Fri, 07/06/2018 - 15:00

Purses will get a boost when Saratoga opens

Barbara D. Livingston
Purse changes will accompany the start of the Saratoga meet on July 20.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association will increase purses while also reconfiguring purse distribution when the Saratoga meet opens July 20.

Purses for maiden, allowance, starter allowance, and most claiming races for winners will each increase by $2,000, according to Martin Panza, senior director of racing operations for the New York Racing Association.

“The purse account is very healthy at the moment. It’s time to disperse some of that money,” Panza said. “We’re generating more than we’re giving out.”

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 14:56

Fourstardave next for Delta Prince

Michael Burns
Delta Prince, ridden by Javier Castellano, wins the King Edward Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was back at his Belmont Park barn Friday, just four days after he underwent heart surgery to have two stents put in following a heart attack.

Jerkens was in good spirits and is looking forward to the upcoming Saratoga meet. One horse he is expected to run there is Delta Prince, who came off a near 10-month layoff to win the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes under Javier Castellano at Woodbine last Saturday.

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 14:56

Golden Mischief has no immediate plans after Saylorville Stakes win

Coady Photography
Golden Mischief wins the Saylorville Stakes on Thursday night.

After dueling and fading while racing on the inside in the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes last out, Golden Mischief got a comfortable outside trip and easily won the $100,000 Saylorville Stakes on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows. She ran six furlongs in 1:09.49 and got a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, the second-highest of her career.

“I think she prefers being outside horses,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She’s a really nice filly.”

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 14:50

Mr. Jagermeister likely to await Minnesota Derby

Coady Photography
Mr. Jagermeister posted a 6 1/4-length victory in Wednesday's Victor S. Myers Stakes.

Mr. Jagermeister barely turned a hair in winning the Victor S. Myers Stakes on Wednesday at Canterbury Park by more than six lengths under Leandro Goncalves. He got a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 for what amounted to a glorified workout.

“I’d discussed with Leandro the fact he was running back on 10 days’ rest,” said trainer Valorie Lund. “I said he was going to win the race, so just use what you need to win.”

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 14:46

Iowa Oaks win could lead to big things for She's a Julie

Coady Photography
She's a Julie wins the Iowa Oaks on Thursday night for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The eye-catching win by She’s a Julie on Thursday night at Prairie Meadows in the Iowa Oaks was a long time in coming.

“We’ve been waiting for it for a year and a half,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains She’s a Julie for Carrol Castille’s Whispering Oaks Farm.

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 14:20

Conquest Sandman must be caught in rescheduled Mecke Stakes

Lauren King
Conquest Sandman wins the Miesque’s Approval Stakes last month.

It took a couple of tries but the $75,000 Mecke Stakes will finally take center stage, five days later than originally planned, when it tops Sunday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park. The Mecke drew a field of seven 3-year-olds and up and will be decided at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

The Mecke failed to attract sufficient entries when originally scheduled to be run on Wednesday’s Fourth of July card

Fri, 07/06/2018 - 13:06

Soi Phet to make one or two starts at Del Mar

Barbara D. Livingston
Soi Phet and Alonso Quinonez get up just in time to deny B Squared and jockey Mario Gutierrez in the Bertrando Stakes on Wednesday.

CYPRESS, Calif. – The popular 10-year-old stakes winner Soi Phet may have as many as two starts at the Del Mar summer meeting following his nose win in Wednesday’s Bertrando Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Leonard Powell said he is considering the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for Cal-breds at 1 1/16 miles on turf and the $75,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile on dirt Aug. 22 for Soi Phet. If one race is chosen, the Brubaker is more likely, he said.

Thu, 07/05/2018 - 15:56

Separationofpowers to get year started in Victory Ride

Barbara D. Livingston
Separationofpowers turned in a professional effort winning the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes on Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly Separationofpowers makes her 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park.

Separationofpowers, who won the Grade 1 Frizette last October here, has not run since she finished fourth behind Caledonia Road in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She finds a difficult spot for her return, facing Mia Mischief, the dominant winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles last out at Churchill Downs.

Thu, 07/05/2018 - 15:50

Jacobson turns over New York stable to Gullo

Michael Amoruso
David Jacobson was the leading trainer on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2013-14.

ELMONT, N.Y. – David Jacobson, the leading trainer on the New York Racing Association circuit in 2013-14, has turned over his New York stable to trainer Gary Gullo so he can concentrate on his string in Southern California.

Thu, 07/05/2018 - 15:46

Noble Indy running solely for Repole in Dwyer Stakes

Susie Raisher
Noble Indy breezes five furlongs on the outside of Hyndford on Friday at Belmont Park.

ELMONT, N.Y. – When Noble Indy runs in Saturday’s Grade 3, $300,000 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park, he will do so as the sole property of Mike Repole, who bought out WinStar Farm as his partner on the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner.

“I made WinStar an offer for 50 percent, and Elliott and WinStar gladly accepted,” Repole said, referring to Elliott Walden, president and chief executive of WinStar.

WinStar Farm owns Triple Crown winner Justify with China Horse Club, Sol Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners, and Jack Wolf’s Starlight Stable.