SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is mapping out Frosted’s schedule in pencil, not ink or stone.
While obviously thinking about the Breeders’ Cup in November, McLaughlin is living in the moment. With Frosted doing too well to leave in the barn, the East Coast’s leading older male dirt horse will make his next start in next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Six weeks have passed since the 2-year-old filly Morganite won her debut in a maiden race at five furlongs at Del Mar. Since Morganite’s win on July 16, other fillies have figured prominently in the local 2-year-old division, notably the well-bred maiden winner American Cleopatra and Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes winner Champagne Room.
DEL MAR, Calif. – California Chrome has recovered rapidly from his impressive win in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 20 and is likely to start in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, trainer Art Sherman said on Friday.
The Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.
“It would be perfect timing if all goes well,” Sherman said.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Santa Anita refurbished its main track in July and early August in advance of its autumn meeting, track officials told the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday.
The renovation was conducted following the conclusion of the track’s spring-summer meeting on July 10. Santa Anita replaced its turf course in June.
The autumn meeting begins on Sept. 30 and includes the Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 4-5. Santa Anita was granted a license from the racing board for its autumn meeting on Thursday.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sol Kumin has two horses in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes, including the morning-line favorite, Exaggerator. But it’s the Grade 2 Ballston Spa, the race immediately after the Travers, that has him most excited.
“To me, this is the most important race of the year,” said Kumin, who along with Jay Hanley races as Sheep Pond Partners. “I don’t think I’ll ever own a horse that means more to us than her.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With rain in the forecast and Frosted tearing down the barn because he’s feeling so good, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin sent Frosted out a day earlier than planned to work four furlongs in 48.97 seconds at the Greentree Training Center here on Thursday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Magic Mark and Soi Phet won divisions of the Harry Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar on Wednesday to set up a potential first meeting at Los Alamitos next month. Both are candidates for the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at a mile on Sept. 10.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Miss Sunset, a 2-year-old filly trained by Jeff Bonde, had a perfect day on July 30.
She was on the also-eligible list for a maiden race for California-bred fillies but drew into the field that morning. Starting from the outside in a field of 10, Miss Sunset led throughout and won by 4 3/4 lengths.
“Away she went,” Bonde said.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Peter Miller said he and the owners of Well Measured would not appeal the ruling of a dead heat for the win between their horse and Navy Hymn on Sunday in race 8. The decision came after they viewed the original photo of the finish and were taken through an extensive explanation of the entire photo-finish process on Wednesday.
