SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Isotherm, the winner of the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes last year at 2, will make his first start in seven months in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, set for 1 1/16 miles on turf at Saratoga.
Isotherm, a son of the Australian-bred stallion Lonhro, won his maiden at Saratoga last August over Life Imitates Art. He came back to win the Pilgrim at Belmont before finishing 13th of 14 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on dirt.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There were two eye-catching performances from 2-year-olds at Saratoga over the weekend, with Theory and Runway Doll announcing their presence with impressive debuts.
On Saturday, Theory, a son of Gemologist, scored a 5 1/2-length victory, running six furlongs in 1:09.80 and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.
“We were expecting a good debut,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Theory for WinStar Farm. “He was very impressive. For a nice-size horse, he’s got good tactical speed.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite nearly 24 hours of steady rain in the local area that all but shut down training here for the last two mornings, Lady Eli was still able to stick to her regular weekly work schedule, breezing five furlongs over the Oklahoma turf course in 1:01.64 on Monday. She was one of four horses trainer Chad Brown breezed over a turf course officially labeled “good” on Monday.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The graded stakes races on Saturday will be a contrast in field size, as only a handful of 2-year-old fillies are set for the Grade 2, $200,000 Sorrento Stakes, while at least 11 are expected for the Grade 3, $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf.
Morganite, who would have been a heavy favorite in the Sorrento, will stick with the original plan and await the Del Mar Debutante. Auntjenn, Back Off, Miss Southern Miss, Silvertoni, and Unforgivable U are likely to run.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The overpowering four-length victory by Lord Nelson in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on Sunday might very well have been the fastest six furlongs in track history at Del Mar.
Lord Nelson was timed in a blistering 1:07.65. The track record is listed in the program as 1:07.60, set by King of Cricket in 1973.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Some of the great, unexplained mysteries in life include the identity and fate of D.B. Cooper, how the Nazca Lines in Peru were carved so precisely without a view from high above, and how American Cleopatra paid 7-1 when winning her debut Sunday at Del Mar.
American Cleopatra, the 2-year-old full sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, was cold on the board off a 4-1 morning line but ran like a 7-5 shot, winning by two lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs and earning a spot in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs Sept. 3.
Smack Smack and Shotgun Kowboy, who finished a neck apart when first and second in last month’s Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows, are set to meet again Saturday night in the $175,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap at the New Mexico track.
Smack Smack is the 122-pound highweight for the Downs at Albuquerque, which will be run over 1 1/8 miles. He will break from the rail in the eight-horse field and is to be ridden by Shane Laviolette. Smack Smack won two stakes last year in New Mexico, including the $165,000 Zia Park Distance Championship at 1 1/8 miles in November.
Sharp Azteca figures to be favored over 13 others Saturday in the $100,000 Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs. He is invading from Monmouth Park for the race, which serves as the local prep for the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby.
The Prelude will be part of a program of seven stakes worth a total of $450,000. The other races form the Louisiana Cup, with a marquee matchup of The Pickett Factor and millionaires String King and Sunbean in the $75,000 Turf Classic. The stakes are the first of the meet at Louisiana Downs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As the rain fell outside of his office door Sunday morning, trainer Chad Brown was quite thankful that the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap had been run the previous day.
Brown had selected the $250,000 Bowling Green for Flintshire because he wanted to run the horse on firm ground. The rain began to fall late Saturday night, continued through Sunday, and forced that day’s six turf races to be run on the main track.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Off the Tracks, the winner of the Grade 1 Mother Goose in her last start, will run in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday.
Off the Tracks also was under consideration for the Grade 1 Alabama at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 20.
“She’s ready to run now,” Pletcher said. “She had success around one turn sprinting before. Felt like right now, at this moment, it’s a more logical play than waiting on the mile and a quarter.”
