SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Following a solid five-furlong breeze at Belmont Park on Sunday, Lady Eli arrived at Saratoga on Monday to continue her preparations for a return to racing, which could come in the Ballston Spa Stakes here on Aug. 27.
Lady Eli worked five furlongs over the Belmont turf Sunday morning in 1:00.63 in company with Tammy the Torpedo. It was the fourth straight week that she has breezed on turf, and it was her first work at five furlongs.
Despite being one of only two Grade 1 winners expected for the Haskell Invitational on Sunday at Monmouth Park, Brody’s Cause figures to be overlooked in the betting and could be the fourth choice in what as of Monday remained a six-horse field.
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, the 2-year-old male champion of 2015, will be favored, with Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner and Iowa Derby winner American Freedom the probable second and third choices. The field is rounded out by the locally based Awesome Slew and Sunny Ridge.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dolphus, a half-brother to the champion Rachel Alexandra, was one of eight 3-year-olds entered Monday for Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.
Dolphus, a son of Lookin At Lucky trained by Joe Sharp for Dede McGehee, won two of his first three starts, all at Fair Grounds. He had some bone remodeling following his allowance win Jan. 31 and was rested for a summer campaign.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While the connections of Exaggerator continue to mull over whether to run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, the connections of other 3-year-olds finalized their plans and preparations for what will be a busy weekend in the sophomore division.
Creator, the Belmont Stakes winner, and Gun Runner, who won the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in his last start, both breezed Monday morning at Saratoga in preparation for weekend stakes races.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – As good as Songbird was in repelling three-time graded stakes winner Carina Mia and drawing clear to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks by 5 1/4 lengths at Saratoga, her connections think the effort may serve to make her better.
“A lot of times, a true champion, this will move them up because it’s the first time somebody got inside her gut,” winning rider Mike Smith said after the race. “If that happens, oh my.”
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After spending more than 20 years as an assistant trainer, Leroy Trotman has changed roles and will now represent eight-time Sovereign Award-winning jockey Patrick Husbands as his agent.
Husbands and longtime agent Gary Kemplen recently parted ways, and Trotman said Husbands offered him a chance to take over his book.
“Patrick wanted to make a change, and he gave me a call,” Trotman said. “This opportunity is the perfect opportunity.”
DEL MAR, Calif. – Mark Stanton came to California for a weekend of beach time and bets at Del Mar. He went home to South Jersey with a memento that fit comfortably in his carry-on luggage.
On Saturday evening, Stanton paid $20,000 for the silks and saddle towel worn by California Chrome a few hours earlier en route to a win in the San Diego Handicap. The silks and saddle towel were auctioned for charity before the start of the Del Mar Paddock Sale of horses of racing age.
DEL MAR, Calif.- Big Book, a three-time winner who was graded stakes-placed last year, remained under evaluation on Sunday, a day after sustaining sesamoid injuries in a workout at Del Mar.
Trainer Tim Yakteen said veterinarians were assessing whether Big Book could undergo an operation and be saved as a broodmare.
“They haven’t decided what to do,” he said.
DEL MAR, Calif .- The Grade 1 winner Her Emmynency has been retired after a series of poor performances, trainer Kristin Mulhall said over the weekend.
“She just gave up on us,” Mulhall said.
Owned by Ike and Dawn Thrash, Her Emmynency won 4 of 11 starts and earned $560,595. Mike Stidham trained Her Emmynency prior to this year.
DEL MAR, Calif. - The energy from California Chrome’s brilliant half-length win over Dortmund in Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego Handicap was still present at trainer Art Sherman’s stable at Del Mar on Sunday morning, a very welcome sort of hangover.
In his first start since a win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26, California Chrome caught Dortmund in early stretch and held off his stubborn and determined rival through a thrilling final furlong.
“It was a battle,” said Frank Taylor, who co-owns California Chrome. “Dortmund is some kind of horse. He didn’t quit.”
