Thu, 08/08/2024 - 11:50

King's Plate 2024: Conrads sending two stakes winners

Midnight Mascot wins Woodstock at WO April 28 2024

Michael Burns

Woodstock winner Midnight Mascot (above) and Marine winner Essex Serpent give the Conrads a one-two punch in the King's Plate.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Manfred and Penny Conrad are no strangers to racing success, having won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with longshot Shamrock Rose about five years after diving into the sport with Mark Casse as their trainer.

The Conrads own two prime contenders for the $1 million King’s Plate on Aug. 17 at Woodbine, Essex Serpent and Midnight Mascot. The duo ran first and third in the Grade 3 Marine on June 29, with Essex Serpent prevailing with a big 89 Beyer Speed Figure in just his third career start and first race around two turns.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 15:09

Irad Ortiz gets three-day suspension

By David Grening

Justin N. Lane

Irad Ortiz is leading the jockey standings at Saratoga meeting.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Irad Ortiz Jr., the leading rider at the Saratoga meet, will serve a three-day suspension, Aug. 14-16, for his ride aboard On a Spree in the seventh race here on Aug. 1.

The stewards deemed that On a Spree interfered with Complete Agenda at the top of the stretch of that turf race. On a Spree was disqualified from first and placed second behind Complete Agenda, ridden by Flavien Prat, who had finished second.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 14:21

Rescheduled races leaves loaded Labor Day card

By Steve Andersen

The repercussions of moving the Ruidoso Downs meeting to The Downs at Albuquerque because of a damaged Ruidoso Downs racing surface has created a blockbuster program on Labor Day, Sept. 2.

The $3 million All American Futurity and $250,000 All American Gold Cup for older horses were scheduled for Sept. 2 and will be joined that afternoon by the $700,000 All American Derby and $500,000 All American Oaks for fillies, which have been postponed from Sept. 1.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 14:04

Ward still deciding on graded stakes debut for White Sands

By Steve Andersen

Coady Media

White Sands was scratched out of the Adirondack at Saratoga in favor for a start at Del Mar.

White Sands, the easy winner of two starts in the Midwest, will have her first start in a graded stakes at Del Mar this weekend. The actual race will be determined.

As of Wednesday, trainer Wesley Ward was unsure whether White Sands would start in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes against 2-year-old fillies, or Sunday’s Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes against males. Both races are worth $150,000 and run at 6 1/2 furlongs.

“I might enter both and make a decision,” Ward said.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 14:04

Chismosa being brought along slowly ahead of Rancho Bernando

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Chismosa finished seventh in the Great Lady M. last out at Los Alamitos.

Chismosa, the winner of two sprint stakes at Santa Anita earlier this year, was given a brief furlough from extensive training last month in advance of a scheduled start in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes for fillies and mares at Del Mar on Aug. 25.

Chismosa finished seventh of 10 in the Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 6, her worst result in eight starts this year.

“We decided to give her a rest,” said owner and breeder Jaime Renella. “She’s been running way too often.”

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 14:04

Johannes pointing toward City of Hope as path to Breeders' Cup Mile

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Trainer Tim Yakteen has opted to use the City of Hope as Johannes's route to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Johannes, California’s leading turf miler this year, will be raced sparingly in advance of an intended start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Trainer Tim Yakteen said on Wednesday that Johannes is likely to skip the next race for the division – the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 31 – in favor of the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 13:55

Fourstardave, Saratoga Derby carded as contingency races for Sunday

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

If rain forces races off the turf on Saturday, the Fourstardave and Saratoga Derby will be run Sunday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby likely to impact racing at Saratoga on Friday and Saturday, the New York Racing Association plans to card the Grade 1 Fourstardave and Grade 1 Saratoga Derby as contingency races for Sunday’s card.

That means, should the weather dictate that turf racing cannot be conducted Saturday, those two races will be run Sunday, as drawn. They would be run as the final two races on the card and be excluded from horizontal wagers such as the late pick five and pick six.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 13:50

Hernandez wins Mike Venezia Award

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be honored with the Mike Venezia Award for displaying extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr, who won this year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, was selected as the winner of the Mike Venezia Award, presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia, who died as the result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988. Venezia won more than 2,300 races during his 25-year career.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 13:45

Wilkes pointing Just Basking to Alabama, Positano Sunset to Ballerina

By David Grening

Coady Media

Just Basking, a maiden winner at 1 1/4 miles, won the Iowa Oaks last out.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For the first time in nearly two decades trainer Ian Wilkes did not take stalls at Saratoga for the summer but he won’t go the entire meet without running a horse here.

Wilkes is pointing Just Basking to the Grade 1 Alabama on Aug. 17 and Positano Sunset to the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24. The Alabama will be run at 1 1/4 miles, the Ballerina at seven furlongs.

Wed, 08/07/2024 - 13:40

Foot bruise will keep Master of The Seas out of Fourstardave

By David Grening

Coady Media

Master of The Seas will miss the Fourstardave with a foot bruise and will possibly train up to the Woodbine Mile.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Master of The Seas, a three-time Grade 1 winner in the United States, including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, will scratch from Saturday’s Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga due to a foot bruise. Chris Connett, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby, announced the news Wednesday.

Depending how quickly the horse recovers, he could train up to the Woodbine Mile on Sept. 14, Connett said.

“It’s on the table,” Connett said. “He’ll have a few easy days and then hopefully we’ll be back to normal with him.”

Subscribe to Track Notes