Mon, 08/26/2024 - 13:40

Full Serrano works his way into Pacific Classic

Benoit Photo

Trainer John Sadler has won four of the last six runnings of the Pacific Classic, including in 2022 with Flightline.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Full Serrano has worked his way into Saturday’s Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Full Serrano, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred horse, won his American debut in an allowance race at a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 3. In recent weeks, trainer John Sadler was hesitant to commit Full Serrano to the $1 million Pacific Classic until he watched a series of three workouts, including six furlongs in 1:11.40 last Saturday.

Over the weekend, Sadler said Full Serrano has done enough to merit a start in the track’s signature race of the summer meeting.

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 13:15

Pletcher confirms Mentee for Hopeful

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Mentee works five furlongs in 1:01 in the fog on Monday morning over Saratoga’s main track.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mentee, a full brother to Travers winner Fierceness, worked five furlongs in 1:01 Monday morning over Saratoga’s main track and afterward trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed him as a starter for Monday’s Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

Mentee was scratched from the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes on July 13 due to a fever and didn’t recover in time to make the Saratoga Special. Monday’s work was his second five-furlong work since returning to training.

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 13:05

Englehart jumps Bellacose into open company for Spinaway

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Bellacose was an easy debut winner against New York-breds for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Bellacose, who would have been a serious contender in last Sunday’s $200,000 Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga, was scratched from that race in favor of running in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway Stakes.

A debut 10 3/4-length debut winner against New York-breds on July 17, Bellacose was purchased privately by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing, which now owns 75 percent of the daughter of Audible. The original partners stayed in for 25 percent. She remains with trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 13:05

John Ortiz proving he belongs with strong meet

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Trainer John Ortiz is looking to close out a strong meet, with a trio of stakes runners in Saratoga's final week.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer John Ortiz is trying to prove a point this summer at Saratoga.

“I’m definitely trying to prove that I belong with the elite, that’s the point we’re trying to make,” Ortiz said Monday. “We’re trying to be with the right company and put our horses with the right company, and that’s the story of success.”

With five wins from eight starters this summer at Saratoga, Ortiz and his horses are certainly proving they belong in top company. Ortiz will try to close out the meet strong with runners in three stakes during the final week.

Mon, 08/26/2024 - 10:48

Lezcano, Velazquez, Irad Ortiz to serve suspensions

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

John Velazquez will serve a three-day suspension for his ride aboard Vino Rouge in the 10th race on Aug. 16.

Jockeys Jose Lezcano and John Velazquez will be sidelined Wednesday through Friday this week due to suspensions issued by the New York stewards for riding violations incurred earlier in Saratoga meet.

Fri, 08/23/2024 - 15:18

Cigar Mile tops 26 fall stakes at Aqueduct

By David Grening

Barbara D. Livingston

Aqueduct will run 26 stakes during its 2024 fall meeting.

The Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile on Dec. 7 tops an Aqueduct fall stakes program that will offer 26 stakes worth $5.33 million, the New York Racing Association announced Friday.

The Aqueduct fall meet runs from Nov. 7 through Dec. 29.

The Cigar Mile tops a card that also includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen and Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for 2-year-old males and 2-year-old fillies, respectively, as well as the Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old-and up.

Fri, 08/23/2024 - 14:21

All-sources handle expected to be slightly less than last year

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Del Mar is expecting a slightly lower all-sources handle compared to last year.

Del Mar is likely to finish its summer meeting on Sept. 8 with a decline in all-sources handle for the 31-day season compared to the summer of 2023, with a changed racing schedule and a new format in the pick six contributing to lower figures.

Track chief financial officer Mike Ernst said on Thursday that Del Mar is unlikely to match the all-sources handle of $529.1 million from last summer.

“We’re likely going to be down just slightly,” Ernst said.

Fri, 08/23/2024 - 14:11

Baffert waiting for breezes with Adare Manor, Muth for Pacific Classic decision

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

If trainer Bob Baffert starts Adare Manor in the Pacific Classic, she'll look to be the first filly or mare to win the race since Beholder in 2015.

Weekend workouts will determine whether the 5-year-old mare Adare Manor or even the 3-year-old Muth start in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

Trainer Bob Baffert said on Friday that he plans to run the multiple stakes winner Reincarnate in the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles, and said decisions are forthcoming on Muth or Adare Manor.

“They’re breezing this weekend and then we’ll see,” he said.

Muth is also nominated for the $125,000 Shared Belief Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on Sept. 1.

Wed, 08/21/2024 - 15:21

The Chosen Vron, Senor Buscador top field of eight for Pat O'Brien

By Steve Andersen

Benoit Photo

Widely considered the best sprinter in California, and one of the top in the country, The Chosen Vron will meet come-backing Senor Buscador in the Pat O'Brien at Del Mar.

Senor Buscador, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia, and The Chosen Vron, California’s star sprinter, are part of a field of eight in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar.

The seven-furlong race has drawn a solid field despite the absence of the Grade 1 winner Arabian Knight, who was considered a candidate for the $250,000 race as recently as last weekend before he was retired and sent to a farm in Kentucky earlier this week.

Wed, 08/21/2024 - 15:19

Mandella to use California Crown to decide Subsanador's Breeders' Cup race

By Steve Andersen

Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO

Subsanador won his first race in the United States in the Philip Iselin at Monmouth Park.

Subsanador, winner of the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park last Saturday, is booked to run in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, a race that will help to determine plans for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 2

Trainer Richard Mandella said on Wednesday that the BC Dirt Mile and BC Classic at 1 1/4 miles are possibilities for Subsanador.

“Right now, I wouldn’t know which would be better,” Mandella said. “We’ll see how the next race goes.”

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