Fri, 07/21/2017 - 14:46

Diversify has turf in his future

Chelsea Durand
Diversify returned $3.70 in winning the Saginaw Stakes at Belmont.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Diversify has compiled a record of five wins and two seconds in eight career starts, all on dirt, including a tally in the Saginaw Stakes for New York-breds in his Belmont-meet finale. But Diversify could wind up making his Saratoga debut on turf, trainer Rick Violette said on Friday.

Violette worked Diversify on grass Friday for the second time since his 2 3/4-length victory in the July 2 Saginaw, sending him out to breeze five furlongs in 1:04.20 with an overmatched mate over the Oklahoma course.

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 14:46

Paulassilverlining set for Honorable Miss

Barbara D. Livingston
Paulassilverlining breezes a half-mile in 48.75 seconds Friday on Saratoga's main track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After winning two Grade 1 races in four weeks, Paulassilverlining was given a bit of a freshening by trainer Chad Brown. On Wednesday, Paulassilverlining will launch the second half of her 5-year-old campaign in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga.

On Friday, Paulassilverlining had her final workout for the Honorable Miss, breezing a half-mile in 48.75 seconds over the Saratoga main track. She went her first quarter in 24.48 seconds, her last quarter in 24.27, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.58.

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 14:40

French filly La Sardane rerouted to Del Mar Oaks

DEL MAR, Calif. – The American debut of the French stakes winner La Sardane has been postponed to the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 19 at the earliest after an illness prevented the filly from being entered in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap.

La Sardane was recently diagnosed with a lung infection, according to Barry Irwin, the chief executive of the Team Valor International partnership that owns the filly.

In an e-mail, Irwin said the illness was “very disappointing because we meticulously prepared her for the two races at Del Mar.”

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 14:26

Miller, Arroyo part ways indefinitely

Shigeki Kikkawa
Trainer Peter Miller trains Richard's Boy, who tested positive for a trace level of methamphetamine after the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Peter Miller said on Thursday that he has discontinued his relationship with jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. despite widespread success in recent months.

Miller declined to say why he is not using Arroyo for his massive stable but said it did not stem from a particular ride.

“It has to do with other issues,” Miller said.

“I’m taking a break from Norberto. He’s off everything in my barn right now.”

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 14:20

Drefong heads strong cast expected for Bing Crosby Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Champion sprinter Drefong is expected to headline a loaded renewal of the Bing Crosby Stakes.

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 29 should be the best sprint of the year in California.

As of Friday, the $300,000 Bing Crosby had nine probable starters led by Drefong, the champion sprinter of 2016 who won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last November in his most recent start. Other candidates include Big Macher, Kobe’s Back, Lord Simba, Moe Candy, Ransom the Moon, Roy H, Solid Wager, and St. Joe’s Bay.

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 14:10

Cozmic One, Zenyatta's first foal, to try turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Cozmic One, who has not raced in more than two years, will try turf in a Del Mar maiden race on Sunday.

DEL MAR, Calif. – After a 106-week layoff, Cozmic One, a 5-year-old horse out of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, will have his turf debut in Sunday’s ninth race at Del Mar.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss and trained by John Shirreffs, the people behind Zenyatta, Cozmic One drew the rail in a field of 12 maidens that includes Sonneteer, who was 16th in the Kentucky Derby on May 6.

“It will be fun to see him run,” Shirreffs said of Cozmic One.

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 10:02

Sunday deadline for entries in Monmouth's All-Time Haskell Great Simulated Race contest

Entries for Monmouth Park’s All-Time Haskell Great Simulated Race promotion end Sunday.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park has put together a virtual race video matching 12 of the best horses to have won the race. To participate in the contest, one must go to the Monmouth web site, where a video of the post parade can be viewed, and try to pick the "simulation superfecta."

Fri, 07/21/2017 - 09:46

Sircat Sally puts owner-breeder Turner in spotlight

Barbara D. Livingston
Sircat Sally, unbeaten in seven starts, is by far the best horse owned and bred by Joe Turner.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Joe Turner had had eight months to grasp the brilliance of Sircat Sally, his undefeated filly who will be favored in Sunday’s Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Del Mar.

Turner said with delight that Sircat Sally’s perfect record through seven starts is hard to grasp, leaving him to wonder how much more she can accomplish.

“I keep thinking that to myself,” he said this week. “When is she going to peak, or is there more to it?”

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 15:40

In pursuit of new fans, NYRA seeks night racing at Belmont

Barbara D. Livingston
NYRA is exploring the possibility of night racing at Belmont Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association would like to conduct night racing at Belmont Park, believing it could stimulate business and create new racing fans.

A bill was passed in the New York Senate in late June that would permit NYRA to conduct night racing twice a week at the Belmont spring and fall meets. However, similar legislation did not get through the Assembly. NYRA is hoping to get that done during the 2018 legislative session, but night racing likely would not come to fruition until the fall of 2018 at the earliest.

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 14:50

Jamyson ‘n Ginger targets Test Stakes

Barbara D. Livingston
Jamyson 'n Ginger hasn't raced since finishing second last fall in the Demoiselle.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jamyson ‘n Ginger, recently purchased by Juddmonte Farms and transferred to trainer Chad Brown, did not enter Sunday’s Coaching Club American Oaks and instead will aim to the Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs on Aug. 5.

:: Saratoga Clocker Report: Get in-depth workout analysis for the 2017 summer meet