SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y – Finley’sluckycharm breezed an easy half-mile in 50.58 seconds over the main track here Wednesday morning with her regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard. It was a relatively slow move, especially by her standards, but one that had trainer Bret Calhoun all smiles later that morning.
Finley’sluckycharm, a winner of six of her last seven starts, is pointing for the Grade 2 Honorable Miss here next Wednesday.
Ivy Bell had her first breeze since her runner-up finish in the June 24 Chicago Handicap when going a half-mile Monday in 49 seconds at the HighPointe training center near La Grange, Ky.
Ivy Bell looms a major contender for Ellis Park’s showcase event, the Grade 3, $100,000 Groupie Doll, which will be run at one mile Aug. 13. Ivy Bell won back-to-back allowances at Churchill before finishing second to Finley’sluckycharm at 24-1 in the Chicago.
“She’s doing awesome,” said Billy Denzik, who trains the 4-year-old filly for Brook Smith.
Breaking a long losing streak felt so good that Caroline Quast thought she’d win another one.
The 32-year-old apprentice rider snapped a 73-race drought by winning last Friday at Ellis Park aboard 24-1 shot Bold Force, then came right back to win with her very next mount when Dulce de Leche scored Saturday at 17-1 at the western Kentucky track. A $2 win parlay was worth $915.
“I was surprised, but yes, it was awesome,” said Quast, who began riding show horses at age 5 in her native Germany.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Unique Bella, considered the leading 3-year-old filly in the country before going to the sidelines with shin problems, is back jogging at Del Mar preparing for a fall campaign.
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown was honored Tuesday night by the Tri-City Valley Cats, a minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros who play in the New York-Penn League. The Valley Cats held a Chad Brown bobblehead night, and Brown, a native of nearby Mechanicsville, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Brown said he played center field in high school.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Mike Smith will ride Arrogate on Saturday at Del Mar in the San Diego, then hop a red-eye to Saratoga for Abel Tasman in the Coaching Club American Oaks on Sunday. Because he will be away, he cannot ride Sircat Sally in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on Sunday, and thus will be replaced by Drayden Van Dyke.
Drefong is just about set to return to action. The champion male sprinter of 2016 has been idle since his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but he is scheduled to make his first start of the year in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29, for which he tuned up with a sharp six-furlong work in 1:11.40 on Wednesday morning.
“Now he’s ready,” his trainer, Bob Baffert, said after Drefong’s drill. Drefong worked in company with Lord Simba, and Baffert said he may run both in the six-furlong Crosby.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trevor Denman is playing hurt this meet. The long-time, popular announcer is back for his 34th summer here at Del Mar, but he showed up for work Wednesday with a full cast on his right leg and a cane to help him move along, the result of an accident on farm equipment at his spread in Minnesota in April.
“Never had pain like that before,” said Denman, who said he broke his leg in three places, but said he is supposed to have the cast off a couple of weeks into the meet.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Two-time champion Songbird is back in Southern California following her win in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park last Saturday. It may not be long before she is back on the road.
Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Wednesday that Songbird is being considered for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes for fillies and mares Aug. 26 at Saratoga.
“We might take a look at that race,” he said. “We’ll have some different races to look at.”
