SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Fifteen years ago, Wild Spirit, a Chilean-bred mare making her first start in the United States, rolled to a 3 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Shuvee Handicap. Back then, the Shuvee was run at a mile in May at Belmont Park. Back then, Chad Brown was an assistant to Bobby Frankel, the trainer of Wild Spirit, who would go on to win the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap and Grade 1 Ruffian.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Monmouth Park has requested permission from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement and the New Jersey Racing Commission to offer some mixed racing/sports wagers on the Haskell Invitational card this Sunday.
Monmouth would like to offer a pick four that would include three stakes, including the Haskell, and a Major League Baseball game.
The track also would like to offer several head-to-head matchups between horses in the Haskell based on finish position.
OCEANPORT, N.J. – It doesn’t take a detective to determine the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday goes directly though Good Magic. His strong efforts to undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness are there for all to see.
On Thursday at Monmouth Park, Good Magic drew post 6 with Jose Ortiz named to ride when a field of seven was entered for the Jersey Shore track’s premier event. Morning-line maker Brad Thomas installed Good Magic as the 6-5 favorite.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Catalina Cruiser, the impressive winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in his stakes debut on July 21 at Del Mar, may be bound for the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 1 at Saratoga.
“It’s something we can consider,” trainer John Sadler said on Thursday.
Sadler wants to keep Catalina Cruiser apart from Accelerate, the stable’s leading older horse, who won two Grade 1 races at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita earlier this year – the Santa Anita Handicap in March and the Gold Cup at Santa Anita in May.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old filly Chasing Yesterday will forever be compared with her older half-brother, a fella named American Pharoah who swept the 2015 Triple Crown.
Chasing Yesterday will have to carve out her own niche in racing. She will make her debut in a maiden special weight race for fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs in the first race at Del Mar on Saturday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Beach View may go from an upset win in Wednesday’s Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap to the meeting’s richest race, the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 18.
Trainer Leonard Powell said on Thursday that Beach View will be nominated for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles as well as the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on turf the same day. The $250,000 Del Mar Handicap is run at 1 3/8 miles.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The dearth of depth behind retired Triple Crown winner Justify in the 3-year-old division was quite evident with the short fields drawn for Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes and Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
While six were entered for the Curlin, only five – including one from the Curlin – were entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Jim Dandy. Both races are run at 1 1/8 miles and are considered stepping-stones to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 25.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Ian Wilkes said he doesn’t know how good Done Deal could be. He’s about to find out when he runs him in Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Vanderbilt Handicap Saturday at Saratoga.
Done Deal drew the outside post in a seven-horse field that includes top sprinters Imperial Hint, Petrov, and Switzerland.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In March, Strike Power and Promises Fulfilled dueled each other into defeat in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles.
Saturday, the pair will meet again as two of seven horses entered in the Grade 3, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga.
Since the Florida Derby, Promises Fulfilled has run 15th in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens. Strike Power finished eighth in the Woody Stephens.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Last year, trainer Jimmy Toner pulled a 16-1 upset in the Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes with Hunter O’ Riley. Saturday, Toner will go for a second straight Bowling Green when he sends out Manitoulin against Hi Happy and Sadler’s Joy in the Grade 2, $250,000 turf race at 1 3/8-miles.
Manitoulin was fourth, beaten three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Day. He finished two necks behind runner-up Sadler’s Joy and a neck behind Hi Happy despite a wide trip under Mike Smith.
