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.

Thu, 07/28/2016 - 12:16

Razorback, Essex handicaps get purse boosts for 2017

The Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby will again anchor the Oaklawn Park stakes program for 2017, but the track has made a handful of upgrades to its 31-race stakes schedule that’s worth a track-record $8.2 million. Oaklawn will open Jan. 13 for a meet that runs through April 15.

The Arkansas Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, highlights a closing-day card of four stakes. The local preps start Jan. 16 with the $150,000 Smarty Jones. The Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest follows on Feb. 20, and the Grade 2, $900,000 Rebel on March 18 again serves as the final stepping-stone to the Arkansas Derby.

Wed, 07/27/2016 - 16:47

Exaggerator joins cast for Haskell Invitational, will face Nyquist

Debra A. Roma
Exaggerator works a half-mile in 50.16 seconds Saturday morning.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – What trainer Keith Desormeaux was seeing in the flesh from his 3-year-old Exaggerator was not jibing with what he was seeing on the track.

So, the trainer called a major audible Wednesday, deciding to send his Preakness winner to Monmouth Park for Sunday’s Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational rather than running in Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga or attempting to train up to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, also at Saratoga, on Aug. 27.

Wed, 07/27/2016 - 15:43

Above Fashion ends long layoff in allowance

Lou Hodges Jr./Hodges Photography
Above Fashion will make her first start since September in Friday's fourth race at 5 1/2 furlongs.

The stakes winner Above Fashion will be returning to the overnight ranks for the first time since September in Friday night’s fourth race at Evangeline Downs. She is part of a field of six fillies and mares set for an allowance over 5 1/2 furlongs.

Above Fashion was second in the $50,000 Cajun Miss Stakes in her last start April 8 at Evangeline. Blip ‘n Th Bye won the race, one start before finishing second in the Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs.

Wed, 07/27/2016 - 15:36

Anchor Down in familiar spot in Vanderbilt

Barbara D. Livingston
Grade 2 winner Anchor Down has joined a solid roster at Iowa State University.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher opted to sit out the Belmont Sprint Championship with Anchor Down after the Metropolitan Mile runner-up drew the rail. Now, Pletcher is faced with a similar dilemma after Anchor Down again pulled post 1 for Saturday’s Grade 1 Vanderbilt.

“I guess I’ll talk to the owners and let them make that decision again,” said Pletcher, who trains Anchor Down for Alto Racing LLC.

Anchor Down has been a beaten favorite against allowance company when breaking from the inside post twice over the past year.

Wed, 07/27/2016 - 15:30

Hit It Once More earns 101 Beyer Speed Figure for New York Derby victory

SV Photography
Hit It Once More romps by 6 1/2 lengths under Kendrick Carmouche in the New York Derby.

Hit It Once More earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for his runaway victory last Saturday in the $164,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes. The figure was by far a career best for Hit It Once More, a New York-bred son of Hard Spun whose previous top was an 87 earned two starts earlier while winning a statebred allowance race at Belmont Park.