Fri, 07/29/2016 - 09:57

Few changes in Churchill stakes schedules

Churchill Downs has released the stakes schedules for both its September and fall meets, with a few minor tweaks. There are nine stakes worth $1,125,000 at the September meet and 13 stakes worth $2.08 million at the fall meet.

The changes include a revival of the $100,000 President of the UAE Cup, a Grade 1 race for Arabians on Sept. 24; and a scheduling switch involving the Commonwealth Turf (now Nov. 12) and the Mrs. Revere, which will be part of the Nov. 25 Clark Handicap card for the first time.

Fri, 07/29/2016 - 09:46

Ahh Chocolate, Brooklynsway expected for Groupie Doll Stakes

Coady Photography
Brooklynsway and jockey Robby Albarado win the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths Friday.

A sizable field of fillies and mares is expected when entries are taken Sunday at Ellis Park for the $100,000 Groupie Doll Stakes.

The one-mile Groupie Doll will be run next Saturday (Aug. 6) as one of two stakes on the richest card of the 29-day meet, along with the revived Ellis Park Juvenile. As a Grade 3, the Groupie Doll is the only graded race at the western Kentucky track.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 16:15

McLaughlin has two candidates for Woodward

Lauren King/NYRA
Watershed, winner of a 1 1/8-mile allowance on Monday, could run next in the Sept. 3 Woodward.

While trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is pointing Frosted to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Invitational on Aug. 6, he may have two horses to run in the Grade 1, $600,000 Woodward here at Saratoga on Sept. 3.

Watershed, a son of Bernardini who stretched out to 1 1/8 miles to win a second-level allowance Monday, could run in the Woodward, McLaughlin said. Mubtaahij, third to Effinex in the Grade 1 Suburban, also is possible, McLaughlin said.

The Woodward would potentially be a big step for Watershed, who did earn a 98 Beyer for his allowance win.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 16:06

Wavell Avenue sharpens for Shine Again

Barbara D. Livingston
Wavell Avenue works a half-mile in 49.88 seconds over the Saratoga main track Thursday.

Wavell Avenue, the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner, worked a half-mile in 49.88 seconds over the Saratoga main track in preparation for the $100,000 Shine Again next Wednesday here.

Wavell Avenue could have run in Wednesday’s Grade 2 Honorable Miss, but trainer Chad Brown preferred having another week as well as another furlong.

“She came out of her last race a little tired, and she seemed like she would benefit from having an extra week,” Brown said.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 16:00

Fish Trappe Road works towards King's Bishop

Barbara D. Livingston
Fish Trappe Road, under Luis Saez, works a half-mile in 48.73 seconds over the Oklahoma training track Thursday.

The New York-bred Fish Trappe Road worked a half-mile in 48.73 seconds over the Oklahoma training track here at Saratoga on Thursday, his first work since winning the Grade 3 Dwyer at Belmont Park on July 9. Jockey Luis Saez was up for the move.

Fish Trappe Road is pointing to the Grade 1 King’s Bishop on Aug. 27.

“I told Luis to go in 49 or 50,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “He went 48 and 3. He did it very easy. I think they got the last quarter in 23 and 3. The horse is doing well. We’ll probably get more serious next week. I’ll probably breeze him on the main track.”

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 15:36

Just three will challenge Curalina in Shuvee

Justin N. Lane
Curalina will look to rebound from a sub-par performance as the favorite in the Ogden Phipps in Sunday's Shuvee.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Curalina looks to rebound from a disappointing fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes on June 11 when she heads a field of just four in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap at Saratoga.

Curalina, trained by Todd Pletcher, is a multiple Grade 1 winner, including a victory via the disqualification of I’m a Chatterbox in the Coaching Club American Oaks last summer here.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 14:57

Honor and Courage makes eagerly awaited debut

Honor and Courage, who will have his debut in Saturday’s third race for 2-year-old maidens, has been the subject of compliments for nearly a year.

Last August, Honor and Courage was well regarded at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale when purchased by Rick Porter for $500,000. In recent months, Honor and Courage has impressed trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

“He’s a good-looking horse,” Hollendorfer said.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 14:53

Gold Rush Dancer will get class test in Del Mar Derby

Benoit & Associates
Gold Rush Dancer, a winner of three straight stakes for California-breds, will make his graded stakes debut in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 4.

With his place among California-bred 3-year-olds secured by three consecutive stakes wins, Gold Rush Dancer will be tried in his first graded stakes later this summer.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 14:40

Power Jam preps for Pirate's Bounty Stakes

Shigeki Kikkawa
Power Jam will run seven furlongs getting ready for the six-furlong Pirate's Bounty Stakes on Sept. 5.

DEL MAR, Calif. – For the first time in his career, Power Jam will run twice in a month when he starts in an optional claimer at Del Mar on Saturday. The lightly raced 4-year-old has set a high standard this July.

On July 10 at Santa Anita, Power Jam won an optional claimer at 5 1/2 furlongs in a track-record time of 1:01.71 in his third career start and his first race since last November. On Saturday, Power Jam is part of a field of 10 racing seven furlongs.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 14:30

Nyquist will break from rail in Haskell Invitational

Bill Denver/Equi-Photo
Nyquist, the morning-line Haskell favorite, exercises at Monmouth Park on Thursday morning.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s Grade 1 Haskell Invitational when post positions were drawn for the $1 million race Thursday. Nyquist, the 2-year-old male champion of 2015, will break from post 1 in the six-horse field.

Nyquist’s assignment in the Haskell grew more difficult Wednesday while he was in transit from Southern California when Exaggerator, the Derby runner-up and Preakness winner, was redirected from the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga to the Haskell by trainer Keith Desormeaux.