Wed, 08/07/2024 - 13:11

Colonial Downs postpones Arlington Million card to Sunday

Colonial Downs announced Wednesday that it will shift the Arlington Million card scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10, to Sunday, Aug. 11, owing to the forecast of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby.

Colonial on Tuesday decided to move its Thursday and Friday cards to Monday and Tuesday, respectively, and on Wednesday, with the possibility that several inches of rain could fall between Wednesday afternoon and Friday night, elected to move Saturday’s 12-race program to Sunday, normally a dark day for the Virginia track.

Tue, 08/06/2024 - 16:46

Subsanador headed to Philip H. Iselin; Ruby Nell to miss Yellow Ribbon

By Brad Free

Ruby Nell wins Buena Vista at SA March 3 2024

Benoit Photo

Ruby Nell has a minor throat issue that will prevent her from running in the Yellow Ribbon on Saturday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Subsanador, a well-traveled Group 1 winner in South America and Grade 1-placed this spring in California, is headed to Monmouth Park for the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes on Aug. 17, according to trainer Richard Mandella.

Subsanador won three Group 1s from 12 starts in Argentina before arriving in California, where he initially was trained by John Sadler. After a fourth in the Grade 2 San Antonio and second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, Subsanador was sold privately and transferred to Mandella.

Tue, 08/06/2024 - 15:17

Didia to get a race over the Breeders' Cup course in John C. Mabee

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Didia will likely get the firm course that trainer Ignacio Correas wants for her in the Sept. 7 John C. Mabee at Del Mar.

Didia, among the leaders of the female turf division, is being pointed to the Grade 2, $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 7, trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Correas said Tuesday.

Correas said starting in the Mabee, at 1 1/8 miles, gives Didia a run over the same course on which the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf will be held. Also, it is virtually guaranteed she will get firm turf.

Tue, 08/06/2024 - 14:58

Colonial reschedules Thursday, Friday cards; Saturday decision to be made Wednesday

By David Grening

Coady Photography

Tropical Storm Debby is working its way up the East Coast towards the New Kent, Va., area. The Saturday card at Colonial Downs includes the Arlington Million, Beverly D., and Secretariat Stakes, all on turf.

Colonial Downs will move its Thursday and Friday cards this week to next Monday and Tuesday, track officials said Tuesday. The cards will go as drawn.

The decision to reschedule was made in consideration of the possible impact caused by Tropical Storm Debby, which could lead to adverse racing conditions as well as hazardous conditions for those shipping or traveling to participate at the New Kent, Va., track.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:45

Castellano, Cancel to serve separate suspensions

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Jockey Javier Castellano will begin serving a five-day suspension on Thursday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Javier Castellano will begin serving a five-day suspension Thursday for an incident that occurred in the eighth race July 26. Castellano’s mount, Runningwscissors, drifted into Let It Ride, causing that one to clip heels with Runningwscissors and unseat jockey Eric Cancel. The days correspond with New York Racing Association racing dates.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:40

Saratoga handle flat compared to 2023

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Through almost the halfway point of the Saratoga meet, the total handle has seen a minimal decrease compared to last year.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Through 19 days of the 40-day Saratoga meet, business is basically flat compared to last year.

According to figures provided by the New York Racing Association, all-sources handle was $380,201,041, a 0.1 percent decrease from last year’s figure of $380,474,297.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:30

Seize the Grey works with next start still undecided

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

After disappointing tries in the Belmont and Jim Dandy, plans for Seize the Grey are yet to be determined.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Preakness winner Seize the Grey worked five furlongs in 59.64 seconds Monday morning over the Oklahoma training track, his first work back since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the Jim Dandy here July 27.

Track clockers caught Seize the Grey in splits of 11.81, 23.47, 35.22, 59.64, and caught him galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.90.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:30

DeVaux supplements More Than Looks to Fourstardave

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

With the Lure Stakes coming off the turf, More Than Looks has been supplemented to the Fourstardave Handicap.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When the Lure Stakes was moved from turf to the dirt last Saturday, trainer Cherie DeVaux was forced to call an audible with her multiple stakes winner More Than Looks, who was supplemented into Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap.

“He’s already up here. It’s not ideal to run him back in a Grade 1, but he’s doing well, he’s got to run,” DeVaux said.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:25

Rain will decide fields for Saratoga Derby, Secretariat Stakes

By David Grening

Susie Raisher/NYRA

With an extra week, Grade 1 Belmont Derby winner Trikari has been cross-entered into the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Grade 1 Saratoga Derby could be impacted by weather again. But it may be the weather in Virgina that has a bigger impact on the race compared with the weather in upstate New York.

Three horses who were entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs were cross-entered on Sunday for Saturday’s rescheduled Saratoga Derby. The Saratoga Derby, as well as the Grade 2 Troy Stakes, were canceled last Saturday at Saratoga due to a high moisture content in the turf courses following Friday night rain.

Mon, 08/05/2024 - 13:25

Lammas will try tougher in Del Mar Mile

By Steve Andersen

Vassar Photography

After a pair of stakes wins in Northern California, Lammas will try the Del Mar Mile.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Lammas, winner of a pair of one-mile stakes on turf and dirt in Northern California in his last two starts, is bound for Del Mar later this month.

Trainer Manny Badilla said on Sunday that Lammas will be pointed for the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf Aug. 31 and not the $150,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs in Washington State on Sunday.

“It will be a test,” Badilla said of the $200,000 Del Mar Mile. “I’m not going to Seattle.”

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