If a jockey can only ride as fast as his mount can run, well, a racing secretary might only be as effective as the purses he can offer.
That might make Tyler Picklesimer the best racing secretary in the world these days. Picklesimer is overseeing the upcoming five-day meet at Kentucky Downs, where purses once again have horsemen and fans wondering if they can believe what they see.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The connections of Exaggerator believe the last month has made a world of difference for their 3-year-old as far as his chance for success at Saratoga.
Displeased with the way he was training over the main track here in July and the potential setup in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, trainer Keith Desormeaux called an audible and ran Exaggerator in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 31, a race he won by 1 1/2 lengths with the benefit of a fast pace and a sloppy track.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The HPBA of Ontario and Woodbine Entertainment Group have announced that the Ontario-sired bonus program will not be eliminated during eligible horses’ 2- and 3-year-old campaigns in 2017-18.
According to a press release put out by Woodbine, the program exceeded expectations in 2014, when $3.6 million was paid out, and in 2015, when $4.4 million was awarded. Woodbine made adjustments to the program for 2016 in an effort to realign the bonus to the $2 million that was budgeted.
DEL MAR, Calif. – The unbeaten, champion filly Songbird arrived back at trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s Del Mar barn Monday and will remain in California to train until her next scheduled start, the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing.
The Cotillion will be her final scheduled start before she takes on elders – likely including fellow champions Beholder and Stellar Wind – for the first time in what’s shaping up as a star-studded Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
DEL MAR, Calif. – Irish Freedom, a 2-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile who won his debut Sunday at Del Mar, is owned by Donegal Racing, the same outfit whose Keen Ice upset American Pharoah in last year’s Travers Stakes.
Bob Baffert trained American Pharoah, and he also trains Irish Freedom, with Donegal’s Jerry Crawford having sent him horses.
“I told those guys I never thought I’d like looking at those Keen Ice colors,” Baffert said of the winner’s circle scene Sunday. “We’re going to call them the Irish Freedom colors now, not the Keen Ice colors.”
A total of $45.7 million was wagered on the races at Laurel Park during its summer meet, which concluded Sunday, an increase of 22 percent from the $37.3 wagered last year, according to Sal Sinatra, president of the Maryland Jockey Club.
Both meets had 24 racing dates.
Daily average handle at this summer's meet was $1.9 million, up from $1.55 million in 2015.
The champion Jess Good Candy won the battle but not the war Sunday during trials for the Grade 1, $2.4 million All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs. He darted to a 1 1/4-length win in his second-race trial, but his time of 21.60 seconds for 440 yards failed to notch a spot in the Sept. 4 finale on an afternoon when a track labeled “wet-fast” produced quicker times as the card rolled on.
There were 13 trials for the All American Derby, and the fastest qualifier was Volcom Bay, with a time of 21.18.
Whateverybodywants, who was second in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby on Aug. 6, is being pointed for the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, trainer Kellyn Gorder said Monday. The Grade 3, $400,000 race is Sept. 10.
Gorder won the 2012 Super Derby with Bourbon Courage, who also ran second in the West Virginia Derby in his start preceding the Super Derby. Gorder said there were a couple of reasons to target the Super Derby with Whateverybodywants.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Stopchargingmaria has won races at Saratoga in three straight summers, but she won’t make this summer’s meet.
Stopchargingmaria was forced to miss the Grade 3 Shuvee here last month due to an illness. She resumed training earlier this month and has breezed twice. However, trainer Todd Pletcher did not work her over the weekend and said he will come up with a new plan for last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner.
