Sun, 09/03/2017 - 14:39

Harmonize eyes Rodeo Drive Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Harmonize, left, gave jockey John Velazquez his fourth win of the day with the Glens Falls.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Harmonize, who won for the first time in just more than a year in Saturday’s Grade 3 Glens Falls Stakes at Saratoga, could make her next start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 30, trainer Bill Mott said Sunday.

The likelihood of firm ground at Santa Anita is perhaps one reason to point for the Rodeo Drive, and the potential to get away from some of the bears in trainer Chad Brown’s female turf division is potentially another reason.

Sun, 09/03/2017 - 10:54

After blowout win in Woodward, Gun Runner shifts sights to Breeders' Cup

Barbara D. Livingston
Gun Runner galloped to a 10 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As he watched the rain fall hard outside the office of his Saratoga barn Sunday morning, trainer Steve Asmussen could only smile.

“How fortunate are we that this wasn’t yesterday?” Asmussen said.

A wet track, a surface that Gun Runner has not particularly enjoyed, might have been the only thing that could have prevented Gun Runner from putting on a dazzling show in Saturday’s $750,000 Woodward Stakes, a race he won by 10 1/4 lengths over Rally Cry for his third consecutive Grade 1 victory.

Sat, 09/02/2017 - 14:56

Keen Ice works half-mile in Jockey Club Gold Cup prep

Barbara D. Livingston
Keen Ice (inside) works a half-mile in company with Far From Over on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Keen Ice still has five weeks before he makes his next start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 7, so trainer Todd Pletcher wasn’t looking for much from him in a half-mile workout on Saturday with Far From Over.

The work was completed in 49.39 seconds over the Oklahoma track.

“We’re not trying to overdo it at the moment, just trying to keep him turning over until we get more serious, but he seems to be doing well,” Pletcher said.

Sat, 09/02/2017 - 14:40

Brown, Pletcher make plans for the fall

Four-Footed Fotos
Beach Patrol earned a berth in the BC Turf with his Arlington Million win on Saturday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While the Saratoga meet ends Monday, the racing season will continue, and trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher spent a good part of Saturday morning putting horses through workouts and gearing up for the fall.

Brown worked 23 horses Saturday morning at Saratoga, including Arlington Million winner Beach Patrol and Beverly D. one-two finishers Dacita and Grand Jete.

Pletcher worked 18 horses Saturday morning, topped by Suburban winner Keen Ice, who is targeting the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 7.

Sat, 09/02/2017 - 14:16

Bookies Luck, Spiced Perfection to run in front of Breeders' Cup crowds

Benoit & Associates
Bookies Luck wins the I'm Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bookies Luck and Spiced Perfection, the winners of stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds in the last week, will be pointed for statebred stakes at Del Mar on Breeders’ Cup weekend, their trainers said.

Bookies Luck won Friday’s $100,345 I’m Smokin Stakes at six furlongs by 3 1/4 lengths for his second win in five starts, all for owners and breeders Larry and Marianne Williams and trainer Jeff Bonde. Bookies Luck will be pointed for the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs on Nov. 4, Bonde said.

Sat, 09/02/2017 - 14:16

Cuddle Alert can earn hug from Saldana in CERF Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Cuddle Alert, a $10,000 claim in August, stands in the winner's circle with trainer Melissa Saldana (right) after winning the Spring Fever Handicap on Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Cuddle Alert gave trainer Reed Saldana his first win at Del Mar when the mare won an optional claimer on Aug. 17. The goals are higher on Monday, when Cuddle Alert starts in the $75,000 CERF Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Cuddle Alert can give Saldana his first stakes win as a trainer. The filly won the Spring Fever Stakes at Santa Anita this year when trained by Saldana’s wife, Melissa.

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 15:36

World Approval sharp in Woodbine Mile work

Barbara D. Livingston
World Approval works five furlongs in 58.91 seconds on Friday.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – World Approval, the Grade 1 Fourstardave winner, worked five furlongs in 58.91 seconds on Friday over the Oklahoma turf course as he prepares for the Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 16.

Working inside of the orange cones, known as “dogs,” on the turf, World Approval, wearing blinkers, went his opening quarter in 24.09 seconds and got his final quarter in 23.01.

“We put them on because he was by himself and wanted him to do something today,” trainer Mark Casse said of the blinkers. “I don’t think he’s ever been better.”

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 15:36

Seymourdini returns to work tab with eye on Cigar Mile

Adam Coglianese/NYRA
Seymourdini and jockey Jose Ortiz win the State Dinner Stakes by 10 1/2 lengths.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Seymourdini, who has won all three of his starts this year by a combined 36 1/4 lengths, worked five furlongs in 1:02.18 on Friday over Saratoga’s main track. It was his first official workout since he won the State Dinner Stakes at Belmont Park by 10 1/2 lengths on July 3.

Trainer Linda Rice said her long-term objective remains the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 2, with one potential start before then, perhaps in the Bold Ruler at Belmont Park on Oct. 28.

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 15:36

Brown, Pletcher slug it out for training title

Barbara D. Livingston
Trainer Chad Brown will start the possible favorite in five of the seven turf stakes race at Belmont this weekend.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chad Brown said he’s not as consumed with being the leading trainer at Saratoga this year as perhaps he was last year, when he won his first Saratoga title with a meet-record 40 victories.

Brown entered the final four days of this year’s meet with a 36-35 lead over Todd Pletcher, a 12-time leading trainer at Saratoga. Over the final three days of the meet, Pletcher had 33 horses entered in 25 races, while Brown had 25 horses entered in 16 races. That includes also-eligibles and horses in turf races entered only to run on the main track.

Fri, 09/01/2017 - 14:26

Tyler Conner shifts tack to Southern California

DEL MAR, Calif. – Being leading rider at Penn National this year left Tyler Conner wanting more.

Earlier this week, Conner relocated to Southern California, and he will have his first mount at Del Mar on Sunday when he rides Ippodamia’s Girl in the sixth race, for 2-year-old maidens.

The 23-year-old Conner, who spent his first morning in the Del Mar stables on Friday, said the move is permanent.

“I wanted to ride good horses,” Conner said. “I didn’t want to get stuck. I decided I’d give it a shot.”