DEL MAR, Calif. – Earlier this decade, Nick Cosato tried to leave racing. He had worked as an agent for several prominent riders in Southern California, but was ready for a different career.
A year later, Cosato had another change of heart. He returned to racing, this time as the founder of the Slam Dunk Racing partnership.
“I couldn’t get this out of my blood,” Cosato said last weekend. “Racing is my passion.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Arrogate worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Monday morning at Del Mar in his final tune-up for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday.
Martin Garcia was aboard Arrogate, who broke away from the pony just past the five-furlong pole and had a full head of steam by the half-mile pole. Clockers had him in fractions of 24.20 seconds for the opening quarter, 35.20 for three furlongs, and had him galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 and six furlongs in 1:14.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hailey’s Prize will stretch out around two turns for the first time and make her stakes debut in Wednesday night’s $125,000 Eternal Search Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year old fillies, to be run over 1 1/16 miles on Woodbine’s Tapeta.
Hailey’s Prize’s 10 starts have come in sprints. Trainer Kevin Attard said he expected Hailey’s Prize would handle the stretch-out well.
“She should handle a mile and a sixteenth,” he said. “She’s just a real competitor. She tries each and every time.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – The single-ticket jackpot carryover in the pick six will start at $82,395 at Del Mar when racing resumes Wednesday.
A largely formful card Sunday resulted in 19 tickets hitting the pick six for $6,996.60 apiece. There were 762 tickets with 5 of 6, returning $37.40.
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DEL MAR, Calif. - College football season begins in a couple of weeks, and preparation for that kept Kirk Herbstreit from being at Del Mar on Sunday to watch the first horse he’s ever owned, Soul Streit, make his debut.
But he was on the phone to trainer Bob Baffert immediately after the race, with shouts of joy after Soul Streit stamped himself as a possible Del Mar Futurity prospect with an eye-catching victory.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The days of Grade 1 dirt races are over for Hard Aces.
Next weekend, Hard Aces is expected to start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf - and not the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on dirt the same day.
Hard Aces had his final major exercise Sunday, working five furlongs in 1:00.60.
“We’ll keep him away from the Grade 1 horses,” trainer John Sadler said Sunday. “It’s time to try something a little marathony.”
DEL MAR, Calif. - Del Mar reached the halfway point of its summer meeting over the weekend with a gain in handle and field sizes, but a decline in attendance compared to the same period in 2016.
All-sources handle, including on-track, simulcast and account wagering sources, showed an increase of 7.2 percent through Saturday, the 19th day of the 36-day season, according to track Chief Operating Officer Josh Rubinstein.
Ontrack handle increased 4.9 percent, while out-of-state handle rose 10.1 percent.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Accelerate and Collected, two of the leading contenders for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic next Saturday, both turned in their final works for the race on Sunday morning at Del Mar in a style indicating their fondness for this track has not wavered.
Accelerate won the San Diego Handicap last month, the race in which Arrogate suffered a shocking defeat. He is unbeaten at Del Mar in three starts.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Songbird, who won two Grade 1 races here last summer as part of her championship campaign, will return to Saratoga for her next start, the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 26, her owner Rick Porter said Sunday.
“I think it was always on the top of our list,” Porter told Daily Racing Form on Sunday. “She likes Saratoga. I love Saratoga. I can get to the race. I think it’s the best race for her.”
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Mechanical issues caused the flight scheduled to transport the winners of the Arlington Million and Beverly D. back to upstate New York to be cancelled Sunday morning. Chad Brown chuckled about it.
“Let’s get some drama into this story, can we?” Brown said by phone early Sunday from his Saratoga base.
