ll run.”

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 14:30

Ahimsa points to John C. Mabee Stakes

Benoit Photo
Ahimsa and jockey Brice Blanc won the Osunitas Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths on Friday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The 4-year-old filly Ahimsa has changed in the last year, leaving trainer Peter Eurton enthusiastic about how much she can accomplish in coming months.

Ahimsa won her first stakes in Friday’s $90,904 Osunitas Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar, her eighth start. The win will lead to an appearance in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf for fillies and mares Aug. 31.

“She does well with the time,” Eurton said.

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 14:24

Bellafina works ahead of cross-country trip for Test Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
In her lone start at Churchill Downs, Oaks favorite Bellafina finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bellafina, a winner of six graded stakes in the last year and one of the nation’s leading 3-year-old fillies, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Del Mar on Saturday in advance of the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3.

The $500,000 Test Stakes is run at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies and will be Bellafina’s first start since she finished fifth as the 9-5 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Sat, 07/20/2019 - 12:59

Global Campaign, Tax drill for Jim Dandy Stakes

Debra A. Roma
Tax, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, works a bullet half-mile in 47.09 seconds Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While there were no races held Saturday afternoon at Saratoga, there was plenty of action Saturday morning, with 134 horses putting in timed workouts over the main and Oklahoma training tracks. Training hours were altered to 5 to 9:30 a.m. to try to avoid the heat that prompted Saturday afternoon’s cancellation.

Among the notable workers were Global Campaign and Tax, both pointing to next Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes here.

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 16:10

Marylou Whitney, breeder, owner, philanthropist, dies at 93

Barbara D. Livingston
Marylou Whitney, known as the 'Queen of Saratoga,' died Friday at the age of 93.

Thoroughbred owner and breeder Marylou Whitney, a noted philanthropist and socialite who added to her family’s legacy in horse racing, died Friday at her home in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She was 93.

Whitney is to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame as a “Pillar of the Turf” on Aug. 2. The induction ceremony is on the eve of the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Race Course honoring her family, for which she annually presented the trophy. Whitney was beloved in the upstate New York town, where she was known as the “Queen of Saratoga.”

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:16

War of Will wows in final serious move for Jim Dandy

Barbara D. Livingston
War of Will, pictured July 13, has had two good works for the Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Even 2 1/2 hours after he got off of War of Will on Friday morning, it was hard to wipe the smile from the face of jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

Shortly after 5:30 a.m., Gaffalione guided War of Will, the Preakness winner, through a half-mile workout in 49.32 seconds over the Saratoga main track. War of Will proceeded to gallop out five furlongs in 1:02.12 and six furlongs in 1:15.53, per Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch, in preparation for next Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy.

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:16

Duhon has strong hand at Lone Star

Trainer Paul Duhon appears to have a strong hand for the final card of the Lone Star meet on Sunday. He has three horses entered, and all will start as top choices, led by Divine Holiday.

Divine Holiday, who has won his last two starts, goes in the seventh race. He is part of an eight-horse field for the optional $40,000 claimer for 3-year-olds and up at a mile, which also drew Direct Dial, the reigning Texas-bred of the year, and stakes winners Hallelujah Hit, Analyze This Jet, and Witt’sdollarnight.

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 15:10

Jerkens taking a good look at Whitney for Preservationist

Barbara D. Livingston
Preservationist worked three furlongs in 36.86 seconds on Friday at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Preservationist, the Grade 2 Suburban winner, returned to the work tab Friday morning, breezing three furlongs in 36.86 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. While that was the time from the three-furlong pole to the wire, Preservationist went out a half-mile in 49.47 and five furlongs in 1:01.75.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens said he worked Preservationist on Friday because the horse is now seriously being considered for the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on Aug. 3.

Fri, 07/19/2019 - 14:36

Terra's Angel points to River Cities at Louisiana Downs

Benoit & Associates
Terra's Angel is being pointed to the River Cities on Sept. 7 at Louisiana Downs.

Following a sharp allowance win at Lone Star Park, Terra’s Angel is being pointed to the $60,000 River Cities at Louisiana Downs, said trainer Terry Eoff. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares will be run on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 7.

Terra’s Angel won at the distance July 13, when she fought off multiple stakes winner Cowgirls Like Us for a head victory in the turf allowance at Lone Star. Terra’s Angel earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.