DEL MAR, Calif. – Mokat had only two works in the month prior to the $201,725 San Clemente Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Del Mar on Saturday. That was all she needed.
Mokat won her first start since May in the Grade 2 San Clemente and is being pointed to the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Aug. 20. The Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
DEL MAR, Calif. – While the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on Saturday, featuring champions Beholder and Stellar Wind, is certainly the marquee race of the week at Del Mar, the weekend’s other Grade 1, $300,000 race, the Bing Crosby, looks as though it will have a strong, deep field of sprinters for its 71st running on Sunday.
Lord Nelson and Subtle Indian, first and second in last month’s Grade 1 Triple Bend at Santa Anita, head a prospective field that includes the hard-hitting Midwest invader Alsvid and the fleet 3-year-old Justin Squared.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Steeplechase races at this meet will have a new configuration that could impact your handicapping.
The midstretch fence will be removed for the final lap, meaning that the last three-eighths of a mile of these races will be contested like a flat race. In 2 1/16-mile races, horses will jump over eight fences instead of nine. At 2 3/8 miles, horses will jump over nine fences instead of 10.
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.
