SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – On the 3-year-old front, trainer Mark Casse welcomed Little Ni to his stable after a private purchase was made by KEM Stables of Kenny Fishbein, Earl Silver, and Michael Eiserman. Little Ni had previously been owned by Jersey Pride Racing, Boardwalk Racing, and Billy Belford.

Little Ni, previously trained by Ed Owens, won his first three starts, then gave Book’em Danno a stiff test in the Jersey Shore Stakes on July 19, falling a nose short of that Grade 1 winner. The two are due to rematch in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes here Aug. 24.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse has enjoyed a tremendous year so far with his 2-year-old crop, having won 25 juvenile races already in 2024 including six maiden heats at Saratoga.

Over the weekend, Casse recorded two more maiden scores at Saratoga with Sandman, a 2-year-old colt by Tapit, on Saturday and La Cara, a 2-year-old filly by Street Sense, on Sunday. Earlier maiden winners for Casse at this meet were And One More Time (Omaha Beach), Abientot (Not This Time), Dare to Breeze (Daredevil), and Classic Time (Classic Empire).

DEL MAR, Calif. – The Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 31 at Del Mar may be a locals-only affair.

While developments in coming weeks could lead to changes in the lineup, the list of candidates as of Sunday consisted entirely of Southern California-based runners. Trainer Todd Pletcher said in a text message Sunday that he does not have plans for a starter.

The California Horse Racing Board is scheduled to meet in Del Mar on Thursday with proposed racing dates for 2025 as a primary issue on the agenda.

While changes are not expected for the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit, documents recently sent to the racing board provide a clearer picture of a Thoroughbred racing schedule at Pleasanton in Northern California that will replace Golden Gate Fields in Albany. Golden Gate Fields closed in June.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Juan Hernandez, the leading rider at the current Del Mar summer meeting, will serve a one-day suspension Saturday for excessive use of the whip aboard R Heisman in the $101,500 Graduation Stakes last Friday.

Hernandez was cited for using his whip seven times, once above the permitted level. He was fined $500 for the infraction.

Hernandez will be able to ride Saturday’s stakes, the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. He is set to ride Zona Verde, who was second in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap on July 20. Stakes mounts are exempt from routine suspensions.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert’s grip on the Best Pal Stakes and Del Mar Futurity shows no signs of relenting.

The Hall of Fame trainer won the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes for a record 11th time Sunday with the exciting colt Getaway Car. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Getaway Car, by Curlin, led throughout the $147,000 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:10.37. There was no suspense in the final quarter-mile when Getaway Car pulled away.

“This guy has been a lot of fun,” Baffert said. “He’s fast. He’s got a beautiful way of moving.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Jack Sisterson believes Aspen Grove has the talent to run in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. She’ll likely have to do more to get in that field, but on Thursday she may have taken a first step toward doing that.

Aspen Grove won a second-level allowance race at Saratoga, overcoming a pedestrian pace over soft-ish ground to beat Avenue Niel by a neck. It was Aspen Grove’s first win since she captured the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in July 2023 when still racing for the European-based trainer James Stack.